The word ”Presence” will be the main theme for the 34th Göteborg International Film Festival taking place in January 2011. The theme influences the choice of film programme, seminars and the surrounding activities. “Presence” has been chosen to reflect upon contemporary currents, both in the society and in films and film-making.

The Festival Director, Marit Kapla, about the theme:
”In our digital era, the word presence has an extended meaning. You meet your friends more often on internet than in real life. Presence is no longer only connected to the physical body. At the same time we all long for mental focusing and moments of presence have become luxury. Presence is also a concept of today’s film making. Films can now be produced partly or totally without being present on the set.”

Tears of Gaza by the Norwegian director Vibeke Løkkeberg is one of the films now ready for the Göteborg International Film Festival programme. This powerful documentary film follows three children during the armed conflict in Gaza. The film is an example of the theme presence because it was shot totally by local photographers. Tears of Gaza has already got a lot of attention world wide since its première at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.