The 64^th edition of the Nordic Film Days took place from 2-6 November in the Northern German city of Lübeck. The festival showed a total of 173 films and series from Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, across several categories. As is the case every year, at the end of the festival, a series of prizes were given out, celebrating the freshest talents in Nordic filmmaking, but also honouring the achievements of emblematic figures from the Nordic film industry. One of the latter is Icelandic director Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, to whom the festival dedicated its annual homage and who received an Honorary Award for his lifetime commitment to Icelandic cinema.

Both the jury of the NDR Film Prize, endowed with €12,500, and that of the INTERFILM Church Prize, valued at €5,000, chose the drama Boy From Heaven [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Tarik Saleh
scheda film] by Tarik Saleh as their winner. The film, a co-production between Sweden, France, Finland, Morocco and Denmark, was premiered earlier this year at Cannes, and it is being distributed in Germany by X-Verleih AG. An Honourable Mention from the INTERFILM Church Prize jury went to The Woodcutter Story [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Mykko Myllylahti
scheda film] by Mikko Myllylahti, which also premiered at Cannes, and is a co-production between Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany.

Another film in the programme received two awards: Girl Picture [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Alli Haapasalo
scheda film] by Alli Haapasalo, distributed in Germany by Salzgeber & Co. The Finnish coming-of-age flick won the Savings Bank Federation’s Prize for Best Children’s and Youth Film as well as the gong from the youth jury. Both prizes are endowed with €5,000.

The Great Silence [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Kristine Kujath Thorp
scheda film] by Danish director Katrine Brocks was crowned Best First Feature Film. For her drama about a young female novice, Brocks received a cash prize of €7,500. Her movie is being sold by TrustNordisk. The Award for Best Documentary, sponsored by DGB North and valued at €5,000, went to a musical documentary about the problems with caring for Finland’s elderly population, Ruthless Times: Songs of Care [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Susanna Helke
scheda film] by Finnish director Susanne Helke. Swedish director Magnus Gertten pocketed an Honourable Mention for his portrait of two lesbian women persecuted during World War II, Nelly & Nadine [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Magnus Gertten
scheda film].

The Baltic Film Prize for a Nordic Film, another important trophy endowed with €3,000, went to the historical drama Godland [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Elliott Crosset Hove
intervista: Hlynur Pálmason
scheda film] by Hlynur Pálmason, sold by New Europe Film Sales. Finally, the short equivalent of this prize, the Baltic Film Prize for a Nordic Short Film, including prize money of €5,000, was given to The School by the Sea by Norwegian filmmaker Solveig Melkeraaen, a documentary about a small village school. This award was tied with Blush – An Extraordinary Voyage by Iiti Yli-Harja (Finland).

Here is the complete list of award winners at the 63rd edition of the Nordic Film Days: 


NDR Film Prize

Boy From Heaven [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Tarik Saleh
scheda film] – Tarik Saleh (Sweden/France/Finland/Morocco/Denmark)

Best First Feature Film
The Great Silence [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Kristine Kujath Thorp
scheda film] – Katrine Brocks (Denmark)

Audience Award of the Lübecker Nachrichten

Everybody Hates Johan [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] – Hallvar Witzø (Norway/Sweden)

INTERFILM Church Prize 

Boy From Heaven – Tarik Saleh
Honourable Mention
The Woodcutter Story [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Mykko Myllylahti
scheda film] – Mikko Myllylahti (Finland/Denmark/Netherlands/Germany)

Baltic Film Prize for a Nordic Film

Godland [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Elliott Crosset Hove
intervista: Hlynur Pálmason
scheda film] – Hlynur Pálmason (Denmark/Iceland/France)

Baltic Film Prize for a Nordic Short Film
The School by the Sea – Solveig Melkeraaen (Norway)
Blush – An Extraordinary Voyage – Iiti Yli-Harja (Finland)

Documentary Film Prize of the North DGB District
Ruthless Times: Songs of Care [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Susanna Helke
scheda film] – Susanne Helke (Finland)
Honourable Mention
Nelly & Nadine [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Magnus Gertten
scheda film] – Magnus Gertten (Sweden/Norway/ Belgium)

CineStar Prize
and died together one day – Pola Rader (Russia/Germany)
Honourable Mention
Phantom Fight– Gor Margaryan (Germany)

Children's and Youth Film Award of the Gemeinnützige Sparkassenstiftung
Girl Picture [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Alli Haapasalo
scheda film] – Alli Haapasalo (Finland)

Children's Jury Award
My Robot Brother – Frederik Nørgaard (Denmark)

Youth Jury Award
Girl Picture – Alli Haapasalo