Norway Cheers Its First Oscar for Best International Feature Film With Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value’ as ‘Historic Moment’

Norway is ecstatic about the country’s first Oscar for Best International Feature Film with Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value.”

The film, which is Trier’s sixth feature and follow up to “The Worst Person in the World” – which had landed nominations in the international category and for original screenplay 2022 – premiered at Cannes last year where it won the Grand Prize and was considered this year’s international Oscar frontrunner.

“This is a historic moment for Norwegian cinema,” said Norwegian Film Institute CEO
Kjersti Mo, who attended the Academy Award gala in the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night with Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery and the “Sentimental Value” team.

“First and foremost, I would like to congratulate the filmmakers, producers, actors, and everyone who has contributed to making this film. This is an enormous recognition of the filmmakers behind the film and of an extraordinary artistic collaboration,” she added.

Norway’s first Oscar “also demonstrates the importance of Nordic and European collaboration for Norwegian film,” Mo continued, “and how vital it is to uphold a model where cultural policy and artistic freedom go hand in hand.”

“When a small film nation like Norway receives this kind of international recognition, it shows what can happen when filmmakers are given time, trust, and artistic freedom to develop their stories. This success is also the result of many years of long-term film policy in Norway, where we have built strong creative communities and made room for artistic ambition,” she underlined.

Commented Jaffery: “Congratulations to everyone behind ‘Sentimental Value’ on Norway’s very first Oscar for Best International Feature Film.”

“Your film has resonated with audiences and film lovers around the world, and now you stand with the greatest recognition an international film can receive. After tonight’s historic result, I would also like to congratulate the entire Norwegian film community for the work you have put in over many years,” she said.

“Sentimental Value,” which stars Stellan Skarsgård as a charismatic film director estranged from his daughters, played by Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), and also features Elle Fanning, is produced by Maria Ekerhovd for Mer Film, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar for Eye Eye Pictures, Lizette Jonjic and Sisse Graum for Denmark/Sweden’s Zentropa, Juliette Schrameck for Agat Films, Nathanaël Karmitz and Elisha Karmitz for France’s MK2 Productions and Janine Jackowski and Jonas Dornbach for Germany’s Komplizen.