That is one more of the coveted statuettes in the shape of a feisty fisherwoman than was carried home in 2017 by former record-holder The King’s Choice [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Erik Poppe
scheda film], setting a tough bar for future contenders. Beware of Children [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Dag Johan Haugerud
scheda film], Dag Johan Haugerud’s intimate study (featuring mainly adults) of the accidental death of a child caused by another child brought wins for Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay (both Haugerud), Best Actor (Jan Gunnar Røise) and Best Supporting Actor (Thorbjørn Harr) as well as a handsome array of accolades for assorted technical achievements. A worthy grand slam winner, is the general consensus.

Close to being just as worthy, and close in nominations — eight of them — was the exquisitely executed Hope [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Maria Sødahl
scheda film], Maria Sødahl’s autobiographical account of her very own, close-by-a-hair battle with a brain tumour during a turbulent Christmas fortnight. The end result was two wins, out of which Andrea Bræin Hovig’s Best Actress award was a favourite tip.

While critical receptions for both films were full of acclaim, audience figures have been more modest, with around 20,000 viewers for Children and 40,000 for Hope domestically (both pre-Covid). The serious themes may have deterred viewers; unjustly, it could be argued, as both are highly accessible and relatable, even humorous hallmarks of contemporary Scandinavian cinema at its finest.

Other capable contributors to the Norwegian film season of July 2019-June 2020 were also honoured, including two WW2 stories: The Spy [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], with awards for Best Makeup and Best Costume, and The Crossing [+leggi anche:
trailer
intervista: Johanne Helgeland
scheda film], winning for Best Children’s Film. Ingvild Holthe Bydgnes won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in disaster drama The Tunnel [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], while Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond got the most audience votes for The People’s Amanda.

The 36^th Amandas took place at the Festiviteten concert hall in Haugesund, where the ceremony traditionally kicks off the annual Norwegian International Film Festival. There were close to no hugs or kisses this year, with safe-distanced seating giving the ceremony a somewhat awkward but ultimately endearing quality. Given that the Finnish Jussi awards and the Icelandic Eddas both have moved from their usual March dates to pending autumn slots (the Jussis aim for October), the 2020 Amandas deserve full points for effort, enthusiasm and also a bit of excellence.

Best Norwegian feature film
Beware of Children [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Dag Johan Haugerud
scheda film] – Dag Johan Haugerud (Norway)

Best Director
Dag Johan Haugerud – Beware of Children

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Andrea Bræin Hovig – Hope [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Maria Sødahl
scheda film] (Norway)

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Jan Gunnar Røise – Beware of Children

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Ingvild Holthe Bygdnes – The Tunnel [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] (Norway)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Thorbjørn Harr – Beware of Children

Best Screenplay
Dag Johan Haugerud – Beware of Children

Best Cinematography
Øystein Mamen – Beware of Children

Best Editing
Jens Christian Fodstad – Beware of Children

Best Costume
Ulrika Sjölin – The Spy [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]

Best Sound Design
Gisle Tveito – Beware of Children

Best Makeup
Siw Järbyn – The Spy

Best Original Score
Peder Kjellsby and Arnaud Fleurent-Didier – Beware of Children

Best Production Design
Jørgen Stangebye Larsen – Hope

Best Visual Effects
Stephen Coren and Bert Deruyck – The Ash Lad: In Soria Moria Castle (Norway)

Best Foreign Language Film
Joker – Todd Phillips (US)

Best Documentary
Self Portrait [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film] – Katja Høgset and Espen Wallin (Norway)

Best Short Film
The Manila Lover – Johanna Pyykkö (Norway)

Best Children’s Film
The Crossing [+leggi anche:
trailer
intervista: Johanne Helgeland
scheda film] – Johanne Helgeland (Norway)

The Amanda Committee Honorary Award
Director/producer Bente Erichsen

The People’s Amanda (audience award)
Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond (Norway)

The Amanda Committee’s Golden Clapper
Frida Ohrvik