Prominent Icelandic auteur Rúnar Rúnarsson who was Oscar-nominated in 2006 for his short film “The Last Farm,” was handed out the Göteborg Film Festival’s hefty SEK400,000 ($36,000) Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film for his fourth feature “When the Light Breaks” at tonight’s closing gala of the festival’s 48th edition.
Shot in 16mm, the subtle coming-of-age drama starring Elín Hall (“Cold”, “Let Me Fall”) world premiered last May as the opening film of the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section.
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The story turns on Una, a young art student who encounters love, friendship, sorrow and beauty during on a long summer day in Iceland. The jury for Best Nordic Film including filmmakers Ella Lemhagen, Philippe Lesage, Athina Rachel Tsangari, cinematographer JP Passi and actor Frida Gustavsson, said the film was awarded the festival’s top prize “for its masterfully calibrated mise en scène, its sensitivity and delicate lightness, its director’s unexpectedly uplifting treatment of grief, acutely portrayed by a perfect young ensemble.”
The film produced by Iceland’s Compass Films, the Netherlands’ Revolver Amsterdam, Croatia’s MP Film and France’s Jour de Fête was sold by The Party Film Sales nearly worldwide.
Another coming-of age drama about grieving, set during the summer -“My Eternal Summer” by Sylvia Le Fanu was the second choice from the Nordic Film jury who praised the helmer for a greatly promising debut, a both personal, sensitive and beautifully crafted film that doesn’t force drama or effect.” Handled worldwide by TrustNordisk, the feature produced by Adomeit Film screened earlier in San Sebastian.
The gender-neutral acting award went to Norway’s Andrea Bræin Hovig for her role as Marianne who explores her sexuality and casual intimacy in Johan Dah Haugerud’s “Love”. Hovid was
praised for her “most subtle, complex performance, yet so powerful in its restraint; and for portraying an intricately layered, unapologetic female character.”
“Sex” which world premiere at the Venice Film Festival 2024 where it won the critics’ Bisato d’oro award is the second part of Haugerud’s trilogy films “Sex, Love, Dreams”.
The Oscar-nominated “The Girl with the Needle” by Magnus von Horn, first showcased in Cannes’ main competition won over the jury if the Fipresci Award who said: “The film’s director demonstrates absolute mastery of the form. We award this film for its camerawork, the unusual music, the compelling setting and production design that becomes a character in itself, great performances and dialogs. This film puts into evidence the female situation and the necessity for feministic battle. It also shows us how to remain a person of integrity in devilish surrounding and darkness, emphasized by the black and white images.” The visually stunning psychological drama starring Trine Dyrholm is the first Danish pic for the Gothenburg-born von Horn.
In the documentary section, the top prize worth SEK 250,000 ($22,500) award went to the Swedish/French “Trans Memoria” by Victoria Verseau, the director’s own personal experience of transition achieved in Thailand. “The director tells a personal and brave story in an unexpected and elegant way,” said the jury which praised Verseau’s “honesty, subtle approach, and captivating work with the characters from the very first moments. “The visual component does not merely accompany the story but becomes an integral part of it, reflecting the inner world of both the protagonists and the director. The film is a poetic meditation, in which the director explores and re-enacts a traumatic experience in search of love, a lost friend, and acceptance,” they said.
In the debut category, rising talent Denise Fermandez was awarded the prestigious Ingmar Bergman Interntional Debut for “Hanami,” described as bold and beautiful film, that is impossible to fit into the structures of conventional storytelling. It embraces the pure artistry of filmmaking and a singular cinematic language. With nuance and tenderness, this film captures joy and sorrow of everyday life—illuminated through performances that bring forth the deep, unspoken bonds between mothers, daughters, and the communities they weave together,” said the jury including directors Dea Kulumbegashvili, Kaltrina Krasniqi, and Silje Riise Næss, chair of the board of The Bergman Estate, Norway. Fernandez first showcased her film as the Locarno Film festival where she won best emerging director-Filmmakers of the Present and a special mention from the first feature competition.
Amid a strong International competition lineup, the Oscar-winning Australian stop motion animator took home the SEK 50,000 prize for his tragicomedy “Memoir of a Snail”. “With nuance and tenderness, this film captures joy and sorrow of everyday life, illuminated through performances that bring forth the deep, unspoken bonds between mothers, daughters, and the communities they weave together,” said the jury.
Elsewhere, the Draken Film Award went to Clara Vida’s short film “Family.”
Earlier accolades were handed out to Julie Delpy, named Honorary Dragon Award recipient, and Thomas Vinterberg, Nordic Honorary Dragon Award winner.
The Startsladden best short film was awarded to Viktor Johansson for his film”True Artist”, the Startsladden Audience Award to Cows by Jakob Márky and Kasper Häggström.
Also awarded earlier from the Swedish Church was Fanny Ovesen for her debut pic “Live A Little”.
Commenting on the festival, which had a rocky start when Swedish Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand made a controversial speech as reported earlier, CEO Mirja Wester said: “It’s been a rollercoaster for us. I was taken by surprise and we would rather have used our time to discuss the films, but talking about film politics is also very important,” she said.
First timer in her role as artistic director Pia Lundberg added: “Yes our Culture Minister’s speech disrupted the first few days of the festival as it was the talk of the town. But all in all, it’s been a fantastic festival and a wonderful experience for me to introduce the films to the dedicated Göteborg film audience.”
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