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Border scoops further accolades in Haugesund

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- Ali Abbasi’s radical take on the Nordic fairy-tale tradition has taken home another top award from the Norwegian International Film Festival

Border scoops further accolades in Haugesund
Border by Ali Abbasi

The Norwegian Film Critics’ Award at the 46th Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund has been bestowed upon the Swedish-Danish title Border [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ali Abbasi
film profile
]
, directed by Ali Abbasi, and scripted by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Abbasi and Isabella Eklöf (Holiday [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Victoria Carmen Sonne
film profile
]
), based on a story by Lindqvist (Let the Right One In). 

The jury was appointed by the Norwegian Film Critics’ Society, and included Guri Kulås from Klassekampen, Terje Eidsvåg from Adresseavisen and Britt Aksnes from Dag og Tid. Their motivation stated that the film “is thematically and visually daring, with a finely tuned balance between the serious and the comedic. Rarely have we seen such a unique and meaningful allegory over subjects such as alienation, integration and identity. And never have we seen a superior modernised version of Nordic folklore.” Border, the tale of an eccentric customs officer with a supernatural pedigree, premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes, where it also snagged the top UCR Award. 

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The Audience Award, presented by an audience jury appointed by TV Haugaland, also went to a Cannes entry, Capernaum [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, directed by Lebanon’s Nadine Labaki. In their deliberation, the jury stated that the film is “raw and realistic, yet able to draw comedy and warmth from an otherwise seemingly hopeless situation”.

The Ray of Sunshine Prize, awarded by a jury appointed by the Norwegian Cinema Managers’ Association, was given to the French-Italian-Belgian-US production The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, directed by Ken Scott. The Andreas Award, Haugesund’s ecumenical film prize, went to The Children Act [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
Richard Eyre’s adaptation of an Ian McEwan novel, and the FIPRESCI Award was given to Finland’s Euthanizer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Teemu Nikki
film profile
]
, directed by Teemu Nikki and lauded for its “splendidly dark and original takes on well-mined genre forms”.

Haugesund also presented the five feature films from the Nordic countries nominated for the 2018 Nordic Council Film Prize. The Nordic Council Film Prize is awarded to a full-length feature film that has its roots in Nordic culture and displays high standards of artistic quality and originality. The Nordisk Film & TV Fond is responsible for the administration of the prize of DKK 350,000, to be shared equally among the winning film’s director, scriptwriter and producer. The 2018 nominees are Denmark’s Winter Brothers [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elliott Crosset Hove
interview: Hlynur Pálmason
film profile
]
 by Hlynur Pálmason, Finland’s Euthanizer by Teemu Nikki, Iceland’s Woman at War [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Benedikt Erlingsson
interview: Benedikt Erlingsson
film profile
]
 by Benedikt Erlingsson, Norway’s Thelma [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eili Harboe
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile
]
 by Joachim Trier and Sweden’s Ravens [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jens Assur
film profile
]
 by Jens Assur. The final winner of the 2018 Nordic Council Film Prize will be announced on 30 October at the Norwegian Opera House in Oslo. 

Here is the full list of winners:

Norwegian Film Critics’ Award
Border [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ali Abbasi
film profile
]
 – Ali Abbasi (Sweden/Denmark)

Ray of Sunshine Award
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 – Ken Scott (France/Italy/Belgium/USA)

FIPRESCI Award
Euthanizer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Teemu Nikki
film profile
]
 – Teemu Nikki (Finland)

Andreas Award
The Children Act [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 – Richard Eyre (UK/USA)

Audience Award
Capernaum [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
 – Nadine Labaki (Lebanon/France)

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