19/08/2013 - Norwegian directors Dag Johan Haugerud’s drama comedy and Joachim Rønning-Espen Sandberg’s Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated action adventure are the big winners in Haugesund

Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud, who launched his feature debut, I Belong (photo), at the 2012 Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, returned this year to receive four Amandas – Norway’s national film prizes, which were announced on Friday (August 16) during a televised ceremony at the Rica-Maritim Hall in Haugesund.

Haugerud’s own story of three women, who all have a small soft spot in their personality and are hit hard when their idiosyncrasies meet the light of day, was nominated in six categories, and won four ao Best Film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg’s Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated action adventure was considered in eight categories, and collected four awards, including Best Actor and the Audience Choice.

I Belong, which was also named Best Norwegian Film 2012 by the Norwegian Critics Association, has taken app 30,000 admissions in Norwegian cinemas since its September 2012 release, while Kon-Tiki [+see also:
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film profile] is close to 900,000. The two productions also played to a draw, when the Norwegian film workers’ eight unions awarded their Cannon prizes (April) – five prizes each.

FULL LIST OF AMANDA WINNERS 2013:

Best Feature: I Belong. Dir: Dag Johan Haugerud

Best Children’s Film: Ploddy the Police Car on the Case. Dirs: Rasmus Sivertsen, Rune Spaans. Prods: Aage Aaberge, Live Bonnevie, for Neofilm

Best Cinematography: Arild Østin Ommundsen, for It’s Only Make Believe. Dir: Ommundsen

Best Sound Design: Christian Schaanning, for All That Matters Is Past [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Dir: Sara Johnsen

Best Musical Score: Ola Kvernberg, for Chasing the Wind [+see also:
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Best Editing: Vidar Flataukan, for 90 Minutes [+see also:
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film profile]. Dir: Eva Sørhaug).

Best Stage/Production Design: Karl Júliusson, for Kon-Tiki (Dirs: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg)

Best Visual Effects: Arne Kaupang, Storm Studios, for Kon-Tiki

Best Actress: Laila Goody, for I Belong

Best Supporting Actress: Suzan Ilir, for Before Snowfall [+see also:
trailer
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Best Actor: Pål SverreHagen, for Kon-Tiki

Best Supporting Actor: Fridtjof Såheim, for Victoria (Dir: Torun Lian)

Best Original Screenplay: Dag Johan Haugerud, for I Belong

Best Director: Dag Johan Haugerud, for I Belong

The Audience Choice: Kon-Tiki

Best Newcomer (Viasat Prize): Kaia Varjord, for 90 Minutes

Best Documentary: Nowhere Home. Dir/Prod: Margreth Olin, for Speranza Film

Best Short: Magnus – en vårdag. Dir: Magnus Lilleberg. Prods: Christoffer Næss, Per Kristian Lomsdalen, for Munin Film

Best Foreign Feature: Searching for Sugar Man [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Dir: Malik Bendjelloul (Sweden-UK)

The Honorary Amanda: Norwegian writer, director and producer Bent Hamer

The Golden Clapperboard: Norwegian continuity supervisor Irmelin Wister