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FESTIVALS / AWARDS Sweden

Once Aurora sings its way to victory at Nordisk Panorama

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- Stian Servoss and Benjamin Langeland’s take on a Norwegian pop sensation was named Best Nordic Documentary at the 30th edition of the Nordisk Panorama Film Festival

Once Aurora sings its way to victory at Nordisk Panorama
Directorial duo Stian Servoss and Benjamin Langeland picking up their award for Once Aurora

The Norwegian production Once Aurora [+see also:
trailer
interview: Benjamin Langeland
film profile
]
, directed by the dynamic duo consisting of Stian Servoss and Benjamin Langeland, and devoted to a young musician whose debut studio album, All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend, saw her being compared to the likes of Björk, was named Best Nordic Documentary and awarded €11,000 (sponsored by the Nordic public broadcasters DR, YLE, RUV, NRK and SVT) at the 30th edition of the Nordisk Panorama Film Festival. As argued by jurors Kathy Brew, programmer for DocFortnight, Hogir Hirori and Christine Camdessus, executive director of FIPADOC, the award was in recognition of the fact that, thanks to “its strong cinematic power through its cinematography, sound and editing, this colourful portrait of an artist as a young woman brings us to a new dawn”. An Honourable Mention went to Scheme Birds [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, directed by Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin, again making a strong case for creative partnerships.

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Lindy the Return of Little Light by Ida Persson Lännerberg was the winner of the New Nordic Voice competition (€5,000, sponsored by Film i Skåne and AVEK), introducing promising Nordic filmmakers whose works haven’t yet been screened in the Nordisk Panorama competitions. It was praised as a “sincere and entertaining film about the importance of believing in yourself and accepting who you are in a world full of adversaries. A life liberation project, which liberates us all!” went the enthusiastic statement signed by Per Fikse, festival director of Minimalen, Marzibil Sæmundardóttir, director of Iceland’s Stockfish Film Festival, and Finnish producer Outi Rousu. She-Pack by Fanny Ovesen was chosen as the Best New Nordic Voice Short, while the City of Malmö’s Audience Award (€2,500) went to the politically charged Humanity on Trial by Jonas Bruun, about a young Dane who decides to help rescue refugees from the Aegean Sea, only to be charged with people smuggling.

This year’s anniversary edition wrapped in Malmö’s Old City Hall on 24 September, after six days of the best new Nordic documentaries and short films. It also saw artistic director of the Red Sea Film Festival Hussain Currimbhoy join in as guest documentary programmer, together with associate programmer Nadia Abraham, of the Faroe Islands International Minority Film Festival. Over 80 films were screened during the gathering, selected from among over 500 submissions, with 250 of the latest Nordic shorts and documentaries presented during the Nordisk Panorama Market.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Nordic Documentary
Once Aurora [+see also:
trailer
interview: Benjamin Langeland
film profile
]
– Stian Servoss and Benjamin Langeland (Norway)

Honourable Mention
Scheme Birds [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
- Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin (Sweden/UK)

Best Nordic Short Film
Sorry, Not Sorry - Julia Thelin (Sweden)

Honourable Mentions
The Stroker - Pilvi Takala (Finland/UK)
No Ill Will - Andrias Høgenni (Denmark)

Winner, New Nordic Voice Doc
Lindy the Return of Little Light - Ida Persson Lännerberg (Sweden)

Winner, New Nordic Voice Short
She-Pack - Fanny Ovesen (Norway)

City of Malmö’s Audience Award
Humanity on Trial - Jonas Bruun (Denmark)

Young Nordic – Children’s Choice Award
The Evil Principal - Ida Hansen Eldøen (Norway)

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