Nordic Council Film Prize
The Nordic Council Film Prize is an annual film prize administered by the Nordic Council since 2002. The Nordisk Film & TV Fond is the funding body that administers the prize, and also awards the Nordic Series Awards, since 2017.
History
The first award was handed out in 2002 to celebrate the Nordic Council's 50th anniversary.[1] Since 2005 the prize has been annual.[2]
In 2023, Greenland submitted a film for the first time with The Edge Of The Shadow, directed by Malik Kleist.[3][4]
In 2025, a film produced in the Faroe Islands was nominated for the first time.[5]
Description
The statutes of the award came into effect in 2003 and were amended in 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2016.[6] The award is given to a film deeply rooted in Nordic culture, it is shared between the film's director, scriptwriter and producer, underlining the fact that film as an art form is the result of a close collaboration between these three main functions.[7] The award includes a cash prize of DKK 300,000 ($40,000).[8][5]
The Nordic Council Film Prize is administered by the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, a secretariat to the Nordic Council. The Fond is funded by 22 partners: the Nordic Council of Ministers; five national film institutes; and 16 public and private media companies. It also funds the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize at the annual Gothenburg Film Festival.[9][6]
One winner is chosen from submissions from the five Nordic countries. Requirements for films entering the competition are: duration of at least 72 minutes, Nordic production, high artistic quality, recent premiere, the film's main language should be Nordic.[6] According to the Nordic Council, the prize is given for "the creation of an artistically original film that is rooted in Nordic cultural circles".[10]
Nordic Series Awards
In addition, since 2017 the Nordic Council has awarded the annual Nordic Series Awards, presented at TV Drama Vision in Göteborg, Sweden. These comprise:[11]
- The Nordic Series Script Award, which recognises outstanding screenwriting in Nordic drama, the successor to the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize
- The Creative Courage Award, introduced in 2025, recognises "the producer(s) and the commissioner(s) of a series that exemplifies bold, innovative, and risk-taking approaches in Nordic drama series".
Prize winners and nominees
Prize Winner
| Year | English Title | Original Title | Director(s) | Submitting country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Man Without a Past | Mies vailla menneisyyttä | Aki Kaurismäki | Finland |
| All About My Father | Alt om min far | Even Benestad | Norway | |
| Cleaning up! | Rostislav Aalto | Finland | ||
| Open Hearts | Elsker dig for evigt | Susanne Bier | Denmark | |
| The Sea | Hafið | Baltasar Kormákur | Iceland | |
| Days Like This | Leva livet | Mikael Håfström | Sweden | |
| Lilya 4-ever | Lukas Moodysson | Sweden | ||
| The Seagull's Laughter | Mávahlátur | Ágúst Guðmundsson | Iceland | |
| Music for Weddings and Funerals | Musikk for bryllup og begravelser | Unni Straume | Norway | |
| Okay | Jesper W. Nielsen | Denmark | ||
| 2005 | Manslaughter | Drabet | Per Fly | Denmark |
| Pusher II: With Blood on My Hands | Nicolas Winding Refn | Denmark | ||
| Frozen Land | Paha Maa | Aku Louhimies | Finland | |
| The 3 Rooms of Melancholia | Melancholian 3 huonetta | Pirjo Honkasalo | Finland | |
| Screaming Masterpiece | Gargandi Snilld | Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon | Iceland | |
| Dis (2004 film) | Silja Hauksdóttir | Iceland | ||
| Kissed by Winter | Vinterkyss | Sara Johnsen | Norway | |
| Hawaii, Oslo | Erik Poppe | Norway | ||
| The Guitar Mongoloid | Gitarrmongot | Ruben Östlund | Sweden | |
| A Hole in My Heart | Hål i mitt hjärta | Lukas Moodysson | Sweden | |
| 2006 | Zozo | Josef Fares | Sweden | |
| After the Wedding | Efter bryllupet | Susanne Bier | Denmark | |
| Offscreen | Christoffer Boe | Denmark | ||
| Revolution | Kenen joukoissa seisot | Jouko Aaltonen | Finland | |
| Mother of Mine | Äideistä parhain | Klaus Härö | Finland | |
| Thicker Than Water | Blóðbönd | Árni Ásgeirsson | Iceland | |
