GRANDMONSTER pitching at the Nordic Co-Production Market. Photo: Grethe Nygaard
The 54th Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund is coming to a close. The Rivals of Amziah King, Butterfly and Pressure won the film prizes, while Grandmonster won the Best Pitch Award, Elektra won MIDPOINT Talent Award, Anathema won the Storyline Production Award and Groupies won the Next Nordic Generation Award.
Seven awards are presented at the festival: The Audience Award, The Ray of Sunshine Award, The Norwegian Critics’ Award, Best Pitch Award, MIDPOINT Talent Award, Storyline Production Award and The Next Nordic Generation Award.
Photo: Grethe Nygaard
The Audience Award
The Audience Award is presented by the Norwegian International Film Festival. The jury consisted of Rune Sirnes, Molly S. Støle, Jon Oma Dahle, Lene Høynes and Tina Børtung. Jury-leader Rune Sirnes presented the Audience Award to Pressure. The Audience Award is given in collaboration with Haugesunds Avis.
Jury's statement:
The jury were impressed by a strong lead performance and great sound, lighting and images. Even though we all knew the result of the event, the film managed to build tension throughout.
The film describes a man experiencing unbelievable pressure in an incredibly difficult situation, and the importance of standing by one’s convictions and beliefs - when everyone around you wants you to go the other way.
In this way it reflects the still relevant tensions between science and power. Making a weather report this intimidating and riveting is an accomplishment in itself. Watching the weather forecast will never be the same after watching this film.
Photo: Grethe Nygaard
The Ray of Sunshine Award
The Ray of Sunshine is meant for the film that excites and spreads the most joy. This prize is given by the festival and a jury appointed by the Norwegian Cinema Managers Association. The jury consists of Ida Kathrine Balto (Aurora kino – jury-leader), Stig Magne Pedersen (Odeon Stavanger/Sandnes), Morten Ørmen (Lillehammer kino) and Martin Øsmundset (Odeon kino). The award is presented to The Rivals of Amziah King and consists of a fine print by Terje Rafdal.
Jury’s statement:
The winner of the Ray of Sunshine Award invited us in with humour and warmth, but there is a lot more to this film. It is poetic and beautiful, but also a wild ride. There were times when it shocked us, times when it made us want to get up and dance and times when it made us want to call our loved ones. The film is a reminder that life is fragile, and that we have limited time with the people closest to us.
This captivating drama thriller is well written and full of surprises. It gives us a charming and original story in a film world which feels lived-in. The jury is impressed by the acting, the cinematography and the music. A special mention goes to the inspired editing, which brings an extra spark of life to the film. The Ray of Sunshine Award goes to The Rivals of Amziah King.
Photo: Grethe Nygaard
The Norwegian Critics’ Award
The Critics’ Award is presented by a jury consisting of members of the Norwegian Film Critics Association. This year’s jury consisted of Geir Kamsvåg (Cinema), Maka Dolidze (Filmmagasinet) and Britt Sørensen (Bergens Tidende).
The award is presented to Butterfly, directed by Itonje Søimer Guttormsen. The award is a fine print by Randi Kristin Strand.
Jury’s statement:
This year’s Film Critics’ Award honours one of Norway’s most distinctive and original filmmakers, and a film that is both immensely entertaining and deeply moving.
With striking visual flair, it explores a powerful sense of place and landscape, as well as the complexities of human relationships. The performances are equally compelling, allowing each actor to reveal the full breadth of their range.
Photo: Grethe Nygaard
Best Pitch Award
The award values the best pitch performance as well as the overall best project in the Nordic Co-production Market. The winner will be invited to participate in the Producers Network in Cannes. The winner is selected by a jury consisting of Annick Mahnert (Fantastic Fest, Frontières Co-Production Market), Sona Morgenthalová (at MIDPOINT Institute), Iris Cadoux (at Eurimages) and Kalle Løchen (Norsk Filminstitutt).
The winner of this year’s Best Pitch Award is Grandmonster.
Jury's statement:
The Best Pitch Award goes to a project that takes on the universal subject of aging - and adds a generous dose of cheeky humour, horror, and, apparently, zombies with dentures. Both the director and producer were completely at ease in their presentation. They made us laugh, they moved us, and most importantly, they convinced us that silliness and horror can travel remarkably well across borders. We left the pitch confident that this team has the energy, the humour, and the creative spark to bring that same spirit to the film.
Photo: Grethe Nygaard
MIDPOINT Talent Award
The winner receives in-depth digital script development guidance from one of MIDPOINT Institute’s experienced mentors. The jury consisted of Annick Mahnert (Fantastic Fest, Frontières Co-Production Market), Sona Morgenthalová (MIDPOINT Institute), Iris Cadoux (Eurimages), and Kalle Løchen (Norwegian Film Institute).
The winner of this year’s MIDPOINT Talent Award is Elektra.
Jury’s statement:
The MIDPOINT Talent Award goes to a project that stood out for its bold and timely take on ambition, power, and inequality. We were especially drawn to the way it reflects its protagonist’s inner struggle and gradually blurs the line between her reality and the world she is creating. A strong female character at its centre, a clear directorial vision, and an original use of the gaming environment.
Photo: Grethe Nygaard
Storyline Production Award
Storyline Production Award goes to the most promising project with an international appeal in the Nordic Co-Production Market. The winner will be decided upon by jurors Annick Mahnert (Fantastic Fest, Frontières Co-Production Market), Sona Morgenthalová (at MIDPOINT Institute), Iris Cadoux (at Eurimages) og Kalle Løchen (Norsk Film Institute).
The winner of the Storyline Production Award is Anathema.
Jury’s statement:
The Storyline Production Award goes to a project that dares to explore what it means to belong to a community - to follow its rules, protect its beliefs, and ultimately question how far those beliefs can take us. We were struck by the story of a town so determined to preserve its idea of a happy community that it is willing to cross the boundaries between the living and the dead, and to do the unthinkable in the name of keeping everything as it should be. It is a bold, unsettling, and deeply intriguing story, brought to us by a team with a clear vision and a strong sense of the world they want to create.
Photo: Grethe Nygaard
Next Nordic Generation Award
This year's jury consists of Marlene Emilie Lyngstad, Irasj Asanti and Johan Kaos. The Next Nordic Generation Award is a prize, amounting to NOK 20,000, provided by Totalpost Finland and awarded to the production team behind the best graduation film from the Nordic film schools.
The winner of this year's Next Nordic Generation Award is Groupies, directed by Clara Vida from The Norwegian Film School at the University of Inland. Sister of Mine received an honorable mention.
Jury’s statement:
This year’s winning film gives us an original and fascinating glimpse into a world that most of us rarely get to see. The filmmakers literally take us behind the scenes. Together with the film’s protagonist, we watch as the mythical and glamorous image we have of famous artists, groupies and life backstage is gradually stripped away, layer by layer.
The film’s non-linear structure keeps us engaged throughout, constantly giving us just enough information to make us want to know what comes next. What really stood out to us, however, was the filmmaker’s clear and confident vision. There is a strong sense that every choice has been made for a reason. The script, the actors, cinematography, production design, editing, sound design and overall visual language all work together to create a film with its own distinct identity. The result is a film that engages us, surprises us and pulls us deeper into its world.
And most importantly, it stays with us. This is a film that we believe we will remember long after the credits have rolled.
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