Nordic Film Days Lubeck appoints new artistic director

Hanna Lifgarst will be the Artistic Director of Nordic Film Day Lübeck from January 1, 2026.

Mr. Reifgurst will serve in the position from 2021 and will succeed Thomas Haller, who will retire at the end of March.

Lifghast was selected by a selection committee consisting of Lübeck Culture Senator Monika Frank, Nordic Film Days Managing Director Suzanne Casimir and Berlinale Chief of Staff Florian Weghorn.

Mr. Reifgerst, a German executive, has worked across the film chain for 15 years, from script development to film subsidies, event design and festivals. She will be curating the Nordic Film Days Young Audience category from 2022 and overseeing the ‘Film for Everyone’ initiative, which aims to improve accessibility in cinemas.

screen Mr. Reifgarst was named future leader in May 2024.

“Nordic Film Days Lübeck is unique in that it is a festival that combines film quality with issues relevant to society,” said Riefgarst. “I see my mission as promoting the festival while maintaining its curatorial trajectory. As a forum for cinematic excellence and public dialogue, the festival should be a place where new voices and perspectives are visible to a diverse audience of all generations.”

First established in 1956, Nordic Film Days Lübeck is one of the longest running international film events. In addition to films from Scandinavia and the Baltic region, we also feature films from the Schleswig-Holstein region of northern Germany.

Haller will oversee the 67th festival^th Edition, November 5th to 9th.

“Thomas Hayler’s selection turned out to be a great asset for Lübeck,” Frank said. “He has promoted Nordic Film Days Lübeck with great contributions, solid intuition and a unique profile.

“The Artistic Directorship of Hannah Lifgarst will be in the hands of someone who has been part of Nordic Film Days for many years. She knows the festival, the team and the audience well, while at the same time bringing new impetus to further development.”