Jury motivation:

Through mirrors and reflections, the film conveys Una’s inner turmoil, shaped by the secrecy that defined her relationship. Elín Hall displays raw vulnerability as Una guides the audience through the emotional journey, as grief swells beneath the surface. When the Light Breaks explores the fragility of life and how everything can change in an instant. Rúnar Rúnarsson’s poetic realism prioritises the unsaid over the spoken, while unexpected moments of humour weave through the narrative. By allowing the tragic and the humorous to coexist, Rúnarsson resists a one-dimensional portrayal of grief, ensuring the film reflects the full – and often contradictory – spectrum of human emotions.