Way Out West is the biggest combined film and music festival in Europe and the third largest film festival in Sweden. By now, it is as essential for movie buffs as Way Out West is for music fans.

Every August, 35–40 films are screened at Cinema Slottsskogen and at cinemas around Gothenburg: feature films, documentaries, TV series and short films, often with a focus on music and social issues. All film and TV screenings are free for everyone with a festival pass.

Since it was established in 2011, the film programme has hosted premieres for films such as Searching for Sugar Man, The Square, Boyhood, Sentimental Value and Kneecap — more than 300 titles in total.

The Flamingo Film Awards

Way Out West Film hands out The Flamingo Film Awards in six categories, chosen from the titles in that year’s programme:

Best Film — the strongest feature in the lineup, regardless of genre

Best Music in Film/TV — exceptional use of music, in fiction, documentary or hybrid work

Best Music Doc — the strongest music-driven documentary

Best Short Film — the most striking work in short form. Every short in the programme is nominated

Rising Flamingo — emerging talent in acting and directing, selected by Way Out West Film

Audience Award — voted for by festival visitors in the WOW app

Winners are announced during the festival. First awarded in 2026.

THE JURY 2026

The jury is drawn from both film and music — the intersection this festival lives at. Filmmakers, actors, composers and industry voices watch the programme together and pick the winners in every category but two: the Audience Award belongs to the visitors, and the Rising Flamingo is selected by Way Out West Film.

Alba August — actor, director, musician

Amy Deasismont — screenwriter, director, actor

Göran Hugo Olsson — documentary director

Lisa Nordström — composer

Josef Kullengård — Head of Industry, Göteborg Film Festival