Entertainment

54th Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund announces award winners

Andrew Patterson's film starring Matthew McConaughey earned the Ray of Sunshine Award, alongside multiple other festival honors.

Updated Aug 27, 2026 · 18:35 UTC2 reports

The short version

The 54th Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund concluded its awards, honoring several feature films and industry pitch projects.
"The Rivals of Amziah King," directed by Andrew Patterson and starring Matthew McConaughey, received the Ray of Sunshine Award.
Ingvild Søderlind's "The Murder of Benjamin," depicting the 2001 neo-Nazi killing of teenager Benjamin Hermansen, served as the festival's closing film.
The festival also featured an appearance by the crew of the Draken Harald Hårfagre, a 35-meter Viking ship replica used in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey."

"The Rivals of Amziah King" won the festival's Ray of Sunshine Award.[Variety]
Itonje Søimer Guttormsen's "Butterfly," starring Renate Reinsve, received the Norwegian Critics' Award.[Variety]
The World War II drama "Pressure," directed by Anthony Maras and starring Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott, won the Audience Award.[Variety]
"Grandmonster," a zombie-comedy project directed by Vegard Dahle, was awarded the Best Pitch Award at the Nordic Co-Production Market.[Variety]
Ingvild Søderlind's finished film "The Murder of Benjamin" closed the festival, covering the 2001 neo-Nazi stabbing of teenager Benjamin Hermansen.[Variety]
The festival included the crew of the Draken Harald Hårfagre, a traditional 35-meter Norwegian Viking ship reconstruction hired by director Christopher Nolan for "The Odyssey."[Variety]

Director Ingvild Søderlind expressed expectation of potential public backlash and sympathy for the perpetrators among some young viewers following the film's release.[Variety]