At the Chinese gathering, the Norwegian drama scooped four prizes – Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Script and Best Leading Actress.

Norwegian cinema took centre stage at the 15th edition of the Beijing International Film Festival (18-26 April), as Lilja Ingolfsdottir’s debut feature Loveable (Elskling) emerged as the biggest winner, securing four prestigious Tiantan Awards, including Best Feature Film and Best Director.

Ingolfsdottir, unable to attend the star-studded closing ceremony, was represented by lead actress Helga Guren, who also received the Best Actress award for her performance in the marital drama. Guren, overwhelmed but delighted, collected all four trophies on behalf of the Loveable team.

Loveable world-premiered at Karlovy Vary last year, where it picked up the Special Jury Prize. Produced by Thomas Robsahm for Nordisk Film and sold internationally by TrustNordisk, the feature – also awarded with the prize for Best Script – sees Sigmund (Oddgeir Thune) often away on business, while Maria juggles her career with childcare and managing the home. Like many other relationships, theirs began with love and harmony, but after years of married life, cracks start to appear. Sigmund ultimately asks for a divorce, and Maria is forced to confront her greatest fears.

The festival jury, chaired by acclaimed Chinese actor-director Jiang Wen and featuring high-profile members such as Finnish director Teemu Nikki, British filmmaker David Yates, and actress Joan Chen, selected the winners from a strong competition line-up of 15 titles chosen from a record 1,794 submissions across 103 countries.

With Loveable, Ingolfsdottir continues the tradition of Nordic storytelling resonating strongly on the international stage, combining emotional depth with cinematic precision. The film’s sweep at one of Asia’s leading festivals highlights the growing global recognition of Nordic filmmakers’ bold, personal narratives.

Other multi-award winners included Iván Fund’s The Message (El Mensaje) and Chinese filmmaker Sagara’s Trapped. The gala evening, held on 26 April and attended by an array of Chinese film and television stars, marked a vibrant close to the festival’s 15th edition.

In addition to the awards ceremony, this year’s festival programme featured masterclasses with French icon Isabelle Huppert and Jiang Wen, alongside discussions on industry trends and a major animation art exhibition.