When the nominations for this year’s Amanda were ready in June, there were only two film titles to be found under the category “best children’s film”. In all other categories there are three selected. Both “CLUE: The Maltesergåten” and “Three Nuts to Cinderella” are direct nominees during this year’s film awards, simply because there have not been more films for children to choose from in the time frame the jury is considering. This causes several people in the Norwegian film community to react. One of them is the editor of the film magazine Montages, Lars Ole Kristiansen. – I think this category should have been omitted under Amanda this year. When the category is in practice the award for the best of two possible children’s films, this does not appear particularly weighty. – I think that this category exists this year is just nonsense, he says. “CLUE: Maltesergåten” has been nominated for Amanda for “best children’s film”. Photo: Maipo Film/Nordisk Film Distribution Missing original children’s films The reason for the unusually low number of children’s films may be due to the corona pandemic, believes Kristiansen. – It is very rare that there are as few Norwegian children’s films during a year as there were in 2021. A refusal to launch children’s films that are intended to sell a lot of tickets during a pandemic is probably part of the explanation. Lars Ole Kristiansen believes it is very important that good enough Norwegian films are made for children. Photo: Privat The editor says that historically there has been a rich tradition of making good children’s and youth films in Norway, but believes that many of the films in this category have not been good enough in recent years. – Original and artistically ambitious children’s films have become a scarce commodity. I miss films that dare to take chances. Really good children’s films have been made in recent years, but they are, after all, in the minority compared to all brand-based, completely idea-poor productions. The head of the Amanda committee, Tonje Hardersen, believes that it is both right and important to maintain categories, despite the lack of candidates. – We want to highlight the achievements that deserve it and at the same time direct attention to a problem, which this year is a very sad lack of Norwegian films for the growing public, says Hardersen. – This does not hold. Several people in the Norwegian film industry have called for the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI) to take action. Producer Tonje Skar Reiersen at the animation studio Mikrofilm believes they lack both strategy and vision for children’s films. – In recent years, Norwegian children’s films have mostly received support via the market scheme, or else they have been financed without money from NFI. That is why the vast majority of recent Norwegian children’s films are based on well-known brands such as Knerten and Kaptein Sabeltann. Reiersen emphasizes that there is nothing wrong with these films, but believes that we need greater breadth in the Norwegian film flora. – When “Titina” comes to cinemas this autumn, it will be the first time in over two years that we get a family film in cinemas that has been supported by a film consultant. That’s not good enough. THE MOST EXPENSIVE NORWEGIAN ANIMATED FILM OF ALL TIME: Big investment “Titina” with a price tag of NOK 80 million is one of the films shown in cinemas this autumn. Photo: Mikrofilm The producer believes that a solution could be to earmark funds for children’s films, possibly to do like Sweden – to have its own children’s film consultant. – Children are just as different as adults. They want different types of films and are the audience of the future. If we are to create a viable Norwegian film culture, we have to have a strategy that ensures continuity and greater diversity, she says. Earmarks funds for films for children Now it seems that the Norwegian Film Institute will counter the criticism. For the first time, they have decided to set aside a sum of money that will go specifically to children’s films. – It has been decided to give children’s films an extra boost by earmarking a pot of NOK 6 million for children’s films. This money will be distributed based on artistic assessments of the projects that apply, says director of NFI Kjersti Mo to news. – We believe that employing a separate children’s film consultant will not be the correct use of resources, and that there are other measures that can contribute more strongly to achieving the goal. The superhero film “Helt Super” is one of the films aimed at children coming to the cinema in the autumn. Photo: Qvisten Animation/Nordisk Film Distribusjon The NFI director adds that children’s and youth films are an area they prioritize, and that NOK 2 million has also been set aside for measures to give young people the opportunity to develop their own film offerings. – It is absolutely essential that new generations develop a relationship with the Norwegian film narrative, and get to experience stories from their own reality, told in their own language, says Mo. The film autumn looks brighter for Norwegian children’s films, with several Norwegian-produced children’s films on the programme. Among other things, Mikrofilm’s animated blockbuster “Titina”, “Helt Super”, “Teddy Bear’s Christmas” and “Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by”. The award for the year’s best children’s film is awarded during the Amanda show in Haugesund on 20 August. You can watch the show on news.no and NRK2. Hungry for more cultural material? Read more things here:
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– Just kidding that this year’s children’s film will be awarded at Amanda this year – news Culture and entertainment