| A Little Trip to Heaven | Baltasar Kormákur | Iceland | ||
| Free Jimmy | Slipp Jimmy fri | Christopher Nielsen | Norway | |
| The Bothersome Man | Den brysomme mannen | Jens Lien | Norway | |
| Mouth to Mouth | Mun mot mun | Björn Runge | Sweden | |
| 2007 | The Art of Crying | Kunsten at Græde i Kor | Peter Schønau Fog | Denmark |
| AFR | Morten Hartz Kaplers | Denmark | ||
| A Man's Work | Miehen työ | Aleksi Salmenperä | Finland | |
| Children | Börn | Ragnar Bragason | Iceland | |
| Jar City | Mýrin | Baltasar Kormákur | Iceland | |
| Reprise | Joachim Trier | Norway | ||
| Sons | Sønner | Erik Richter Strand | Norway | |
| Falkenberg Farewell | Farväl Falkenberg | Jesper Ganslandt | Sweden | |
| Darling | Johan Kling | Sweden | ||
| 2008 | You, the Living | Du levande | Roy Andersson | Sweden |
| The Early Years: Erik Nietzsche Part 1 | De unge år – Erik Nietzsche Del 1 | Jacob Thuesen | Denmark | |
| The Home of Dark Butterflies | Tummien perhosten koti | Dome Karukoski | Finland | |
| White Night Wedding | Brúðguminn | Baltasar Kormákur | Iceland | |
| The Man Who Loved Yngve | Mannen som elsket Yngve | Stian Kristiansen | Norway | |
| 2009 | Antichrist | Lars von Trier | Denmark | |
| Sauna | Antti-Jussi Annila | Finland | ||
| The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela | Olaf de Fleur Johannesson | Iceland | ||
| North | Nord | Rune Denstad Langlo | Norway | |
| Light Year | Ljusår | Mikael Kristersson | Sweden | |
| 2010 | Submarino | Thomas Vinterberg | Denmark | |
| Steam of Life | Miesten vuoro | Joonas Berghäll and Mika Hotakainen | Finland | |
| The Good Heart | Dagur Kári | Iceland | ||
| Upperdog | Sara Johnsen | Norway | ||
| Metropia | Tarik Saleh | Sweden | ||
| 2011 | Beyond | Svinalängorna | Pernilla August | Sweden |
| Truth About Men | Sandheden om mænd | Nikolaj Arcel | Denmark | |
| The Good Son | Hyvä poika | Zaida Bergroth | Finland | |
| Undercurrent | Brim | Árni Ólafur Ásgeirsson | Iceland | |
| Oslo, August 31st | Oslo, 31. August | Joachim Trier | Norway | |
| 2012 | Play | Ruben Östlund | Sweden | |
| A Royal Affair | En kongelig affære | Nikolaj Arcel | Denmark | |
| The Punk Syndrome | Kovasikajuttu | Jukka Kärkkäinen and J-P Passi | Finland | |
| Either Way | Á annan veg | Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson | Iceland | |
| The Orheim Company | Kompani Orheim | Arlid Andersen | Norway | |
| 2013 | The Hunt | Jagten | Thomas Vinterberg | Denmark |
| Open Up to Me | Kerron sinulle kaiken | Simo Halinen | Finland | |
| The Deep | Djúpið | Baltasar Kormákur | Iceland | |
| I Belong | Som du ser meg | Dag Johan Haugerud | Norway | |
| Eat Sleep Die | Äta sova dö | Gabriela Pichler | Sweden | |
| 2014 | Of Horses and Men | Hross í oss | Benedikt Erlingsson | Iceland |
| Nymphomaniac | Nymphomaniac | Lars von Trier | Denmark | |
| Concrete Night | Betoniyö | Pirjo Honkasalo | Finland | |
| Blind | Blind | Eskil Vogt | Norway | |
| Force Majeure | Turist | Ruben Östlund | Sweden | |
| 2015 | Virgin Mountain | Fúsi | Dagur Kári | Iceland |
| Silent Heart | Stille hjerte | Bille August | Denmark | |
| They Have Escaped | He ovat paenneet | Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää | Finland | |
| Out of Nature | Mot naturen | Ole Giæver | Norway | |
| Gentlemen | Gentlemen | Mikael Marcimain | Sweden | |
| 2016 | Louder Than Bombs | Joachim Trier | Norway | |
| Land of Mine | Under sandet | Martin Zandvliet | Denmark | |
| The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki | Hymyilevä mies | Juho Kuosmanen | Finland | |
| Sparrows | Þrestir | Rúnar Rúnarsson | Iceland | |
| The Here After | Efterskalv | Magnus von Horn | Sweden | |
| 2017 | Little Wing | Tyttö nimeltä Varpu | Selma Vilhunen | Finland |
| Parents | Forældre | Christian Tafdrup | Denmark | |
| Heartstone | Hjartasteinn | Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson | Iceland | |
| Hunting Flies | Fluefangeren | Izer Aliu | Norway | |
| Sami Blood | Sameblod | Amanda Kernell | Sweden | |
| 2018 | Woman at War | Kona fer í stríð | Benedikt Erlingsson | Iceland |
| Winter Brothers | Vinterbrødre | Hlynur Pálmason | Denmark | |
| Euthanizer | Armomurhaaja | Teemu Nikki | Finland | |
| Thelma | Joachim Trier | Norway | ||
| Ravens | Korparna | Jens Assur | Sweden | |
| 2019 | Queen of Hearts | Dronningen | May el-Toukhy | Denmark |
| Aurora | Miia Tervo | Finland | ||
| A White, White Day | Hvítur, hvítur dagur | Hlynur Pálmason | Iceland | |
| Blind Spot | Blindsone | Tuva Novotny | Norway | |
| Reconstructing Utøya | Rekonstruktion Utøya | Carl Javér | Sweden | |
| 2020 | Beware of Children | Barn | Dag Johan Haugerud | Norway |
| Uncle | Onkel | René Frelle Petersen | Denmark | |
| Dogs Don't Wear Pants | Koirat eivät käytä housuja | J-P Valkeapää | Finland | |
| Echo | Bergmál | Rúnar Rúnarsson | Iceland | |
| Charter | Amanda Kernell | Sweden | ||
| 2021 | Flee[12] | Jonas Poher Rasmussen | Denmark | |
| Any Day Now | Ensilumi | Hamy Ramezan | Finland | |
| Alma | Kristín Jóhannesdóttir | Iceland | ||
| Gunda | Viktor Kossakovsky | Norway | ||
| Tigers | Tigrar | Ronnie Sandahl | Sweden | |
| 2022[13] | Lamb | Dýrið | Valdimar Jóhannsson | Iceland |
| The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic | Sokea mies joka ei halunnut nähdä Titanicia | Teemu Nikki | Finland | |
| Clara Sola | Nathalie Álvarez Mesén | Sweden | ||
| Godland | Vanskabte Land/Volaða land | Hlynur Pálmason | Denmark | |
| The Worst Person in the World | Verdens verste menneske | Joachim Trier | Norway | |
| 2023 | Empire | Vifetn | Frederikke Aspöck | Denmark |
| Bubble | Kupla | Aleksi Salmenperä | Finland | |
| Driving Mum | Á ferð með mömmu | Hilmar Oddsson | Iceland | |
| The Edge of the Shadows | Alanngut Killinganni | Malik Kleist | Greenland | |
| Opponent | Motståndaren | Milad Alami | Sweden | |
| War Sailor | Krigsseileren | Gunnar Vikene | Norway | |
| 2024 | Sex | Dag Johan Haugerud | Norway | |
| Crossing | Levan Akin | Sweden | ||
| Fallen Leaves | Kuolleet lehdet | Aki Kaurismäki | Finland | |
| The Son and the Moon | Roja Pakari, Emilie Adelina Monies | Denmark | ||
| Touch | Snerting | Baltasar Kormákur | Iceland | |
| Twice Colonized | Lin Alluna | Greenland | ||
| 2025 | ||||
| My Eternal Summer | Min Evige Sommer | Sylvia Le Fanu | Denmark | |
| The Last Paradise on Earth | Seinasta paradís á jørð | Sakaris Stórá | Faroe Islands | |
| The Helsinki Effect | Arthur Franck | Finland | ||
| Walls - Akinni Inuk | Sofie Rørdam, Nina Paninnguaq Skydsbjerg | Greenland | ||
| When the Light Breaks | Ljósbrot | Rúnar Rúnarsson | Iceland | |
| Dreams (Sex Love) | Drømmer | Dag Johan Haugerud | Norway | |
| Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 | Israel Palestina på svensk tv 1958-1989 | Göran Hugo Olsson | Sweden | |
See also
References
- ^ Neiiendam, Jacob (30 October 2002). "Man Without A Past wins new Nordic prize, joins Oscar race". Screen International. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "Seven exceptional films nominated for the 2025 Nordic Council Film Prize". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Mitchell, Wendy (22 August 2023). "Nordic Council Film Prize nominates first Greenlandic film for $45,000 award". Screen International. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Which films stand a chance of winning the 2023 Nordic Council Film Prize?". Norden.org. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ a b Ntim, Zac (18 August 2025). "Nordic Council Film Prize Expanded To Include Faroe Islands, Nominees Include Göran Hugo Olsson's Israel-Palestine Doc". Dealine. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ a b c "Statutes for the Nordic Council Film Prize". Nordic Co-operation. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Submarino in the Run for Nordic award". Det Danske Filminstitut. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ Jensen Rossing, Jorn (28 October 2015). "Iceland wins the Nordic Council Film Prize for the second year in a row". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "About us". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ The Nordic Council Film Prize Archived 2010-04-08 at the Wayback Machine, Nordic Council of Ministers (2008)
- ^ "Nordic Series Awards 2026". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "Nordisk Film & TV Fond". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ Wendy Mitchell, "Nordic Council Film Prize reveals five nominees for $40,000 award". Screen Daily, 23 August 2022.