“King of Devil’s Island” from Norway Is The Winning Film at 53rd Nordic Film Days Lübeck

The Norwegian drama ”King of Devil’s Island” by director Marius Holst is the winning film at the 53rd Nordic Film Days Lübeck. The thrilling recount of a rebellion on a prison island in the Oslofjord in 1915, starring Stellan Skarsgård, has won both the renowned NDR Award for Best Feature Film and the much coveted Lübecker Nachrichten Audience Award. Director Marius Holst and actor Benjamin Helstadt accepted the prizes at the Film Prize Night on 5th November at Theater Lübeck, marking the climax of Europe’s largest film festival for Nordic Cinema. The NDR Award for Best Feature Film at the 53rd Nordic Film Days Lübeck is endowed with 12,500 euros and was presented by the jury on account of ”King of Devil’s Island” going beyond the mere reconstruction of historical facts and treating major topics of the history of mankind that have contemporary political relevance: The jury concludes that “King of Devil’s Island is a gripping cinema experience with a powerful narrative.” After the audience cast their ballot, the LN Audience Award, endowed with 5,000 euros, also went to ”King of Devil’s Island”.

The Baltic Films Prize at Nordic Film Days Lübeck went to Iceland: “Either Way”, Hafsteinn G. Sigurdsson’s absurd comedy about two roadmen in the plains of Iceland, was awarded the prize by the Baltic jury for its consequent minimalism. The Interfilm Church Prize, endowed with 2,500 euros, went to the Finnish literary adaptation “Sixpack Movie” by Ville Jankeri. The jury stated that the laconic comedy about three young men on a summer’s day in Helsinki takes an intelligent, playful approach to social prejudices and emphasizes the significance of true friendship.

The Documentary Film Prize, endowed with 2,500 euros, went to “My Beloved – A film About Love and Courage” by Hilde Korsæth. The jury stated that “With a great sense of empathy and highly sensitive camerawork, the director has succeeded in presenting the audience with an impression of how Alzheimer’s turns the most trivial everyday routines into near insurmountable challenges”.

The Swedish youth film “I Miss You” by Anders Grönros was awarded the Children’s and Youth Film Prize at the 53rd Nordic film Days Lübeck, endowed with 5,000 euros. According to the jury, the story of a 15-year-old who must come to terms with the accidental death of her twin sister would “dwell in its audience’s hearts for times to come” on account of its “sensitive directing, careful imagery and powerful, emotional music”. The Prize of the Children’s Jury, endowed with 5,000 euros, went to the Norwegian contribution “Coming Home” by Anders Øvergaard. The jury, which consisted of children, stated that the story of a city girl who moves to the country and discovers her love of horses shows that “true friendship is one of the most important things people can share in life.”

The Cinegate Prize for the best short film in the Filmforum, the Nordic Film Days Lübeck section for films from northern Germany, went to “Like a Stranger” by Lena Liberta. According to the jury, the director’s story of a young Iranian man in Germany “successfully depicts the manifold personal effects of the political problem of a foreigner who is merely tolerated, without ever becoming moralistic or pointing her finger.” An audience day and a repetition of the competing films see the 53rd Nordic Film Days Lübeck come to their end on Sunday, 6th November.

All award winners and jury statements of 53rd Nordic Film Days Lübeck as download: nfl_award_winners_2011.pdf