Awards were given in a total of five categories, which are literature, children’s and youth literature, film, music and environment.
Nabben.
That district north of Mariehamn in Åland may be more famous than ever. The city of Mariehamn won an award from the Nordic Council for its urban wetland, the Nabben wetland.
The wetland is not only a recreation area but also a multi-effect entity that, among other things, cleans coastal waters and increases biodiversity. Seabirds enjoy the place, and ponds have been established in the surrounding park-like area to attract amphibians. Schoolchildren have built huts for birds and bats in the area.
The prizes awarded by the Nordic Council are worth 300,000 Danish kroner, i.e. just over 40,000 euros. The name of the prize statue is Nordlys.
The city of Mariehamn won the environmental award, but in other respects Finland and the Finns were left licking their fingers. In addition to the environment, award categories include literature, children’s and youth literature, music and film.
Here are the other award winners:
Film: Lamb (Iceland, dir. Valdimar Jóhannsson)
The film has been characterized as a difficult-to-describe psychological drama with dark humor. The introductory text states that the film combines the heritage of Icelandic pastoral films and folk tales in a darkly menacing way. There is religious symbolism and features of a chamber play.
Music: Karin Rehnqvist with Silent Earth (Sweden)
Written for choir and orchestra, *Silent Earth* is, according to the award jury, a startling, encouraging and impressive work.
– Karin Rehnqvist uses the expressive power of music masterfully, says the jury.
Literature: Solvej Balle with Om udregning af rumfang I, II och III (Denmark)
– A masterpiece of its time, the award jury succinctly describes the untranslated novel by Danish Solvej Balle (b. 1962).
*Om udregnig af rumfang* (\”On Calculating Volume\”) is presented as a large prose work in which time has slipped. In the novel, the main character Tara Selter has stepped out of time against her will, and November 18th keeps repeating itself in her reality.
Children’s and young people’s literature: Nora Dåsnes with Ubesvart anrop (Norway)
– Nora Dåsnes tells strongly, believably and nuancedly about how the terrorist attack affected Norwegian society, the jury reasons.