37th Göteborg Film Festival Award Winners

Last Saturday night the festival had their awards ceremony and here are all the award winners.

Dragon Awards

Best Nordic Film
I dina hænde (In Your Arms), Samanou Acheche Sahlstrøm, Denmark and Germany
Jury’s motivation: The award goes to a film, that with honest sensitivity, brings up the questions: When is life worth living? When is life not worth living? Told in a pure language, with poetic moments, and with an acting that is vibrating of human authenticity. A film that ends with death – but also with life, love and hope.

This year’s jury consisted of the actor Maryam Moghaddam and the directors Pernille Fischer Christensen, Pirjo Honkasalo, Anja Breien and Benedikt Erlingsson.



The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award
Urok (The Lesson), Petar Valchanov and Kristina Grozeva, Bulgaria and Greece
Jury's motivation: I, as the Jury President for this program, was strongly attracted to how this film depicts elaborately of the human psychology and emotional flows of the main character, who were put in the difficult situations of life that possibly anyone could face. Together with the rhythm created in the process of editing, the way it incorporates natural light, and the outstanding performance that are naturally presented on screen, I believe this film has achieved the quality one could hardly believe that this is the first feature film. As an achievement of this film, I value the fact that the film eagerly seeks for, shares, and presents what’s true to us as audience.

This year’s jury consisted of Naomi Kawase (director), Gust van den Berghe (director) and Mads Mikkelsen (programmer at CPH:DOX)



Best Nordic Documentary
The Look of Silence, Joshua Oppenheimer, Denmark, Finland, Indonesia, Norway and UK
Jury’s motivation: The award goes to a film which breaks the barriers between documentary and fiction, by opening up space for a performance of history. Using the camera to confront memories, and inspire reconciliation, this film's look at the tragical past shapes a nation's view of the future

This year’s jury consisted of Ossama Mohammed (director), Linde Frölich (artistic director at Nordic Film Days Lübeck), Jacob Lundström (film critic and journalist) and Gabriela Pichler (director).

Sven Nykvist Cinematography Award
Pietari Peltola for He ovat paenneet (They Have Escaped), J.-P. Valkeapää, Finland and Netherlands
Jury’s motivation: The award goes to a powerful, daring and cinematic language, with the courage to combine dream and reality and break the rules of classical story telling. In a film where you truly feel the cinematographer and director speaking the same language, with the same energy.

The award jury consisted of the actor Maryam Moghaddam and the directors Pernille Fischer Christensen, Pirjo Honkasalo, Anja Breien and Benedikt Erlingsson.

FIPRESCI Award
I dina hænde (In Your Arms), Samanou Acheche Sahlstrøm, Denmark and Germany
Jury's motivation: The FIPRESCI jury is proud to give the award to In Your Arms, for its deep understanding of human behavior; its ability to project strong emotions without being sentimental in a heavy story, and for the great focus in its structure built on two characters, depicted by powerful acting performances

The jury included Ulrich Wimmeroth, Yesim Tabakand, Luuk Imhann.

Audience Awards
Best Feature Film: Risttuules (In the Crosswind), Martti Helde, Estonia
Best Nordic Film: Min lilla syster (My Skinny Sister), Sanna Lenken, Sweden and Germany

The Church of Sweden Film Award: Every Face Has a Name, Magnus Gertten
The City of Gothenburg Award: Turist (Force Majeure), Ruben Östlund

Short Films
Best Swedish Short Film: Värn (Reduit), John Skoog
Audience Award: Stoerre vaerie (Nothern Great Mountain), Amanda Kernell

To read the official announcement go here for general films and for short films go here.