26/08/2022 - Erik Poppe’s period film has come out on top at the 50th edition of the Norwegian gathering, thanks to its “convincing directing, acting and cinematography”

As Thursday night came around at the 50th Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, the deluge of awards set in as the jury members had finally made their minds up – not always an easy task, as could be seen via the several Honourable Mentions dished out in different categories.

“With convincing directing, acting and cinematography, this film presents the challenges of finding your own path and settling down somewhere new, when you are surrounded by powerful spiritual expectations, in addition to your own baggage.” The ecumenical jury seems to have been very clear in its decision to give its Andreas Award to Erik Poppe’s new version of Vilhelm Moberg’s literary classic The Emigrants [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], so memorably adapted by Jan Troell in the 1970s. The new iteration had been quite hotly debated ever since its announcement, as it was regarded as one of those classics you shouldn’t touch. Such sentiments were contrary to original star Liv Ullmann’s reactions as the film was screened in Haugesund for its Norwegian premiere, when she gave Poppe’s version her full blessing – a worthy jury verdict in itself, surely.

For the Critics’ Award, another clear home run was spotted, as Lukas Dhont’s Cannes-awarded Close [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eden Dambrine
interview: Lukas Dhont
interview: Lukas Dhont
film profile] “represents a veritable masterpiece, in both substance and execution, and a worthy winner”. For the Audience Award, despite the “tough job” noted in the jury motivation, Norway’s own brand-new epic, Gunnar Vikene’s War Sailor [+see also:
trailer
film profile], with its World War II story and “great cinematic” execution, represented a sure choice. This production, said to be Norway’s highest-budgeted film ever, will get its international premiere at Toronto in September.

Honourable Mentions were handed out generously by the Ray of Sunshine jury, who found excitement and joy in both the British opus Good Luck to You, Leo Grande [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Sophie Hyde and the US movie Call Jane by Phyllis Nagy, but they finally settled on Japanese helmer Hirokazu Kore-eda’s South Korean-shot Broker, another Cannes 2022 winner.

Yet another Honourable Mention was handed out in the search for the directors of tomorrow, as the ten film students chosen for the Next Nordic Generation Award were dominated by two clear favourites, both alumni of the Danish Film School. The overall winner, the short film Free Men, is another Cannes entry, from the La Cinef section, directed by Óskar Kristinn Vignisson, a name worth remembering.

Earlier in the festival, the five nominees for the 2022 Nordic Council Film Prize were announced (see the list below), and the final winner will be chosen in November.

Here is a full list of all award winners and the Nordic Council Film Prize nominees:

Andreas Award
The Emigrants [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Erik Poppe (Sweden/New Zealand/Denmark/Norway)

Critics’ Award
Close [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eden Dambrine
interview: Lukas Dhont
interview: Lukas Dhont
film profile] - Lukas Dhont (Belgium/Netherlands/France)

Audience Award
War Sailor [+see also:
trailer
film profile] - Gunnar Vikene (Norway/Germany/Malta)

Ray of Sunshine Award
Broker - Hirokazu Kore-eda (South Korea)
Honourable Mentions
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Sophie Hyde (UK)
Call Jane - Phyllis Nagy (USA)

Next Nordic Generation Award
Free Men - Óskar Kristinn Vignisson (Denmark, short)
Honourable Mention
A Film That Might Be About the Future - Josefine Mølvig Exner (Denmark)

2022 Nordic Council Film Prize nominations

Norway
The Worst Person in the World [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile] - Joachim Trier (Norway/France/Sweden/Denmark)

Denmark
Godland [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elliott Crosset Hove
interview: Hlynur Pálmason
film profile] - Hlynur Pálmason (Denmark/Iceland/France/Sweden)

Finland
The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Teemu Nikki and Jani Pösö
interview: Teemu Nikki, Jani Pösö an…
film profile] - Teemu Nikki (Finland)

Iceland
Lamb [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Valdimar Jóhannsson
film profile] - Valdimar Jóhannsson (Iceland/Poland/Sweden)

Sweden
Clara Sola [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nathalie Álvarez Mesén
film profile] - Nathalie Álvarez Mesén (Sweden/Costa Rica/Belgium/Germany/France/USA)