The Danish drama won the special jury prize and best cinematography for Nadim Carlsen at the 71st San Sebastían Film Festival which closed on Saturday.

The official jury led by French director Claire Denis said they singled out the Greenland-set drama "because it takes us into a world we knew absolutely nothing about with surprising and empathetic performances, and with a way of showing the country, its conflicts and its hidden beauty through true cinematographic art".

Inspired by Kim Leine’s autobiographical eponymous novel, Kalak is the story of Jan, a man running away from his traumatic childhood of sexual abuse from his father in Denmark, and trying to rebuild his life with his family in Greenland.

Read our interview: Isabella Eklöf on Kalak, dealing with trauma and Denmark’s complex relationship with Greenland.

Eklöf’s sophomore feature was produced by Maria Møller Kjeldgaard for Manna Film, in co-production with Norway’s Mer Film, Sweden’s Momento Film and Film i Väst, Finland’s MADE, the Netherlands’ Lemming Film and Greenland’s Polarama Greenland with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond among others. The release in Denmark via Scanbox is set for March 2024. Totem Films handles sales.

Meanwhile the Swedish documentary Gabi between Ages 8 and 13 by Engeli Broberg was handed out a Special Mention from the ‘Movies for kids’ section. The film was produced by House of Real.

Watch the trailer: