Best of Norden – the best Nordic films and engaging discussions in Stockholm

27.09.16 | News
On 1 November we will finally know who are the winners of the Nordic Council’s prizes for the environment, film, literature, music, and children’s and young people’s literature. Ahead of the award ceremony, you will be able to enjoy the best of Nordic film and literature, as well as listen to engaging discussions at the Best of Norden festival in Stockholm between 11 and 20 October.

On 1 November we will finally know who are the winners of the Nordic Council’s prizes for the environment, film, literature, music, and children’s and young people’s literature. Ahead of the award ceremony, you will be able to enjoy the best of Nordic film and literature, as well as listen to engaging discussions at the Best of Norden festival in Stockholm between 11 and 20 October.

All five films nominated for the Nordic Council film prize will be shown at the Grand cinema in Stockholm between 12 and 16 October. The films will be subtitled in English and feature audio description so that as many people as possible can enjoy them. Discussions inspired by the films will then follow. Participants include Åsa Sandell, Carin Götblad, Paul Hansen, Elisabeth Åsbrink and many more. 

In collaboration with Best of Norden, the Swedish Film Institute will also be showing the best films that the Nordic Region has to offer, as chosen by the region’s film institutes. The Film House at the Swedish Film Institute will also be showing five hidden gems of Nordic cinema during Best of Norden. At the Stockholm Public Library, the weekend will be devoted to Nordic literature and the Nordic Council prizes. Arja Saijonmaa will read excerpts from several of the books nominated for this year’s prize. Translators including Gun-Britt Sandström, Ebba Witt-Brattström, Märta Tikkanen, and Åsa Beckman will also be on hand at the library.

We look forward to seeing you at the Grand cinema, the Swedish Film Institute, and the Stockholm Public Library! 

Programme: 

TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER
18:00 – The Swedish Film Institute’s Nordic selection: Bengbulan. 1996. 82 minutes, Sweden. English subtitles. The Film House at the Swedish Film Institute.

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER NOMINATED FILM
18:00 to 20:30 – Film screening and discussion: Land of mine. 101 minutes, Denmark. English subtitles. Discussion: Author and journalist Elisabeth Åsbrink, and photographer for the Dagens Nyheter newspaperPaul Hansendiscuss revenge. Grand cinema, screen 2. 

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER NOMINATED FILM
13:00 to 15:30 – Film screening and discussion: The Here After. 102 minutes, Sweden. English subtitles.
Discussion: Carin Götblad and Moa Mannheimer. The discussion topic is forgiveness when the worst has happened. Grand cinema, screen 2.

18:00 to 20:30 – Film screening and discussion: The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki. 92 minutes, Finland. English subtitles. Discussion: Åsa Sandell and Johan Cronemandiscuss boxing and life. Grand cinema, screen 2.

FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER
18:00 – The Swedish Film Institute’s Nordic selection: Murder Story. 1977. 90 minutes, Iceland. English subtitles. The Film House at the Swedish Film Institute.

SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER, NOMINATED FILM
10:00 to 12:45 – Breakfast screening and discussion: Louder Than Bombs. 109 minutes, Norway. English subtitles.
Discussion: Photographer for the Dagens Nyheter newspaper Paul Hansen, and programme director for the Swedish National Centre for Disaster PsychiatryFilip Arnberg discuss human limits. Grand cinema, screen 1. Breakfast included.

13:00 – Discussion and reading: Nordic Council Literature Prize. With Arja Saijonmaa and Elisabet Jökulsdóttir
Stockholm Public Library, Rotunda. Free admission. 

 

14:00 – Discussion: Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize. With Hanna Gustavsson and Øyvind Torseter, who have both mastered traditional narration techniques for series media and picture books, yet who are also pushing the boundaries. Moderator: Patrik Schylström, librarian. Stockholm Public Library, Rotunda. Free admission.

14:00 – The Swedish Film Institute’s Nordic selection: Inspector Palmu’s Error. 1960. 109 minutes, Finland. Swedish subtitles. The Film House at the Swedish Film Institute.

SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER, NOMINATED FILM
10:00 to 12:30 – Breakfast screening and discussion: Sparrows. 99 minutes, Iceland. English subtitles. Discussion: Elisabet Jökulsdóttir, Estrid Brekkan, Margrét  Atladóttir , Anders Svensson, and John Swedenmark discuss Icelandic cultural self-confidence. Grand cinema, screen 1. Breakfast included.

13:00 – Discussion: How to go about translating a classic –Kristin Lavransdotter With Gun-Britt Sundström, Kerstin Wixe, and Gunilla Kindstrand. Stockholm Public Library, Rotunda. Free admission.

14:00 – Discussion: Choosing between money or good literature. With Ingeri Engelstad, Åsa Beckman, and Håkan Bravinger. Stockholm Public Library, Rotunda. Free admission.

15:00 – Author discussion: Märta Tikkanen and Ebba Witt-Brattström. Stockholm Public Library, Rotunda. Free admission.

WEDNESDAY 19 OCTOBER
18:00 – The Swedish Film Institute’s Nordic selection: Århus By Night. 1989. 101 minutes, Denmark. English subtitles.

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER
18:00 – The Swedish Film Institute’s Nordic selection: Lake of the Dead. 1958. 77 minutes, Norway. English subtitles.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

Best of Norden will take place at the Stockholm Public Library at Odengatan 73, the Grand cinema at Sveavägen 45, and the Film House at the Swedish Film Institute at Borgvägen 1-5, in Stockholm. The discussions at the Stockholm Public Library are free to attend. Spaces are limited. Screenings and discussions at the Grand cinema cost SEK 100, and breakfast screenings and discussions (Saturday and Sunday) cost SEK 120. Breakfast can be picked up from CAFÉ 60 at Sveavägen 60 from 09:00 on the morning of the screening on production of your ticket.
Tickets can be bought from kulturbyran.nu/bestofnorden or from the cinema 30 minutes before the start of the film. These five films have English subtitles and feature audio description. Screenings at the Swedish Film Institute take place in the Film House. For more information, please visit www.cinemateket.se.

If you have any questions about Best of Norden and the programme, please write to nif@nordicwelfare.org.