Annette Gjerde-Hansen

Annette Gjerde-Hansen’s research, teaching and writing explore the intersection of religion, society and film, where her field of expertise is religion, media and popular culture. 

Annette is currently finalizing her doctorate/PhD at University of Oslo and Volda University College titled; “Reel Bad Religions? Investigating trends of how religion is depicted in contemporary cinema”.

In her research, Gjerde-Hansen facilitates both quantitative methods as well as qualitative, and have investigated all new films screened Norwegian cinemas from 2017 through to March 2024 (n = 1640).

Fall of 2025 Annette was a visiting researcher at UC Berkeley, USA -> Fiat Lux: et reisebrev fra California.

In 2012 she earned a Master of philosophy in religion and social science, from the University of Oslo. She wrote her master thesis on Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist. 

Before her academic career, Annette was an advisor for the President and top management team at BI Norwegian Business School.

Annette is a board member of the international film organization Interfilm (2025 – ), where she has served as a juror on various film festivals since 2015 (see below).

JUROR AT FILMFESTIVALS

12.05.2026 - 23.05.2026

Jury President @ Cannes - 79th Festivale de Cannes

30.08.2023 to 09.09.2023

Venice 80th International Film Festival Venice + Article about her experince

01.07.2022 to 09.07.2022

Karlovy Vary 56th International Film Festival Karlovy Vary + Article about her experience

09.02.2017 to 19.02.2017

Berlin 67th International Film Festival Berlin

04.11.2015 to 08.11.2015

Luebeck 57th Nordic Film Days Luebeck

Annette Gjerde-Hansen is a published writer and a columnist for Kirke og Kultur, a Norwegian journal founded in 1894, as well as for the Norwegian Female Theological Forum’s academic journal St. Sunniva.

Filmfestivalen i Venezia | Kirke og Kultur (idunn.no)