Screenwave International Film Festival 2022 (SWIFF’22) will open with The Northman, directed by acclaimed director Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse) on Thursday April 21st, 2022.

A revenge thriller, labelled as a ‘Viking Hamlet’, the film tells the tale of Amleth, played by Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood), a young prince on a quest to avenge his father’s murder and save his mother from his traitorous uncle.

The film features a formidable cast, including Nicole Kidman (Killing of a Sacred Deer – SWIFF’18), Ethan Hawke (The Truth – SWIFF ‘20), Claus Bang (The Square – SWIFF’18), as well as frequent collaborators, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit) and Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse), and in an exciting return to the big screen after a 20- year absence, Björk (Dancer in the Dark, Best Actress Cannes 2002).

Written by Eggers in collaboration with poet and novelist, Sjón (long-time collaborator with Björk), The Northman fuses the epic majesty of Viking folklore with the vivid world building Eggers is best known for, creating an art-house blockbuster.

Kate Howat, SWIFF Artistic Director said, “As a festival made for movie fans by movie fans, SWIFF is thrilled to have an exciting creative voice like Robert Eggers lead off this year’s 40- country tour of world cinema.”

SWIFF is a film, screen culture, and live music festival held in Coffs Harbour. With over 11,000 people attending SWIFF events last year, SWIFF’22 will include filmmaker and industry Q&A’s, Autumn Feast wine dinners, live soundtrack screenings, and the new Storyland music festival, this upcoming festival is set to be a highlight of Australia’s cultural calendar.