There is great disagreement in the Norwegian film industry. news told about that last week. Now the disagreements have consequences for the country’s biggest film award. The Norwegian Film Institute, the most important film policy body in Norway, withdraws from the Amanda committee. – We need a good discussion about the award’s regulations, says the institute’s head Kjersti Mo. Must have gone to the cinema The debate that arose in the aftermath of this year’s Amanda awards revolves around which films should be allowed to be nominated for the award. In order to be nominated, the film must have shown in ten of the largest cinemas in at least two of the largest Norwegian cities. “Troll” was a success, but did not have the opportunity to win an Amanda award. Photo: Netflix Several of last year’s most watched Norwegian films, including the Netflix success “Troll” and the Viaplay film “Gulltransporten”, never went to the cinema. They were only broadcast on the streaming services and therefore could not be nominated. Several have advocated that the regulations should be changed, so that the films could still be nominated for the major film award. But the Amanda Committee will not make any changes. – Amanda will promote the film that will be shown on the big screen. If you open up to films from the streaming services, you may also have to consider films from Facebook and YouTube, said the Amanda committee’s leader, Tonje Hardersen. Will evaluate Now one of the most important players in the Norwegian film industry is withdrawing from the Amanda Committee. Director of the Norwegian Film Institute, Kjersti Mo, has sent a letter to Amanda, in which she writes, among other things, that it would not be appropriate to be a member of “a committee with a narrower purpose”. Odd-Magnus Williamson presided over this year’s Amanda award. Among other things, he joked from the stage that “Troll” was not nominated. Photo: Espen Solli / Espen Solli – We want to promote Norwegian film regardless of platform. We believe the argument of the Amanda committee is a mockery of the technological development we have had in recent years, says director of the film institute, Kjersti Mo, to news. She says that the institute wants to make an evaluation of their future attitude to the award. They will also consider whether to continue providing financial support to Amanda. Last year it was around one million kroner, according to the director. Desired discussion several times in the past Kjersti Mo says that on several occasions she has spoken up in the committee to go through the regulations that determine which films will qualify for nomination. Tonje Hardersen is festival and program manager at the Norwegian Film Festival in Haugesund. She is also the Amanda committee’s leader. Photo: Rosa Irén Villalobos / news The chair of the Amanda committee, Tonje Hardersen, does not recognize that there has been a discussion about the regulations at their meetings and thinks it is sad that the Norwegian Film Institute is now withdrawing from the committee. – I think it would have been more fruitful for them to participate in the evaluation work after this year’s awards, together with the rest of the committee. – Could it be appropriate to do something with the rules, now that parts of the committee are also starting to withdraw? – The committee will have its planned meeting in early September. Then, among other things, the discussion around the regulations is on the agenda. That the film institute does not want to be together with the industry it exists for after all in these discussions is regrettable, but must almost be at their expense. It would be wrong to conclude based on direct orders from the institute, without the industry having a thorough evaluation and discussion. – What do you think about the film institute’s statement that you ridicule technological development? – It’s a description we don’t recognize ourselves in, says the Amanda Committee’s leader, Tonje Hardersen.
ttn-69
Withdraws from the Amanda committee in protest against the regulations – news Culture and entertainment
