The NDR Film Prize of the 61st Lübeck Nordic Film Days (Nordische Filmtage Lübeck), endowed with € 12,500, went to an Icelandic film, “A White, White Day” (“Hvítur, hvítur dagur”), directed by Hlynur Pálmason, with lead actor Ingvar E. Sigurðsson in attendance to accept the award. The distributor Arsenal will release the film theatrically in German beginning February 13, 2020.
The Friends of the Nordic Film Days Prize for Best Feature Debut, endowed with €7,500, went to “Aurora” directed by Miia Tervo from Finland. The film’s star, Mimosa Willamo, was onstage to accept the award.
The Audience Prize, endowed with €5,000, also went to a film from Finland, director Mika Kaurismäki’s “Master Cheng” (“Mestari Cheng”). The award was accepted by lead actress Maija Tuokko.
The Baltic Film Prize for a Nordic Feature Film, endowed with €2,500, was won by a Danish movie. At the Prize Gala for the 61st Lübeck Nordic Film Days, director Ulaa Salim accepted the award for her debut “Sons of Denmark” (“Danmarks sønner”).
The Interfilm Church Prize, endowed (with €5,000) by the Protestant-Lutheran church district of Lübeck-Lauenburg, goes to “Echo” (“Bergmál”) by Rúnar Rúnarsson. Accepting the award on behalf of the film was producer Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir.
The newly-renamed Documentary Film Prize of the North DGB District (trade union federation), with an increased endowment this year of €5,000, goes to a film from Finland’s far northern region – “Power of Yoik” (“Luodi fábmu”). Director Paul-Anders Simma was expected in Lübeck, but a massive snowstorm made travel impossible.
Winners of 61st Lübeck Nordic Film Days
NDR Film Prize
A WHITE, WHITE DAY (Hvítur, hvítur dagur),
dir: Hlynur Pálmason, Iceland/Denmark/Sweden
Friends of the NFL Prize for Best First Feature:
AURORA (Aurora), dir: Miia Tervo,
Finland
Lübecker Nachrichten Audience Prize
MASTER CHENG (Mestari Cheng), dir: Mika Kaurismäki
Finland/China/Britain
Interfilm Church Film Prize
ECHO (Bergmál), dir: Rúnar Rúnarsson
Iceland/France/Switzerland
Baltic Film Prize for a Nordic Film
SONS OF DENMARK (Danmarks sønner), dir: Ulaa Salim, Denmark
Documentary Film Prize of the North DGB District
THE POWER OF YOIK (Luodi fábmu), dir: Paul-Anders Simma
Finland/Britain/Norway/Sweden
CineStar Prize
ASCONA (Ascona), dir: Julius Dommer, Germany
Honorable Mention goes to:
PICTURES I DIDN‘T TAKE, dir: Anna Grabo, Germany
Children’s and Youth Film Prize
STUPID YOUNG HEART (Hölmö nuori sydän), dir: Selma Vilhunen, Finland/Netherlands/Sweden
Honorable Mention goes to:
AWAY (Away), dir: Gints Zilbalodis, Latvia
Children’s Jury Prize
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS (Julemandens Datter), dir: Christian Dyekjær, Denmark
Honorable Mention goes to:
PHANTOM OWL FOREST (Eia jõulud Tondikakul), dir: Anu Aun, Estonia