Nordic Competition
Best Norwegian Film - The Minimalen Trophy and 5.000 kroner given by Minimalen
NO MAN IS AN ISLAND by Ali Parandian [NOR]
The jury was impressed with the visually beautiful scenes, the sound design, acting and poetry in this film. This poetry is juxtaposed with an encounter with the rough reality of racism hidden behind a message of tolerance which makes the glass ceiling even more hurtful for the protagonists of the film. Through a small random encounter, the director intelligently shows us how No man is an Island.
Best Nordic Film - The Minimalen Trophy and 1.000 euro given by NTNU - Faculty of Humanities
FAMILY LIFE (Familjeliv) by Anna-Karin Örander [SWE]
The jury appreciates the director's bold take on families and fantasies with a sense of dark humour and great actors. As a young woman moves back in with her aging parents, conscious and subconscious dreams melt with nightmares in a disturbing portrait of a suburban family that sticks with the jury.
Best Nordic Fiction
THE CEILING (Katto) by Teppo Airaksinen [FIN]
The jury enjoyed the metaphorical journey through a modern day divorce. Olavi, on the brink of divorce, retreats to his cabin only to find that the ceiling has come down and he literally is not able to stand up straight anymore. The metaphor gives room for reflections about what is real and what might be a mirage, but things seem to get back on track when the protagonist finally stands up for himself.
Best Nordic Animation
THE BURDEN (Min Börda) by Niki Lindroth von Bahr [SWE]
The jury appreciates the detailed handcraft and the absurd mixing of stop motion animation and musical in a somewhat ludicrous universe where fishes can sing. The jury appreciated the empowering and comforting ending for us in this universe, which leaves us with some hope.
Best Nordic Documentary
TO MY CHILDREN by Shwan Dler Qaradaki [NOR]
We were touched by the story told sincerely from the heart dealing with difficult questions as identity, home and family. The film tells the story of Kurdish Shwan Dlar Qardaki that escapes war ridden Iraq in search of a new life in Europe. But the escape becomes more complicated than just the journey itself. What has he had to leave behind? What prices has he had to pay to come to Norway? How can he find his peace when a lot of his family members still live close to the front lines of a war. The film shows the leap of faith that Qardaki has had to make to embrace his new life, and the jury was moved by the story.
Honorable Mentions, Norwegian Competition
FANNY by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel [NOR]
The jury could not resist the protagonist as a personality in distress and the way the actress performed it. Kristine Thorp makes an impressive interpretation of a character that is trying to find her way through what she finds as a superficial start-up week at university. She searches for roots and deeper relationships as she moves back to her hometown and makes her way into a new stage of her life.
ODD IS AN EGG (Odd er et egg) by Kristin Ulseth [NOR]
The jury was charmed with this animation film that shows the challenges of falling in love when the protagonist is preoccupied with escaping his fears. But with a surprising twist the film elegantly finds a solution to what turns out to be a simple problem. The film is warm, humorous and charmed the jury.
Jury: Beth Sá Freire [BRA], Sari Volanen [FIN], Igor Devold [NOR].
Best Norwegian Prerunner - To be screened before a feature film at Trondheim kino for one month, selected by Trondheim kino.
BRANCH (Kvist) by Det Sporadiske Filmkollektivet [NOR]
(In Norwegian:) En kompakt, underfundig og morsom historie med viktig tema. Filmen får en ny og større betydning etter at #metoo ble satt på kartet. Assosiasjonene går til hva kvinner bærer over med hos (selvgode og arrogante) menn, og at begeret til slutt renner over. Filmens innhold er tilgjengelig og gjenkjennelig, noe vi synes er viktige egenskaper for en forfilm.
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