We are proud to announce that Maria Sødahl’s Panorama-selected drama HOPE has been honored with the Europa Cinemas Label.
Following a successful European premiere at the Berlinale last Monday, where the cast and crew of HOPE received standing ovations for their work, the film has now been honored with the Europa Cinemas Label.
Since its world premiere in the Discovery Section at Toronto International Film Festival, HOPE has taken international and local critics by storm. In the wake of Toronto, Sødahl was described as “an artist of quiet, disciplined observance” (Screen Daily) with a “style that’s rigorously, disarmingly honest” (The Hollywood Reporter), and this is not the first time Sødahl receives praise for her work. In 2011, she was celebrated for her debut feature LIMBO (2010) for which she won Best Director-ex aequo in Montreal along with 10 Amanda nominations. With HOPE, she presents the audience with a deeply moving and inspiring drama, based on Sødahl’s own incredible story, where actors Andrea Bræin Hovig and Stellan Skarsgård are “both excelling under (…) Sødahl’s attentive care” (Screen Daily).
Sødahl is very happy to have received this great recognition from Europa Cinemas:
"What an honor and joy to receive this prize, so totally unexpected! It both encourages future work and getting HOPE out to an international audience.”
Producer of Hope, Thomas Robsahm, also expresses his excitement:
“It´s great to win this award, I´m so proud of being part of this production, and screening it in Berlin was a highlight.”
The Europa Cinemas Label & Fipresci award ceremony will take place in Berlin tonight.
Synopsis:
What happens with love when a woman in the middle of her life gets three months left to live? Anja (43) lives with Tomas (59) in a large family of biological children and stepchildren. For years, the couple have grown independent of each other. When Anja gets a terminal brain cancer diagnosis the day before Christmas, their life breaks down and exposes neglected love.
The cast includes Norwegian actress Andrea Bræin Hovig (AN AFFAIR, 2018; ALL THE BEAUTY, 2016) who takes the female lead opposite multi-award-winning Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård (CHERNOBYL, 2019; NYMPHOMANIAC, 2013; MELANCHOLIA, 2011), who stars as the male lead in the drama.
HOPE is produced by Thomas Robsahm for Motlys in co-production with Zentropa Sweden, Film i Väst and Oslo Pictures, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute, Swedish Film Institute, Nordic Film and TV Fund, Eurimages, and in cooperation with SF Studios, TrustNordisk, NRK, SVT, Amarcord, Talent Norge and Storyline Studios.
HOPE was released in Norwegian cinemas on November 22nd.
For more information about the film, please click here.
