18/11/2024 - RaMell Ross’s historical 1960s drama film has won the top prize at the 35th edition, while Peacock by Bernhard Wenger scooped Best First Feature

Best First Feature winner Bernhard Wenger and Best Actress winner Malou Khébizi with their prizes (© Patrick Cever)

“A film that innovatively explores the full spectrum of cinematic expression, resonating deeply and bridging the past with the present.” So read the conclusion of the jury motivation, which explained their high regard for the winner of the Bronze Horse for Best Film at the 35th Stockholm International Film Festival, RaMell Ross’ Nickel Boys. Based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2019 novel of the same name, the film takes the viewer back to 1962 and Jim Crow-era USA, where two coloured boys endure the abusive surroundings of a segregated Florida youth-reform school. Opening at Telluride to considerable acclaim, Ross’s narrative directorial debut has further cemented his status as a promising new force to keep an eye on in the big leagues. Oscar buzz is also in the air.

Canada’s 2025 Academy Awards submission, the decidedly surreal and absurdist comedy Universal Language, won the Best Director Award for Matthew Rankin, and the Austrian Oscar candidate The Devil’s Bath [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala
film profile] by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala got the Best Cinematography Award for Martin Gschlacht’s camera work. Another Austrian entry, Bernhard Wenger’s Peacock [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bernhard Wenger
film profile], won for Best First Feature, and Mexico’s Alonso Ruizpalacios, writer-director of La Cocina, received the Best Screenplay gong. France’s Malou Khébizi was deemed Best Actress for her performance in Agathe Riedinger’s Wild Diamond [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Agathe Riedinger
film profile], and young Izaac Wang charmed his way to a Best Actor Award for his part as Chris Wang in Sean Wang’s (no relation) feature debut, the coming-of-age comedy Didi. The Best Documentary Award went to the Sundance-winning, Ukraine-set Porcelain War by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev. Earlier on during the festival, special career awards were given to directors Sean Baker and Steve McQueen, actor-director Jesse Eisenberg and director Costa-Gavras (see the interview). The official 2024 jury consisted of producer Mathilde Dedeye, actor Joel Spira and director Milad Alami.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Best Film
Nickel Boys - RaMell Ross (USA)

Best Director
Matthew Rankin - Universal Language (Canada)

Best First Feature
Peacock [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bernhard Wenger
film profile] – Bernhard Wenger (Austria/Germany)

Best Screenplay
Alonso Ruizpalacios - La Cocina (Mexico/USA)

Best Actress
Malou Khébizi – Wild Diamond [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Agathe Riedinger
film profile] (France)

Best Actor
Izaac Wang – Didi (USA)

Best Cinematography
Martin Gschlacht – The Devil's Bath [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala
film profile] (Austria/Germany)

Best Documentary
Porcelain War – Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev (USA/Australia/Ukraine)

Best Short
The Sea in Between – Lun Sevnik (Slovenia/Czech Republic/Croatia)

Nikon Short Film Competition (60sek)
Bovieran – Joel Wiklund-Ekman (Sweden)

1 KM FILM Award

1 KM FILM Award
Den osmidige – Lode Kuylenstierna (Sweden/Spain)

1 KM FILM Script Development Award
Färgblind –Nanna Blondell (Sweden)

1 KM FILM Honourable Mention
Ultimatum – Jean Luc and Desirée Mwepu (Sweden)

Nordic Wave Pitch Award
The Blowfish – Elin Övergaard (Sweden/Denmark)

Rising Star Award
Erik Svedberg-Zelman

Stockholm Achievement Award
Jesse Eisenberg

Visionary Award
Sean Baker
Steve McQueen

Lifetime Achievement Award
Costa-Gavras