Tromsø Film Festival, Norway

The freezing, polar air of Norway provides one of the best opportunities to grab some popcorn and enjoy the newest films before they hit the big screen. At least, that’s what thousands of visitors to the annual Tromsø Film Festival believe.

This unique festival occurs every year during the third week in January. Upward of 60,000 attendees from around the globe gather together in the town square of Norway to view the latest independent offerings from the world’s best filmmakers, all while enduring freezing temperatures and snow. That’s because the festival happens outdoors with no cover but what you choose to wear. Previous years have seen snowfall and subfreezing temperatures as audiences used sheer grit to check out new flicks.

The film festival began in 1991, with an audience of only 5,200, and continued to grow over the last few decades. There are five screening venues in all, and only one of them actually takes place in the snow. The rest are indoors for those who prefer not to tempt frostbite just to see a movie.

Tromsø Film Festival generates an enormous amount of revenue for the town, which is why it has become such an important cultural event for the season. Many of the residents of Tromsø celebrate the week by holding parties and gathering with friends and travelers to help show them the city. It’s a wonderful, if not chilly, way to experience a little taste of Norway.