Writer Sara Johnsen wins the 2020 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize for 22 July.
Sara Johnsen, writer of 22 July (22. juli), is the recipient of the 2020 Nordic TV Drama Screenplay Award – this was announced at a ceremony during TV Drama Vision at the Göteborg Film Festival.
For the fourth consecutive year, the award for outstanding writing of a Nordic Drama series, was handed out at Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision. The NOK 200 000 award, funded by Nordisk Film & TV Fond goes to the main writer(s) of the series.
22 July examines the aftermath of July 22, 2011 terror attacks in Oslo and the island of Utøya. Featuring fictional characters, but based on meticulous research, the series tells the story of the ordinary people who were affected by the tragedy – health workers, police officers, teachers, journalists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2H0eBMGAGg
Sara Johnsen is one of Norway’s most distinguished writers and directors. She had her international breakthrough with her feature debut Kissed by Winter (2005) which was nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize and submitted as Norway’s Academy Award candidate.
She wrote and directed Upperdog, All that Matters is Past and Framing Mum and also worked as an additional writer on the acclaimed TV series Occupied.
Steven Chase stars in, and directed,
the new rom-com Stan the Man, which is being released February 4 from
Avail Films.
When did you discover you wanted to be
a part of it?
I realized I wanted to be an actor when I was a teenager
Were you encouraged to pursue it?
No, not really but my
family always supported whatever I wanted to do in terms of my career.
With the films you’re making, is the
goal to ultimately make movies full-time with some big returns coming in from
the DVD sales and so on?
Not really. My goal has always been to make good movies which entertain whether through acting, writing, producing or directing.
Where do you expect most people will
discover “Stan the Man”?
So far, I think through Online Platforms and Social Media and because of the wonderful work of our Distributor Avail Films and our PR October Coast.
What would you say to those who are
considering checking out the movie?
I would recommend the movie not only as The Perfect Valentine’s Day Date Movie, but for anyone who appreciates a heart-warming story about second chances and love.
Stan Mann (Steven Chase), a new money multi-millionaire, whose life consists of ladies, gambling and booze, lives at a 5-star hotel where the staff tends to his every need. Known as “Stan the Man” for his extreme generosity, he gets mixed up in a casino gambling scheme with Russian Mobsters and in one fateful bet, Stan loses everything.
Planning to drown his sorrows in a bottle, Stan is critically wounded in a liquor store robbery, where he takes the bullet intended for the store clerk, Kristi (Anne Leighton). During a near-death experience in the ER, a slightly resentful Angel gives Stan 30 days to change his ways and redeem himself, and find his one true love.
London Critics Name Parasite Film Of 2019. Parasite, The Souvenir and Marriage Story earn two wins apiece, while Joaquin Phoenix and Renée Zellweger take top acting prizes
Bong Joon Ho’s dark class-war comedy Parasite came out on top at the 40th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, winning Film of the Year at a star-studded black-tie ceremony held at the May Fair Hotel, presented by Pearl Pictures Productions. The South Korean phenomenon also took Director of the Year for Bong at the awards, voted on by over 150 of the UK’s leading film critics.
Actress and writer Sally Phillips was the host of an evening that also saw The Souvenir take a pair of prizes: Joanna Hogg’s bittersweet 1980s memoir was named British/Irish Film of the Year by the critics, while its 22-year-old leading lady Honor Swinton Byrne received the Young British/Irish Performer award. Another multiple winner was Noah Baumbach’s searing divorce drama Marriage Story, recognised for its screenplay and Laura Dern’s supporting performance.
Joanna Hogg was one of four female directors honoured at the evening, which also saw French auteur Céline Sciamma win Foreign Language Film of the Year for her sensual period romance Portrait of a Lady on Fire, with Syrian journalist-turned-filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, alongside co-director Edward Watts, taking Documentary of the Year for her shattering Syrian civil war diary For Sama.
Veteran British filmmaker Sally Potter, meanwhile, earned the critics’ highest honour, the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film, for her oeuvre of daring, formally inventive feminist cinema. She was presented with the award by actress Elle Fanning, star of Potter’s films Ginger & Rosa and The Roads Not Taken, which premieres at the Berlinale festival next month.
For only the second time, two honorees were selected for the Dilys Powell Award, which was also presented to legendary costume designer Sandy Powell, 28 years after her trailblazing collaboration with Potter on the film Orlando. A third special presentation, in honour of the awards’ 40th anniversary, was made to beloved British animation studio Aardman.
“I’m thrilled that the critics have recognised the work of so many female filmmakers, and rising talents along with established greats,” said Film Section Chair Anna Smith, who hosts the Girls On Film podcast. “Our members see almost every film released in cinemas, so our awards are a true reflection of the the most acclaimed films of the year. If you’re wondering what to watch, look no further than our results.”
American stars swept the top acting categories, with Renée Zellweger named Actress of the Year for her immersive turn as Judy Garland in Judy; her co-star Jessie Buckley was on hand to accept her award. Joaquin Phoenix’s dynamic performance in the title role of Joker earned him Actor of the Year — an award he previously won for The Master. Supporting awards went to Dern and The Irishman‘s Joe Pesci.
