2015 Nordic Film Festival, Regent Street Cinema, ICA, Bertha Dochouse

With the success of television shows like Borgen and The Killing, UK audiences hungry for fresh and gripping entertainment have increasingly turning their attention towards Scandinavia. And where better to find the best in such cutting-edge talent than the Nordic Film Festival, which returns to London this December.

Scandinavia is known for it's dark and brooding crime dramas, but the films on offer here show us that it has a much wider range. The selection is impressively eclectic: travelling to the far reaches of Northern Norway and home to the Sami community with 7 Sami Stories, a collaborative project of seven short films in the village of Kautokeino. Then there's the world of vaudeville with documentary The Show of Shows, scored by members of Sigur Ros.

There are also a series of special events ranging from cheese tasting at the Regent Street Cinema to a special Marimekko event with wine and pastries at Republic of Fritz Hansen.

For opening night, Swedish actor and screenwriter Johan Hallström (son of renowned Swedish director Lasse Hallström) will introduce two brand new Danish features, both of which star Borgen's Peter Plaugborg: investigative cold war drama The Idealist and unconventional love story In Your Arms.

The Royal Academy will also be taking part, hosting with an Ai Wei Wei weekend from the 11-13 Dec 2015 to coincide with the premiere of Andreas Johnsen's documentary The Fake Case, which delves into the life and work of China's most controversial artist.

The festival, running from the 4 – 13 December, is spread over three venues: the boutique Regent Street Cinema, Pall Mall's ICA, and the all new Bertha Dochouse at the Curzon Bloomsbury.

Click here for the full programme and to book tickets.