Renowned Icelandic filmmaker Rúnar Rúnarsson, who received an Oscar nomination in 2006 for his short film “The Last Farm,” was awarded the prestigious Göteborg Film Festival’s Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film, valued at SEK400,000 ($36,000), for his fourth feature, “When the Light Breaks,” during the festival’s closing gala for its 48th edition.

Filmed in 16mm, this nuanced coming-of-age drama features Elín Hall (“Cold,” “Let Me Fall”) and had its world premiere last May as the opening film in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival.

The narrative centers on Una, a young art student who experiences love, friendship, sorrow, and beauty on a long summer day in Iceland. The jury for Best Nordic Film, which included filmmakers Ella Lemhagen, Philippe Lesage, Athina Rachel Tsangari, cinematographer JP Passi, and actor Frida Gustavsson, praised the film for its “masterfully calibrated mise en scène, sensitivity, and delicate lightness,” highlighting the director’s unexpectedly uplifting portrayal of grief, brought to life by a talented young ensemble.

Produced by Iceland’s Compass Films, the Netherlands’ Revolver Amsterdam, Croatia’s MP Film, and France’s Jour de Fête, the film was sold nearly worldwide by The Party Film Sales.

Another coming-of-age drama exploring themes of grief, “My Eternal Summer” by Sylvia Le Fanu, was the second choice of the Nordic Film jury. They commended the director for her promising debut, describing the film as personal, sensitive, and beautifully crafted, without forcing drama or effects. Handled globally by TrustNordisk, this feature produced by Adomeit Film previously screened at San Sebastian.

The festival’s opening film, “Safe House” by Norway’s Eirik Svensson, received the Audience Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film. This suspenseful drama is based on true events that transpired over 15 tense hours at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Bangui on Christmas Eve, 2013. The gender-neutral acting award was presented to Norway’s Andrea Bræin Hovig for her role as Marianne, who navigates her sexuality and casual intimacy in Dag Johan Haugerud’s “Love.”

Hovig was recognized for her “subtle, complex performance, yet so powerful in its restraint; portraying an intricately layered, unapologetic female character.”

“Sex,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2024 and won the critics’ Bisato d’oro award, is part of Haugerud’s trilogy titled “Sex, Dreams, Love.”

The Oscar-nominated “The Girl with the Needle” by Magnus von Horn, which debuted in Cannes’ main competition, won the Fipresci Award. The jury praised the film for its “absolute mastery of the form,” commending its camerawork, unique music, compelling setting, and production design that becomes a character in itself, along with outstanding performances and dialogue.

This film highlights the female experience and the necessity for feminist advocacy, illustrating how to maintain integrity in challenging environments, all emphasized through its striking black and white imagery. The visually captivating psychological drama stars Trine Dyrholm and marks von Horn’s first Danish film.

In the documentary category, the top prize of SEK 250,000 ($22,500) was awarded to the Swedish/French film “Trans Memoria” by Victoria Verseau, which reflects the director’s personal transition experience in Thailand. The jury lauded Verseau for her “honesty, subtle approach, and captivating work with the characters,” noting that the visual elements are integral to the narrative, mirroring the inner worlds of both the protagonists and the director. The film serves as a poetic meditation exploring trauma, love, and acceptance.

In the debut category, emerging talent Denise Fernandes received the prestigious Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award for “Hanami,” described as a bold and beautiful film that defies conventional storytelling structures. The jury, which included directors Dea Kulumbegashvili, Kaltrina Krasniqi, and Silje Riise Næss, chair of the board of The Bergman Estate, Norway, praised the film for capturing the joys and sorrows of everyday life through performances that reveal deep, unspoken connections between mothers, daughters, and their communities. Fernandes previously showcased her film at the Locarno Film Festival, where she won the Best Emerging Director award in the Filmmakers of the Present section and received a special mention in the first feature competition.

Amid a competitive international lineup, the Oscar-winning Australian stop-motion animator claimed the SEK 50,000 prize for his tragicomedy “Memoir of a Snail.” The jury highlighted the film’s nuanced portrayal of everyday life, emphasizing the deep, unspoken bonds it captures.

Additionally, the Draken Film Award was presented to Clara Vida’s short film “Family.”

Earlier in the festival, Julie Delpy was honored with the Honorary Dragon Award, while Thomas Vinterberg received the Nordic Honorary Dragon Award.

The Startsladden Best Short Film Award went to Viktor Johansson for “True Artist,” while the Startsladden Audience Award was given to “Cows” by Jakob Márky and Kasper Häggström.

Fanny Ovesen was also recognized earlier by the Swedish Church for her debut film “Live A Little.”

Reflecting on the festival, which faced a rocky start due to a controversial speech by Swedish Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand, CEO Mirja Wester remarked, “It’s been a rollercoaster for us. I was taken by surprise, and we would have preferred to focus on discussing the films, but addressing film politics is also crucial.”

First-time artistic director Pia Lundberg added, “Yes, our Culture Minister’s speech disrupted the first few days of the festival as it became the talk of the town. However, overall, it’s been a fantastic festival and a wonderful experience for me to introduce the films to the dedicated Göteborg film audience.”