In the British/Irish acting races, two stars were honoured for their body of work in 2019. British/Irish Actress of the Year went to Florence Pugh, star of Midsommar, Little Women and Fighting With My Family, and Robert Pattinson was named British/Irish Actor of the Year for his performances in The Lighthouse, High Life and The King.
Other winners included Cornish director Mark Jenkin, named Breakthrough British/Irish Filmmaker for his microbudget indie hit Bait; production designer Barbara Ling, who received the Technical Achievement Award for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood; and Dylan Holmes Williams, whose surreal The Devil’s Harmony was named British/Irish Short Film of the Year.
For the eighth year running, the event was held at the May Fair Hotel, with Audi returning once more as the official car of the awards. Presented this year by Pearl Pictures Productions. Its first feature, the British-Dutch thriller The Host opened this month in US cinemas, and comes to the UK in April. Other sponsors at the event were Rémy Martin, Vestal Vodka, Whitley Neill Gin and Double Dutch mixers.
Full list of winners for the 40th London Film Critics’ Circle Awards presented by Pearl Pictures Productions
FILM OF THE YEAR Parasite
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR Portrait of a Lady on Fire
DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR For Sama
BRITISH/IRISH FILM OF THE YEAR: The Attenborough Award The Souvenir
DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Bong Joon Ho – Parasite
SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR Noah Baumbach – Marriage Story
ACTRESS OF THE YEAR Renée Zellweger – Judy
ACTOR OF THE YEAR Joaquin Phoenix – Joker
SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR Laura Dern – Marriage Story
SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR Joe Pesci – The Irishman
BRITISH/IRISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR Florence Pugh
BRITISH/IRISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR Robert Pattinson
YOUNG BRITISH/IRISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR Honor Swinton Byrne
BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH/IRISH FILMMAKER: The Philip French Award Mark Jenkin – Bait
BRITISH/IRISH SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR The Devil’s Harmony
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood – production design, Barbara Ling
THE DILYS POWELL AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN FILM Sally Potter
THE DILYS POWELL AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN FILM Sandy Powell
Sylvester Stallone remains at the top of the pack as Rambo: Last Blood holds on to Number 1 for a second week. The thrilling finale to the series defends its Number 1 position against a Top 10 full of high climbers and previous chart-toppers.
Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood hops back up three places to Number 2, while Downton Abbey The Movie hangs on at Number 3, with the largest download count of the week. It: Chapter 2 drops to Number 4.
Big movers this week come from Spider-Man: Far From Home, up eight to Number 5, and Rocketman which is up five spots to 6. Hustlers holds on to lucky Number 7 following its release on DVD and Blu-ray.
Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw zooms back up two places to Number 8, while Yesterday leaps ten places back into the countdown at Number 9. Finally, The Secret Life Of Pets 2 (10) returns to the Top 10 for the first time since November.
On this week’s Official Film Chart online show, there’s a preview of magical animal adventure Abominable, available to Download & Keep from February 3rd. The film follows a teenage girl named Yi, who encounters a young Yeti on the roof of her apartment building in Shanghai, names him Everest and embarks on an epic quest to reunite the magical creature with his family.
The Official Film Chart Top 10 – 22nd January 2020
Modern Films, in partnership with AMG International Films, EMU Films and Altitude Film Distribution, are proud to present SULPHUR AND WHITE; a film directed by BAFTA and Emmy ® Award nominee Julian Jarrold (Electric Dreams, The Crown) and written by Susie Farrell (Dirty God).
The inspiring story of courage and triumph features stand-out performances from Mark Stanley (Dark River, Game of Thrones),Cannes Best Actress Award Winner Emily Beecham(Little Joe, Daphne), Dougray Scott(Ever After, Mission: Impossible 2) and Anna Friel (Limitless, The Look of Love), and will be released in UK cinemas from 6th March 2020.
We all carry secrets. David carries his and they eat away at his soul. With ruthless determination, he builds a successful career in the relentless world of financial trading, but as he climbs the corporate ladder, his past threatens to rise up and engulf him. He meets Vanessa, the love of his life, who wants to find a future for them if only David can find a way to heal his deep emotional wounds.
Based on the incredible true story of David Tait, SULPHUR AND WHITE is a moving and deeply personal drama about how the redemptive power of love can heal the destructive nature of trauma, dark secrets and enduring lies.
Since leaving his role as a city trader, David’s feats as a mountaineer, fundraiser, ambassador and trustee of the NSPCC mark him out as an inspiration. He has personally raised over £1.5 million by climbing Mount Everest on five occasions for the charity and was the first person to complete the North-South traverse.
He was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his services to children. He continues to be a significant figure at the charity, speaking personally about his experiences to raise awareness and champion the work of the NSPCC at events the length and breadth of the UK. A charitable red-carpet Gala Screening of the film will take place early next year, in association with the NSPCC.
SULPHUR AND WHITE WILL OPEN IN UK CINEMAS FROM 6TH MARCH 2020
