2021 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize nominees announced

For the fifth consecutive year, the award for outstanding writing of a Nordic drama series, funded by Nordisk Film & TV Fond, will be handed out during TV Drama Vision, Göteborg Film Festival’s conference event and series market. Five drama series from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have been nominated for the prize, which will be awarded to the main writer.

The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on February 3 during the 2021 online edition of TV Drama Vision.

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Liselott Forsman, CEO at Nordisk Film & TV Fond says: “The Fund is extremely proud to celebrate Nordic script writing, in partnership with Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision, by shedding extra light on the talents behind these five enchanting narrations. The variety of form and expression shows the present high Nordic quality in multiple genres, in old, new and mixed ones. Congratulations to all nominees!”

Cia Edström, Head of TV Drama Vision at Göteborg Film Festival says: “In this time of social distancing engaging and diverse stories that bring us together is more important ever. The Göteborg Film Festival is very proud to present the nominees for the fifth Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize.”

Last year’s winner of the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize was Sara Johnsen, writer of the Norwegian drama series 22 July (22. juli).

The 44th Göteborg Film Festival will run from January 29 until February 8 2021 as an online festival due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

TV Drama Vision will take place online on February 3 – 4, 2021.

Find out more about the 2021 Göteborg Film Festival industry programme CLICK HERE. 

 Here are the nominees:

• CARGO (Rahti)
 
  Finland, 2021, 8x50’ 
  Nominated writer: Matti Kinnunen 
  Co-writers: Johanna Hartikainen, Tarja Kylmä, Veikko Aaltonen 
  Broadcaster: YLE
 
  Produced by: Fremantle Finland
 
  Producers: Kirsi Hatara, Rea Dominicy, Joonas Hytönen  
  Director: Matti Kinnunen
 
  Premiere: Autumn 2021  
  Sales: Fremantle 
   
  An 8-episode drama series about human smuggling and a group of people who experience it first hand.
  
  A young Eritrean woman is separated from her husband and daughter as they flee to Finland. Two down and out brothers steal a van unaware that there are people hidden inside. After waiting years to adopt a child, a woman becomes the legal guardian of a child whose parents’ whereabouts are unknown.

• CRY WOLF (Ulven kommer)
  Denmark, 2020, 8x58’
  Nominated writer: Maja Jul Larsen
  Broadcaster: DR
  Produced by: DR Drama
  Producer: Claudia Saginario
  Directors: Pernille Fischer Christensen, May El-Toukhy, Samanou Sahlstrøm, Niclas Bendixen
  Premiere: October 11, 2020
  Sales: DR Sales
  
  Cry Wolf is the intense and emotional story of a teenage girl who writes a vivid school essay detailing her stepfather’s violent behaviour. The parents deny the accusations, but who's to say who's lying and who is telling the truth?

• SISTERHOOD (Systrabönd)
  Iceland, 2021, 6x45’
  Nominated writer: Jóhann Ævar Grímsson
  Co-writers: Björg Magnúsdóttir, Jóhanna Friðrika Sæmundsdóttir, Silja Hauksdóttir
  Broadcaster: Síminn (Iceland) & Viaplay (Nordics)
  Produced by: Sagafilm
  Producers: Tinna Proppé, Hilmar Sigurðsson, Kjartan Thor Thordarson
  Director: Silja Hauksdóttir
  Premiere: Q2 2021
  Sales: NBCUniversal Global Distribution (Worldwide), Lumiere (Benelux)
  
  The skeletal remains of a young girl who disappeared 25 years ago are found in a gravel mine in Iceland. When the priest Elisabet, the chef Anna Sigga, and the practical nurse Karlotta hear the news, it shatters their calm existence. They have gone through their lives carrying the heavy burden of guilt over a horrible secret they share from their past.

• THIN BLUE LINE (Tunna blå linjen)
  Sweden, 2021, 10x60’
  Nominated writer: Cilla Jackert
  Co-writers: Erik Arhnbom, Malin Marmgren
  Broadcaster: SVT
  Produced by: Anagram Sverige
  Producers: Martin Persson & Erik Magnusson
  Directors: Sanna Lenken (conceptual director), Anders Hazelius, Mikael Hansson
  Premiere: January 17, 2021
  Sales: ITV
  
  The work of the Swedish Malmö police is gritty and unglamorous. Dealing with death, social misery and the growth of criminal activity in the city’s notorious problem areas they keep their spirits up thanks to the strong bonds within the police force. The story centres around the lives of four police officers as they struggle to keep their human values intact.

• WELCOME TO UTMARK (Velkommen til Utmark)
  Norway, 2021, 8x45’
  Nominated writer: Kim Fupz Aakeson
  Broadcaster: HBO Europe
  Produced by: Paradox Film 8 AS for HBO Europe
  Producers: Finn Gjerdrum and Stein Kvae
  Director: Dagur Kári
  Premiere: 2021
  
  Somewhere in the Nordic wilderness, in a place that lives by its own rules, lies Utmark. A corrupt sheriff, a cross-dressing farmer, a possessed shopkeeper, an alcoholic shepherd, a nature-loving bootlegger, a God-hating pastor, a grieving pimp. Everyone knows everyone in this secluded corner of the Nordic North.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOMINEES AND SERIES FOR THE 2021 NORDISK FILM & TV FOND PRIZE: CLICK HERE.