Concrete Night is a dreamlike odyssey through the fragile mind of a young boy as he loses his innocence. The film opens in a cramped, concrete-jungle home. Ilkka, the elder of two brothers, is leaving to serve a prison sentence. During his last 24 hours of freedom, he and his vulnerable younger brother Simo explore the events that sealed Ilkka’s fate. 

Jury motivation: Pirjo Honkasalo’s Concrete Night explores how relatively small private disturbances at an early age can lead to great tragedies. The black-and-white photography turns the urban landscape into a dreamlike, timeless no man’s land. As a filmmaker, Honkasalo is always meaningful, but never obvious. 

Jury members: Jaana Puskala, Outi Heiskanen, Harri Römpötti

For full production notes and high res photos of director, producer and poster see Press Kit. The information is available in the Nordic languages and English.