‘Fallen Leaves,’ ‘Sex,’ ‘Crossing’ Among Six Films Selected to Compete for Nordic Council Film Prize

As a seasoned cinema enthusiast with a penchant for stories that resonate deeply and challenge societal norms, I am thoroughly intrigued by this year’s Nordic Council Film Prize nominees. Having traversed the cinematic landscapes of the Nordic region, I can attest to the rich tapestry of narratives that emanate from these countries, each distinct yet intertwined in their exploration of human experiences.

Instead of “The Magnificent Seven,” we have The Magnificent Six vying for the Nordic Council Film Prize this year.

At the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, Nordisk Film & TV Fond revealed the list of nominees. This group includes four fiction and two documentary feature films, each representing one of the Nordic countries.

I’m a cinema enthusiast, and one movie that truly resonates with me is “The Son and the Moon,” hailing from Denmark. This powerful film is the brainchild of directors Roja Pakari and Emilie Adelina Monies. The script, a poignant reflection of life penned by Roja herself during her personal battle with cancer, was further enriched by Denniz Göl Bertelsen. This masterpiece is brought to you by the visionary Sara Stockmann from Sonntag Pictures.

“The work titled ‘Twice Colonized’, penned by authors Aaju Peter and Alluna from Greenland, was created under the direction of Emile Hertling Péronard. The production was handled by Ánorâk Film, Red Marrow Media, and EyeSteelFilm.”

As a cinephile thrilled beyond words, I can’t help but express my joy over Greenland’s second-ever nomination for the Nordic Council Film Prize. My film, ‘Twice Colonized,’ delves into the often overlooked colonial history of the Nordic nations. Given that this chapter in our shared past isn’t commonly confronted by the people of the Nordics, its significance cannot be overstated.

Let’s not avoid confronting these truths; instead, if we can discuss the challenging aspects of our history like Aaju Peter, we’ll have a chance to build a more promising and vibrant tomorrow. ‘Twice Colonized’, a project by Inuit from Greenland and Canada, is a testament to our existence beyond the colonial territories of Nordic nations-states. Here’s hoping that in the future, we can establish numerous such transnational collaborations.

In the supportive role, I’d express it like this: “I’m thrilled to share that two captivating films have been chosen! ‘Crossing,’ directed and written by Levan Akin – who previously gifted us with ‘And Then We Danced’ – and produced by Mathilde Dedye for French Quarter Film, is one of them. Similarly, Norway’s ‘Sex,’ directed and penned by Dag Johan Haugerud, has been selected too. This film marks the beginning of a trilogy, with ‘Love’ to follow suit, and it’s produced by Yngve Sæther and Hege Hauff Hvattum for Motlys.”

“Discussing the film titled ‘Sex’ led to numerous funny mix-ups during production, such as being called for a meeting that was labeled as a ‘sex meeting’, or emails getting blocked because ‘sex props’ were mentioned in the subject line,” the director humorously pointed out back in February.

In the screenplay, you won’t find a abundance of sex-related jokes. Instead, there’s some uneasy humor present. The primary focus is on illustrating the brief period between intense pleasure and feelings of shame. It’s important to note that in regards to sexual experiences, there are often two sides – the uncomfortable and the humorous – which tend to be quite close together.

In the end, Baltasar Kormákur’s film “Touch,” co-written with Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson and produced by Agnes Johansen and Kormákur at RVK Studios, will face off against Aki Kaurismäki’s “Fallen Leaves.” Notably, Kaurismäki, Finland’s esteemed filmmaker who won the first Nordic Council Film Prize in 2002 for “The Man Without a Past,” now has another opportunity with this production, produced by Misha Jaari and Mark Lwoff for Sputnik Oy and Bufo.

The honor, which acknowledges a feature-length film created within the Nordic regions and screened in cinemas, offers a total reward of DKK 300,000 ($44,557). This amount is distributed equally among the film’s director, scriptwriter, and producer.

On October 22nd, the winner will be revealed online by Icelandic Broadcasting Service (RÚV). Previous winners include films such as “Empire” by Frederikke Aspöck from last year, along with “Lamb,” “Flee,” “Louder Than Bombs,” “The Hunt,” and “Antichrist.” In other words, the upcoming winner will be chosen from this esteemed group of past award recipients.

2024-08-20 13:47

‘Fallen Leaves,’ ‘Sex,’ ‘Crossing’ Among Six Films Selected to Compete for Nordic Council Film Prize

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