‘Fallen Leaves,’ ‘Sex,’ Among Six Competing for Nordic Council Film Prize

Forget about “The Magnificent Seven”; it’s time for The Magnificent Six as they vie for the Nordic Council Film Prize this year.

The nominees, comprising four fiction films and two documentaries, each representing a Nordic country, were announced by Nordisk Film & TV Fond at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund.

Denmark is represented by “The Son and the Moon,” directed by Roja Pakari and Emilie Adelina Monies. Written by Pakari, who documents her own struggle with cancer, and Denniz Göl Bertelsen, the film is produced by Sara Stockmann for Sonntag Pictures.

From Greenland comes “Twice Colonized,” directed by Lin Alluna and written by Alluna and Aaju Peter. This film is produced by Emile Hertling Péronard for Ánorâk Film, Red Marrow Media, and EyeSteelFilm.

“I’m extremely happy about the nomination and the fact that Greenland is represented at the Nordic Council Film Prize for only the second time,” said Emile Hertling Péronard in a statement. “Twice Colonized” deals with the colonial history of the Nordic countries, a significant aspect often overlooked. We should not shy away from these truths, and like Aaju Peter, if we are able to talk about the darker chapters of our past, we can create a better future. This nomination is an opportunity to show that our people exist far beyond the colonial borders of the Nordic nation-states. Hopefully, in the future, we will have many more cross-border collaborations.”

Sweden’s entry is “Crossing,” directed and written by Levan Akin, known for “And Then We Danced.” Produced by Mathilde Dedye for French Quarter Film, the film is also among the select nominees.

Norway’s “Sex,” directed and written by Dag Johan Haugerud, is another contender. The first part of a trilogy that will continue with “Love,” it is produced by Yngve Sæther and Hege Hauff Hvattum for Motlys.

The creation of a film called “Sex” led to all sorts of jokes and misunderstandings during its production, including being summoned to “sex-meetings” and emails being censored. On the screenplay’s content, the director had this to say: “There aren’t that many jokes about sex in it. There’s some awkward humor, yes, but the main point has been to show the short span between ecstatic pleasure and shame. The uncomfortable and the funny are quite tight.”

Iceland’s entry is “Touch,” directed by Baltasar Kormákur, who co-wrote it with Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson. The film is produced by Agnes Johansen and Kormákur himself for RVK Studios.

Finland’s Aki Kaurismäki, who won the first Nordic Council Film Prize in 2002 for “The Man Without a Past,” has another shot with his film “Fallen Leaves,” produced by Misha Jaari and Mark Lwoff for Sputnik Oy and Bufo.

The award, which recognizes a full-length feature film produced in the Nordic countries and released in cinemas, comes with a prize of DKK 300,000 (approximately $44,557). The prize is shared among the director, screenwriter, and producer.

The winner will be announced online on October 22 by Icelandic Broadcasting Service RÚV. Past winners include “Empire” by Frederikke Aspöck, last year’s awarded film, as well as “Lamb,” “Flee,” “Louder Than Bombs,” “The Hunt,” and “Antichrist.”

Source: source names