Editor

Winners at the 19th edition of the 2008 Stockholm International Film Festival
The jury now presents its selection for the 19th Stockholm International Film Festival. The film that leaves Stockholm with the 16 lb Bronze Horse 2008 comes from the USA, and tells a gripping story of border smuggling across the frozen waters of the St. Lawrence River.
The Bronze Horse for best feature 2008 goes to “Frozen River” by Courtney Hunt.

Hunt’s story takes place in the days before Christmas near a little-known border crossing on the Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec. Here, the lure of fast money from smuggling presents a daily challenge to single moms who would otherwise be earning minimum wage. Two women - one white, one Mohawk, both single mothers faced with desperate circumstances - are drawn into the world of border smuggling across the frozen river.

This year’s festival jury is: Jorn Donner (chair), Elin Klinga, Sharon Swart, Karin Mamma Andersson and Erik Richter Strand.

Below is a complete list of all the winners, along with the jury’s motivations.

Best Film: “Frozen River” by Courtney Hunt

The award for Best Film goes to a film that treats a socially important subject with unusual sensitivity. It is dominated by two wonderful and strong performances by the female leads.


Best Directing Debut: Steve McQueen for “Hunger”

The award for best directing debut goes to a film that offers an extraordinary narrative structure told in a visually compelling way. Also driven by powerful performances, the film helps us to understand and identify with both sides of a violent conflict.

Honorable Mention
Best First Feature: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire for “Johnny Mad Dog”

This year´s honorary mention goes to the director of a film with a deep committment and strong visual force that has highlighted the plight of children engaged in armed warfare. The team behind the film has also enabled the individuals that the film depicts the chance for a new start in life through the Johnny Mad Dog Foundation.

Best Actress: Zuzana Bydzovska for ”Country Teacher”

The prize for Best Female Performance is awarded to an actress who touched the jury with the dignified and nuanced way in which she approached her role as a woman who must choose between her obligations as a mother and easing her loneliness.


Best Actor: Michael Fassbender for “Hunger”

The award for Best Male Performance goes to an actor who demonstrated relentless conviction in a role that shows how the tyranny of oppression may serve to strengthen our resolve and even push us towards the ultimate sacrifice.


Best Short Film: “Megatron” by Marian Crisan

The award for best short film goes to a film that tells a simple and touching human story, with a subject matter that is remarkably well suited to the shorts format.

Best Music Award: Krister Linder for “Downloading Nancy”

The award for Best film music goes to a composer whose work helps to lift a heavy subject matter and invites the audience into a complex landscape of emotional trauma.

Best Screenplay: Erik Hemmendorff and Ruben Östlund for “Involuntary”

The award for best screenplay goes to a film that employs subtle humor and realism to highlight everyday choices that could lead to catastrophic consequences. It shows that how we deal with awkward, no-win situations may define us as human beings.


Best Cinematography: Divis Marek for “Country Teacher”

The award for best cinematography goes to a film whose imagery beautifully celebrates nature and its interplay with human beings. The cinematographer’s confident choices and fluid style provide expertly choreographed images filled with life, allowing the audience to gain intimate access to its characters.


The prize of the FIPRESCI Jury:

This year’s jury from the international federation of film critics, FIPRESCI, is made up of Anjelika Artyukh (Russia), Jan Olszewski (Poland) and Marco Spagnoli (Italy).

Best Film: “Better Things” by Duane Hopkins

A multi-narrative vision, a poetic and artistic depiction of love and addiction trough generations.


OTHER AWARDS

Star! Audience Award: The Star! Audience Award 2008 goes to “Involuntary” by Ruben Östlund


1 km film 2008: Alexandra Dahlström for “Come Here”

The motivation of the 1 km film jury: This year's 1 km film scholarship goes to a young director with a great talent in visualizing feelings and creatively using sound and image to create a vibrant atmosphere that rubs off on the viewer. With an impressionistic style and light touch a burgeoning love romance is portrayed in which realities borders is playfully ambiguous. The director has dared to explore their own cinematic expression to link together several small but magical moments of a personal story that stands out. The director has also presented the best project description.


Honorable mention 1 km film: Levan Akin for “The Last Things”

This year's honorary mention goes to a director who's emotional an convincing storytelling navigates between fantasy, memories and reality. The director's work is characterized by a personal direction and poetic image composition that conveys the film's sense of loss and grips the viewer from beginning to end.

ifestival winner: “Little Things” by Karolina Pajak



Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award 2008

Charlotte Rampling receives the Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award 2008. The motivation is as follows:
For her impressive portrayals of some of the most memorable female characters in modern cinema. Some might be strong-willed, others more vulnerable, but they have all been depicted with intelligence and a precise feeling for their lives within. Few actors enter the big empty screen and inhabit it with the same grace, naturalness and confidence.



Stockholm Visionary Award 2008

Wong Kar Wai receives the Stockholm Visionary Award 2008. The motivation is as follows:

Mr Wong Kar Wai is a visionary director that has moved audiences in every corner of the world with his cinematic language. He has a unique abilty to cast the creatures of the night in a romantic and moody light while capturing the beauty of the fleeting moment on the silver screen . It is an honor to present Mr Wong Kar Wai with the Stockholm Visionary Award for his continuous exploration of the labyrinth of the human heart in a search with no boundaries in time, space or form.

Rising Star 2008 – Malin Crépin

In a joint effort to high-light and promote new up-and coming acting talent from Sweden the Stockholm International Film Festival and L’Oréal Paris have initiated the Rising Star Award. Actress Malin Crépin is first out to receive the honor with the following motivation:

”The jury is moved by Malin Crépin’s ability to express great emotion with minimal means. She is a young talent with great courage who has tackled challenging roles with a luster and commitment that distinguishes a Rising Star. We look forward to following Malin Crépin’s career.”


Press images: www.stockholmfilmfestival.se, username: press2008, password: stockholm
Sara Vahabi, Press Manager
Cell phone: +46 709 69 72 83
presschef@stockholmfilmfestival.se

Niklas Henrikson, Press Secretary
press@stockholmfilmfestival.se
The 19th Stockholm International Film Festival November 20-30 2008
The Stockholm International Film Festival started in 1990 and is now the leading competitive film festival in Northern Europe. The festival takes place every year in November, with more than 170 films from over 40 countries. The festival organizes exclusive screenings and the popular Summer Cinema - an outdoor mini-festival. On April 6 – 13, 2008, the Stockholm International Film Festival Junior brings the latest films to youngsters between 6 and 16 years of age.