51. Nordic Film Days Luebeck
4.-8. November 2009

Festival Website

Church Film Prize INTERFILM

The Church Film Prize INTERFILM of the 51st Nordic Film Days Luebeck, including a prize money of 2.500 € donated by the parish of Luebeck, goes to

Letters to Father Jacob (Postia pappi Jaakobille)
by Klaus Härö, Finland 2009

The film explores the emotional and spiritual bond that is formed between a blind pastor and a convicted murderer and shows the Gospel message of unconditional love and forgiveness in an uniquely refreshing and surprising way. The relative simplicity of the story combined with the emotionally charged yet serene acting of Kaarina Hazard and Heikki Nousiainen makes this an intensive film experience.

In addition, the The Interfilm Jury awards a Commendation to the film

Vegas
by Gunnar Vikene, Norway 2009

The adolescent actors Karoline Stemre, Jørgen Hausberg Nilsen and Sindre Kvalvåg Jacobsen give a highly convincing portrayal of their characters, whose families are broken by domestic violence, sexual abuse and accusations. In the face of a lack of parental responsibility, which the films depicts in a socio-critical image of an affluent country,  the film underlines the children’s opportunity of becoming their mutual “brothers-keepers” and of holding onto their hope of a safe family haven.

Members of the jury:
Prof. Dr. Angelika Henschel, Luebeck/Lueneburg (Germany), President
Mirko Klein, Braunschweig (Germany)
Dr. Gatis Lidums, Riga (Latvia)
Karin Nyberg-Fleisher, Stockholm (Sweden)

The members of the INTERFILM-Jury with the prize winning director (from left): Mirko Klein, Karin Nyberg-Fleisher, Angelika Henschel, Klaus Härö, Gatis Lidums, together with Petra Kallies, provost of the evangelical-lutheran parish Luebeck-Lauenburg, and Hans Hodel, president and jury co-ordinator INTERFILM
Photo: © Sigurd Moe Hetland