Haugesund: Hans Petter Moland’s drama collected five statuettes on Saturday at the annual Norwegian film awards, including best film and best director. 

The screen adaptation of Per Petterson’s best-selling novel which world premiered in competition at the last Berlinale, was a clear favourite at the 35th Amanda awards with ten nominations.

Out Stealing Horses other cast & crew members honoured on Saturday include Bjørn Floberg, named best supporting actor, cinematographer Rasmus Videbæk (awarded a Silver Bear in Berlin for best artistic contribution), and music composer Kaspar Kaae who collaborated earlier with Moland on the smash comedy In Order of Disappearance. Out Stealing Horses was produced by 4½ Fiksjon in co-production with Zentropa Denmark and Zentropa Sweden. TrustNordisk handles world sales.

Tobias Santelmann (The Last Kingdom) who also stars in Out Stealing Horses, was crowned best actor for his role in Marius Holst’ drama Congo, while Pia Tjelta picked up best actress, the second major recognition of her strong performance in Tuva Novotny’s film, after the Silver Shell award at San Sebastian 2018.

In other categories, Martin Lund’s youth drama Psychobitch was awarded best children’s film and best script, while the B.O. hit The Quake by John Andreas Andersen won the audience award and best special effects.

Upcoming talent Fanny Ovesen who won the coveted Nordic Talents award 2018, received the best short film Amanda for She-Pack, her graduation film from the Norwegian Film School.

Nordisk Film & TV Fond is associated to eight Amanda awards for Out Stealing Horses, Blind Spot, Congo and Sonja-The White Swan.

The Amanda Awards transmitted on VG TV kick started the 47th Norwegian International Film Festival.

FULL LIST OF AMANDA AWARDS 2019

  • Best Norwegian Film Out Stealing Horses (4½ Fiksjon)
  • Best Children’s Film Psychobitch (Ape & Bjørn)
  • Best Director Hans Petter Moland, Out Stealing Horses
  • Best Leading Actress Pia Tjelta, Blind Spot
  • Best Leading Actor Tobias Santelmann, Congo
  • Best Supporting Actress Maria Bonnevie, Phoenix
  • Best Supporting Actor Bjørn Floberg, Out Stealing Horses
  • Best Script Martin Lund, Psychobitch
  • Best Cinematography Rasmus Videbæk — Out Stealing Horses
  • Best Production Design Lina Nordqvist, Sonja-The White Swan 
  • Best Special Effects Lars Erik Hansen (Gimpville), Torgeir Busch (Storyline Studios), Espen Nordahl (Storm) and Magnus Olsson (Filmgate) -The Quake
  • Best Music Kaspar Kaae, Out Stealing Horses
  • Best Editing Karsten Meinich and Elise Solberg, Harajuku
  • Best Sound Design Gunn Tove Grønsberg, Harajuku
  • Best Short Film She-Pack, Fanny Ovesen
  • Best Documentary Film When Man Returns, Egil Håskjold Larsen
  • Best Foreign Film in Theatrical Release Capernaum, Nadine Labaki (Arthaus)
  • The People’s Amanda The Quake, John Andreas Andersen (Fantefilm)
  • The Amanda Committee’s Golden Clapper Cinematographer Philip Øgaard
  • The Amanda Committee’s Honorary Award Petter Vennerød