Gunnar Vikene’s War Sailor has won the audience award at the 50th Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund.
Inspired by a true story, War Sailor follows two Norwegian civilian merchant sailors who find themselves thrust into danger when World War II breaks out; it also explores the legacy of war on their lives decades later.
War Sailor, which opened the festival, will have its international premiere in Toronto’s Contemporary World Cinema section. Beta Cinema handles sales and Maria Ekerhovd produces for Mer Film. The cast features Kristoffer Joner, Pal Sverre Hagen and Ine Marie Wilmann.
The Andreas Award, the festival’s ecumenical film prize, went to The Emigrants directed by Erik Poppe.
The critics’ award went to Close, directed by Lukas Dhont.
The Ray of Sunshine Award, for a film that excites and spreads joy, went to Broker directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
At the Nordic Co-production Market, the best project award – voted by the audience of industry attendees after the pitches – went to The Love Pill to be directed by Iraqi-Swedish filmmaker Naures Sager and produced by Michael Detlef for their company The Uneven. Sager’s fiction feature debut is a romantic comedy about a pill that could help two queer Arab men admit their love for each other.
The Next Nordic Generation Award, presented to the best film from the Nordic film schools, was awarded to Free Men directed by Óskar Kristinn Vignisson and produced by Søs Thøstesen.
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