Press release
For immediate release
Göteborg International Film Festival has just announced this year’s winners at the annual Dragon Awards. The thrilling suspense drama SAFE HOUSE by Eirik Svensson takes home the Audience Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film. Starring Kristine Kujath Thorp in the lead, the film also had the honor of being the festival's opening film.
1 February, Copenhagen – We are delighted to share that our highly anticipated feature SAFE HOUSE by Eirik Svensson has been selected as the winner of the Audience Dragon Award for 'Best Nordic Film' at this year’s Göteborg International Film Festival, which took place between 24 January – 2 February 2025.
Managing Director of TrustNordisk, Susan Wendt, comments on the selection:
‘Receiving the Audience Award at Göteborg Film Festival is a true honour - SAFE HOUSE is a film that truly deserves to be seen, and this recognition is a powerful endorsement of its significance, quality, and the connection it has made with audiences."
The nerve-wrecking suspense drama SAFE HOUSE is directed by Eirik Svensson and celebrated its world premiere at the festival. Svensson is particularly known for his film BETRAYED (2020) and HARAJUKU (2018), which was also invited for Göteborg Film Festival. SAFE HOUSE brings a strong team both on and off the screen.
The feature stars the magnetic Kristine Kujath Thorp in the lead, renowned for her roles in internationally praised and award-winning features like THE PROMISED LAND (2023), SICK OF MYSELF (2022) and NINJABABY (2021), where she plays alongside Alexander Karim (GLADIATOR II, 2024) and Alma Pöysti (FALLEN LEAVES, 2023), Tracy Gotoas, Bibi Tanga, among others.
The film is produced by Fantefilm, the production company behind previous box office successes such as THE NORTH SEA (2021), THE QUAKE (2017), and THE WAVE (2015).
Synopsis
The civil war rages in the Central African Republic, Linn (35) leads a team of aid workers who are working tirelessly to save lives in a field hospital outside a massive refugee camp. When a Muslim man, persecuted and in mortal danger, seeks refuge, Linn faces a critical decision. A growing mob and Christian militia demand his handover. As the head of security, Linn must act quickly, brutally balancing the safety of her team with the value of a single life.
SAFE HOUSE is based on the true events that unfolded during 15 tense hours at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Bangui on Christmas Eve, 2013.
SAFE HOUSE is directed by Eirik Svensson and written by Harald Rosenløw Eeg & Lars Gudmestad. The film is produced by Hugo Hagemann Føsker & Catrin Gundersen for Fantefilm Fiksjon with support from the Norwegian Film Institute, in co-production with Nordisk Film, Film i Väst, Cinenic Film & ReelMedia and in association with Nordisk Film Distribution. International sales is handled by TrustNordisk.