The Nordic Council Film Prize was awarded for the first time as a trial in 2002 in connection with the Nordic Council's 50th anniversary. It became permanent in 2005 and has since been awarded along with the Nordic Council's other prizes for music, literature and the environment.

Play is an astute observation based on real cases of bullying. In central Gothenburg, a group of 12-14 year-old boys, bullied other children on about 40 occasions between 2006 and 2008. They used an elaborate scheme called the ‘little brother trick’ or ‘brother trick’, involving advanced role-play and gang rhetoric rather than physical violence.

The purpose of the Nordic Council's Film Prize is to promote the production of Nordic films in order to strengthen the Nordic film market. Since 2005 it has been awarded along with the Nordic Council prizes for music, literature, and nature and environment.