Solanas takes away Stockholm film prize

Juan Solanas' Nordeste won the Best Film award at the Stockholm International Film Festival, which closed this week.

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Spanish director Solanas received the Bronze Horse award at a star-studded ceremony at Lydmar Hotel in Stockholm, where directors and actors mingled including Park Chanwook, whose film Sympathy for Lady Vengeanceclosed the festival.

The award was presented to Solanas by Eva Fröling, the acclaimed dramatic actress who starred in Ingmar Bergman films, and actor Sven Wolter. Solanas said he was honoured to receive the award in the home country of Bergman, one of his favourite directors. The film also garnished acting awards for both Carole Bouquet and Aymrà in a film about child trafficking.

Me and You and Everyone Else by Miranda July took home the Best Debut film, which is the award that is perhaps the distinguishing feature of the Stockholm fest. The award goes to a director's first film. July easily acquired the prize by capturing the heart of the audience and jury, with completely sold out screenings at the festival.

"In the USA the film has already gone to DVD so its wonderful to see it getting approved in Stockholm", said July. The film will premiere in Stockholm January 6th. The film is a colourful tableau of believable characters that spans all ages.

The Stockholm festival is noted for showcasing innovative and cutting edge by directors who are acclaimed for their independence and this year is no exception. Directors like David Cronenberg and Terry Gilliam are ground breaking directors that were honoured this year.

Park Chan Wook is also a 'renegade' director who made a trilogy of 'revenge films' just to prove that he could. But revenge according to the South Korean director is often about the "transference of guilt". The film sparked off the best debate of the festival - "Female Revenge" with a panel of Swedish critics and cinema studies experts.

The film that won the Star! Audience Award at the festival was the only Swedish entry to the Stockholm XVI Competition Storm, by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein.



Stockholm Film Festival award winners:

Best Film

Nordeste by Juan Diego Solanas


Best First Film

Me and You and Everyone We Know by Miranda July


Best Script

Annie Griffin for Festival


Best Cinematography

Adrian Tan- for Be With Me


Best Actress

Carole Bouquet and Aymará Rovera -for Nordeste


Best Actor

Vincent D'Onofrio -for Thumbsucker


Best Short Film

Sons of Tû: The God of War by Taika Waititi


Star! Audience Award

Storm (Stockholm XVI Competition), by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein.


1 km Film Scholarship

The Voice by Johan Söderberg


Made in Stockholm

Death by Heart by Malin Erixon


Jameson Short Film Awards 2005

Mebana by Daniel Wallentin


FIPRESCI Jury Best Film

Be With Me by Eric Khoo


Northern Lights

Accused by Jacob Thuesen


World Wide Winner Award
(Best film in the Festival selected by the online film audience).

The Forest and 7 Illustrations Around the Name of a Tree by Malin Erixon

Moira Sullivan

Moira Sullivan is a freelance journalist and member of the Swedish Film Critics' Association