Among the nomiated directors are Thomas Vinterberg, Dagur Kári, Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen, Sara Johnsen and Tarik Saleh. They are all in a tough competition with outstanding films, one from each of the Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

The prize, worth DKK 350,000, is given to a film which is characterised by being rooted in Nordic culture and of high artistic quality. It must also stand out through its artistic originality, and refine the many elements of film in a convincing and integrated work.

This year's five nominees are:

Submarino (Submarino) - Denmark
Director: Thomas Vinterberg

Scriptwriters: Thomas Vinterberg & Tobias Lindholm
Producer: Morten Kaufmann

Miesten Vuoro (Steam of Life) - Finland
Director and scriptwriters: Joonas Berghäll & Mika Hotakainen
Producer: Joonas Berghäll

The Good Heart (The Good Heart) - Iceland
Director & scriptwriter: Dagur Kári
Producers: Thor Sigurjonsson & Skuli Fr. Malmquist

Upperdog (Upperdog) - Norway
Director & scriptwriter: Sara Johnsen
Producers: Christian Fredrik Martin & Asle Vatn

Metropia (Metropia) - Sweden
Director: Tarik Saleh
Scriptwriters: Stig Larsson, Fredrik Edin & Tarik Saleh
Producer: Kristina Åberg

Five fantastic Nordic feature films to be seen in the cinema.

"This is the 7th time we are awarding the Nordic Council Film Prize and it is very gratifying to see that once again this year we are able to gather a field of five very different films of high artistic and international quality.

New films are produced every year that, despite our small language area, make their mark extremely well both within and outside the Nordic countries. This year’s film nominations have been screened at major international festivals such as Berlin, Venice and Toronto and have subsequently sold widely abroad.

It is therefore also a pleasure that we are able again this year to show a package of five fantastic Nordic films to audiences in cinemas in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland during the autumn”, says Hanne Palmquist, Director of the Nordic Film & TV Fund, which administers the prize on behalf of the Nordic Council.

In Copenhagen the films can be seen in the Grand Teatret during Nordic Film Week from Sunday 3 - Friday 8 October in co-operation with Camera Film.

About The Nordic Council Filmprize

The prize, which in 2009 went to director Lars von Trier and producer Meta Louise Foldager for the film ‘Antichrist’, was awarded for the first time in 2002 as part of the Nordic Council's 50th anniversary to the Finnish film ‘The man without a past’. The prize has since been awarded to the films Manslaughter (DK) in 2005, Zozo (S) in 2006, The art of crying (DK) in 2007 and You, the living (S) in 2008.

The five national titles are selected by a jury consisting of two people in each of the five Nordic countries. Now that the five candidates have been chosen, a joint Nordic jury will convene to vote and select this year’s prize winner. This year’s Nordic Adjudication Committee consists of Senior lecturer Anne Jerslev (DK), editor Johanne Grönqvist (FI), film critic Sif Gunnarsdottir (IS), film critic Le LD Nguyen (N) and film critic Eva af Geijerstam (S).

The winner of the Nordic Council Film Prize 2010 will be announced on 20 October and will be presented with the prize at the Nordic Council’s autumn Session in Reykjavik on Wedensday 3 November.

In addition to the film prize, the Nordic Council awards annually a literature prize, a music prize, and a nature and environment prize. The objective of all of these prizes is to increase interest in the literature, language, music and film of Nordic neighbouring countries.

Information on the Nordic Council film prize:
www.nordiskrådsfilmpris.com
www.nordiskfilmogtvfond.com

Hanne Palmquist
Phone +47 64 00 60 80
Email hanne@nftf.net

Jesper F. Schou-Knudsen
Phone +45 33 96 03 55
Email jsk@norden.org