“The NDR Film Prize jury honours a film that explores the despair of a great loss with almost playful ease. In unusual, precise scenes, the characters interact as equals, displaying enormous strength and comedic elements. This is brave filmmaking, bolstered by breathtakingly inventive skill and powerful imagery.” This was the jury statement accompanying the NDR Film Prize at the Nordic Film Days in Lübeck, which was bestowed upon Hlynur Pálmason’s A White, White Day [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Hlynur Pálmason
scheda film].

The Nordic Film Days, held annually in November since 1956, is one of the few European festivals devoted entirely to presenting Nordic and Baltic films. Many directors whose features were presented in Lübeck have seen their careers skyrocket – names such as Bille August, Aki Kaurismäki and Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, among others.

The 61st edition of the event was brought to a close on Sunday. A White, White Day was recently put forward as Iceland’s entry for the 2020 Best International Feature Film Oscar and made this year’s selection for the European Film Awards. Pálmason’s drama, an Icelandic-Danish-Swedish co-production, is set in a remote town and revolves around an off-duty police chief, who begins to suspect a man of having had an affair with his wife. Lead actor Ingvar Eggert Sigurdsson accepted the award on behalf of the whole crew.

The festival saw the triumph of another Icelandic flick – namely, Rúnar Rúnarsson's Echo [+leggi anche:
recensione
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intervista: Rúnar Rúnarsson
scheda film]. Rúnarsson’s drama received the Interfilm Church Prize and was recently awarded Best Director at Valladolid’s Seminci. The jury’s reasoning for awarding the picture read as follows: “The Interfilm jury awards its prize to a film that uses innovative cinematic language to tell a series of small stories about human life. The movie reminds us that every human being needs relationships, understanding, forgiveness and love.” The accolade was accepted by producer Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir.

Festival director Linde Fröhlich was delighted about the way in which this year’s edition was received and said: “I am very happy that the winners display a diversity of genres and cinematic styles, and reflect the state of our society from very different points of view.” Festival manager Florian Vollmers added: “After the Nordic Film Days, many of the films that won here will be released in German cinemas. I hope that the Lübeck awards enable a rousing opening, and I am very pleased that the gathering can help good movies from the Nordic regions find even larger audiences in Germany.”

Here is the full list of award winners:

NDR Film Prize
A White, White Day [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Hlynur Pálmason
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Lübecker Nachrichten Audience Prize
Master Cheng [+leggi anche:
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Baltic Film Prize for a Nordic Film
Sons of Denmark [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Elliott Crosset Hove
intervista: Ulaa Salim
scheda film] - Ulaa Salim (Denmark)

Interfilm Church Film Prize
Echo [+leggi anche:
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trailer
intervista: Rúnar Rúnarsson
scheda film] - Rúnar Rúnarsson (Iceland/France/Switzerland)

Documentary Film Prize
Power of Yoik - Paul-Anders Simma (Finland/UK/Norway/Sweden)

Best Feature Debut
Aurora [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Miia Tervo
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CineStar Prize
Ascona - Julius Dommer (Germany)

Children and Youth Film Prize
Stupid Young Heart [+leggi anche:
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Children’s Jury Prize
All I Want for Christmas - Christian Dyekjær (Denmark)