Langlo’s North a “standout winner” at Tribeca
From Left: Director Rune Denstad Langlo, Actor Robert De Niro (one of Tribeca Film Festival's Founders) and Actor Anders Baasmo Christiansen. Photo by Erland Haugen/Norwegian Consulate General, New York.
On May 1 Norwegian director Rune Denstad Langlo was awarded a $25,000 cash prize for Best New Narrative Filmmaker at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival, where the jury of – among others – actors Meg Ryan, Uma Thurman and director Todd Haynes praised his “mastery of comedic direction”
“His consummate vision, strong grasp of story and command of the language of cinema make him a standout amidst a strong pool of candidates,” was the jury’s explanation for awarding Langlo’s feature debut, North (Nord).
North is a road movie without a road, North is a wry comedy about a former ski champ on a journey to start anew. Having just learned he has a five-year-old son, he hops on his snowmobile with a batch of moonshine, bound for ex-girlfriend’s home in Norway’s Far North. His oddball encounters along the way make this fresh and original debut both tender and amusing.
Scripted by Erland Loe, and produced by Sigve Endresen and Brede Hovland for Motlys, the film was represented in New York by Langlo and Norwegian actor Anders Baasmo Christiansen, who performs in the lead as a former athlete returning to reality after a mental breakdown.
Also selected for festivals in Jeonju (South Korea), Seattle (USA) and Valencia (Spain), North has previously bagged the Breaking the Waves top prize at Budapest’s Titanic Film Festival as well as the FIPRESCI award and a shared Europa Cinemas Label at the Berlinale. According to French sales agent, Memento Films International, the Berlin screening sparked off a ”real bidding war” between European buyers – the film has subsequently been licensed to almost 20 countries.
Langlo has worked both as a director and producer in the documentary genre for 10 years. He started his career as a production assistant and researcher for a historic documentary on Roald Amundsen. He has directed the feature-length documentaries Too Much Norway (2005) and 99% Honest (2008). Both received theatrical releases and critical acclaim.
Source: Nfi.no / Norway.org
