Tits, from Norwegian Writer/Director Eivind Landsvik, was one of 11 short films selected out of nearly 5,000 entries competing for the 2023 Cannes Film Festival’s Short Film Palme d’Or. This story, simple yet purely honest, tells the tale of Oscar and Iben, two teenagers who unexpectedly develop a relationship during a summer’s day at the beach when they find themselves deserted by their group of friends. Landsvik brings the audience back to free-spirited teenage summer days and focuses on the main characters’ insecurities and self-doubts, highlighting the journey of friendship, love and self-reflection. The film is shot on 16mm film.

This interview with Eivind Landsvik was conducted on Zoom.

How hard is it to make a short movie?

Of course, it’s a difficult medium. To tell a story well in a very short time can be a challenge. I wanted to create something really honest. This short film takes place in one evening, during one night of a teenager’s life. The idea starts to flow about a young adolescent guy named Oscar who stands in front of the mirror before he is about to spend the day to have fun with his friends, feeling very insecure.

Why were you interested in the subject of teenage love?

I felt it was the perfect time in my life to choose this subject for I could reflect and reminisce back at my own young teenage years where I experienced incredible summers which were all about friendships and falling in love. A time in our lives where, as a young teenager, you don’t have to worry yet about paying bills and things like that. I desired to amplify strong carefree feelings about friendship and falling in love in this short. I also wanted to focus on the randomness of who you become close to and who becomes your friends for there are so many social structures, prejudices, kids making up their mind very fast on who is cool and who’s not, yet learn that one can be surprised.

What difficulties did you have to cope with, if any?

Well, this film was made with a lower budget than we originally had hoped for. Gladly and thankfully, my producer was determined to go ahead anyway. What was most challenging for me was the casting. I spent a lot of time finding the lead character, Oscar. It was also critically important to hold a lot of rehearsals because I wanted the two leads to become very familiar with their character. Especially when there was no dialogue, I wanted the viewer to be invited to see their thought process, their struggles and range of emotions.

How does it feel to show your short at Cannes, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world?

Being invited to the festival has always been my dream, so you can imagine I feel very honored and lucky to be able to go and show my work. I have sent in other shorts to Cannes in the past, so when I got the call this year that I got selected, I was shocked. It came as a total surprise. I am nervous yet excited that a much wider audience than ever before will get to watch Tits. I am also looking forward to watching some great cinema.