The Nordic Council Film Prize nominees shortlist has been expanded, for the first time, to include seven feature films, including a title produced by the Faroe Islands.
Nominated films include Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958–1989, written and directed by Göran Hugo Olsson (The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975). The film was produced by Tobias Janson and uses archival footage to explore how the conflict between Israel and Palestine has been portrayed on Swedish public service TV. The film premiered at last year’s Venice Film FestivaL and is Sweden’s entry.
Representing Norway is Dag Johan Haugerud’s Dreams, which nabbed the Golden Bear at the most recent Berlinale. The first entry from the Faroe Islands is The Last Paradise on Earth from director Sakaris Stórá. The film was produced by Jón Hammer. Stórá co-wrote the screenplay with Tommy Oksen and Mads Stegger.
The film’s synopsis reads: Kári cherishes the simple life in his small village. Together with his sister Silja, he quietly mourns the loss of their mother. While Kári finds solace in his job at the fish factory, Silja struggles to finish school, and their father returns to the sea on a fishing boat. But when the factory faces the threat of closure, the fragile balance of their world begins to unravel. As friends dream of escape and seek new lives beyond the island, Kári makes a different choice: to stay and confront life head-on. For him, his hometown is the last paradise on earth.
Scroll down for the full list of nominees. The winner will be announced on October 21 at an award ceremony at Bio Skandia in Stockholm. Last year’s winner was Haugerud’s Sex.
The prize comes with a DKK 300,000 ($40,000) cash prize, which is shared between the director, writers, and producers.
Nominees
- DENMARK: My Eternal Summer (Min Evige Sommer)Directed by Sylvia Le FanuWritten by Sylvia Le Fanu, Mads Lind KnudsenProduced by Jeppe Wowk
- FARO ISLANDS: The Last Paradise on Earth (Seinasta paradís á jørð)Directed by Sakaris StóráWritten by Tommy Oksen, Mads Stegger, Sakaris StóráProduced by Jón Hammer
- FINLAND: The Helsinki EffectDirected & written by Arthur FranckProduced by Sandra Enkvist, Arthur Franck, Oskar Forstén
- GREENLAND: WALLS – Akinni InukDirected by Sofie Rørdam, Nina Paninnguaq SkydsbjergProduced by Emile Hertling Péronard
- ICELAND: When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)Directed & written by Rúnar RúnarssonProduced by Heather Millard, Rúnar Rúnarsson
- NORWAY: Dreams (Drømmer)Directed & written by Dag Johan HaugerudProduced by Yngve Sæther, Hege Hauff Hvattum
- SWEDEN: Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958–1989 (Israel Palestina på svensk tv 1958-1989)Directed & written by Göran Hugo OlssonProduced by Tobias Janson
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