04/11/2013 - Danish director Kenneth Kainz’s Otto Is a Rhino named Best Animated Feature at the 30th Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, which screened 240 films from 40 countries

Danish director Kenneth Kainz’s fully-animated Otto Is a Rhino [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (photo) – the second adaption of Danish author Ole Lund Kirkegaard’s 1972 novel – was named Best Animated Feature at the 30^th Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, which ended Sunday (November 3).

The story of Topper, who finds a magic pencil, and when he draws a rhino on the wall, it comes to life – which was first brought to the screen by Rumle Hammerich in 1983 – was one of eight Nordic films to be awarded at the world’s largest children’s film festival, this year screening 240 films from 40 countries.

Organised by Facets Multi-Media as the first competitive showcase for kidpics in the US, Chicago is also recognised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – accordingly short film winners candidate for an Oscar nomination.

FULL LIST OF NORDIC AWARDS IN CHICAGO

Adult Jury Prizes:

Best Animated Feature:

Danish director Kenneth Kainz’s Otto Is a Rhino

Best Short Documentary:

1. Swedish directors Johan Palmgren and Åsa Blanck’s Grandpa and Me and a Helicopter to Heaven

2. Norwegian director Benjamin Ree’s Dreaming of the Golden Eagle

Best Live-Action Short:

Norweigan director Izer Aliu’s To Guard a Mountain

Youth Jury Prizes:

Best Animated Documentary: Swedish directors Hanna Hejlborn and David Aronowitsch’s Sharaf

Best Animated Short:

Norwegian directors Alexander Somma and Oystein Moe’s Alien Repair Guy

Children’s Jury Prizes:

Best Animated Short: Danish director Nils Bisbo’s The Flame and The Cotton Ball

Special Prizes:

Programmer’s Choice Award: Swedish directors Stephen Apelgren’s Eskild & Trinidad

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At the other end of the world, Nordic films also collected prizes: both Norwegian entries in the 7^th Abu Dhabi International Film Festival, (which ended November 1) - Hisham Zaman’s  Before Snowfall [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Hanne Myhren’s Love Me – were awarded. Screening in the New Horizons-Afaq Jadida Competition, Before Snowfall was named Best Film from the Arab World, while Love Me won for Best Actress (newcomer Julia Wildschut).