09/09/2009

A record nine Nordic titles have been short-listed for the European Film Awards (EFA) nominations, against six in 2007 and five in 2008, a proof of the region’s current filmmaking vitality and diversity.

Denmark and Sweden, the largest production countries, have the highest number of films selected (three each), followed by Norway (two) and Finland (one). All films are supported by the pan-Nordic production and distribution fund Nordisk Film & TV Fond. "It is great to see that out of 48 films selected for the EFA nominations, nine are Nordic films. This means that close to 20% of all selected films come from the Nordic region with a total population of no more than 25 million. It proves our high quality of filmmaking," said the Fund’s CEO Hanne Palmquist.

The three Danish films shortlisted are festival hits: Lars von Trier’s Antichrist [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lars von Trier
film profile], Ruben Genz’s Terribly Happy [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Annette K. Olesen’s Little Soldier [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Sweden is represented by veteran filmmaker Jan Troell and his well-crafted period film Everlasting Moments [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Thomas Alfredson who has delivered with Let the Right One In [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: John Nordling
interview: Tomas Alfredson
film profile] one of his country’s most innovative films in decades, and the international blockbuster The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Niels Arden Oplev
interview: Søren Stærmose
film profile] directed by Denmark’s Niels Arden Oplev.

Norway is running with its biggest domestic hit in a decade: Max Manus [+see also:
trailer
film profile] co-directed by Espen Sandberg and Joachim Rønning, and Rune Denstad Langlo’s acclaimed feature debut Nord [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rune Denstad Langlo
film profile]. Finally Finland is represented by one of its finest filmmakers: Aku Louhimies and his civil war drama Tears of April [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

Sweden’s Let the Right One In and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo have also been selected with eight other European films for the EFA People’s Choice Award. The EFA nominations will be announced on November 7 at the Sevilla European Film Festival, and the EFA ceremony will take place on December 12 in Germany’s Ruhr Metropolis.