Out of seven nominees, the Faroese film The Last Paradise on Earth wins the prestigious prize. This year’s winners are Sakaris Stórá, Tommy Oksen, Mads Stegger and Jón Hammer.
The Last Paradise on Earth (Seinasta paradís á jørð) wins the Nordic Council Film Prize for the Faroe Islands. The Faroese writer/director Sakaris Stórá, the Danish writers Tommy Oksen and Mads Stegger, and the Faroese producer Jón Hammer are awarded the 2025 Film Prize.
The prize of DKK 300,000 is shared equally among the director, the writers, and the producer, underscoring how film as an art form is brought about by the close collaboration of these three main contributors.
For the first time in its two-decade history, the Nordic Council Film Prize nominations were expanded to seven films. Out of the four feature films and three documentaries, the Faroese feature wins, and “leaves a mark on Nordic cinema”, according to the jury.
The 2025 Nordic jury members are Heidi Hilarius-Kalkau Philipsen (DK), Jan Berg Jørgensen (FO), Marjo Pipinen (FI), Klaus Georg Hansen (GL), Jóna Finnsdóttir (IS), Anne Gjeldsvik (NO), and this year’s chair Jonas Holmberg (SE). Their motivation was as follows:
“With calm yet courageous vision, this story captures the essence of lonely island life. It goes far beyond the question of staying or leaving – it delves into personal grief, emotional paralysis, and the urgent challenges of an ecological crisis. After the main character Kári’s mother passes away, his family loses both direction and compassion, while dwindling fish stocks hint that Mother Earth herself is faltering. Through poetic contrasts – women swimming freely in the ocean set against the relentless rhythm of the factory – the film emphasises the vital need for reconnection.
Rather than relying on dramatic twists, the narrative gently unveils the quiet yet powerful struggle for survival and for family relations. With impressive performances from young talents supported by experienced actors, alongside breathtaking cinematography and a haunting score, the film stands as a landmark in Faroese – and Nordic – cinema.
For the first time, we are proud to warmly welcome the Faroe Islands into the fray of this prestigious Nordic competition, and offer our heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable achievement.”
The Nordic Council Film Prize is announced together with the Nordic Council Literature Prize, the Children & Young People's Literature Prize, the Music Prize, and the Environment Prize. Another Faroese winner is Vónbjørt Vang, who is awarded the Literature Prize for her poetry collection Svørt orkidé.
The winners of the prizes are invited to the award ceremony on October 28 at Sweden’s Riksdag, in connection with the 77th Session of the Nordic Council. The winning film will be screened for free at Filmstaden Sergel, October 27, as part of the official programme.
Video interview:
The Danish-Faroese co-production is produced by Adomeit Film and Outlier Projects.
The other nominated films in 2025 were My Eternal Summer (Min Evige Sommer), The Helsinki Effect, WALLS – Akinni Inuk, When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot), Dreams (Drømmer), and Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958–1989 (Israel Palestina på svensk tv 1958-1989).
For the full press release: CLICK HERE.
