Stockholm Film Festival Junior 2024 announces winners

Stockholm Film Festival Junior is approaching the end of its festival week. The festival has shown films both physically and digitally with audiences all over the country. This year’s winners will be presented at an awards ceremony at the Bio Skandia in Stockholm.

This year the festival had 30 films from all over the world and, in addition to cinemas, screenings have taken place in schools, libraries and hospitals across the country. There has also been great interest in the physical screenings, which were fully booked during the week by enthusiastic school classes.

This year’s Junior Group, which consists of nine young film fans, has seen all the competing submissions from this year’s program during the spring and has now chosen the Stockholm Film Festival Juniors recipient of the Bronze Horse for Best Film in the categories 6 – 10 years and 11 – 19 years. The bronze horses are awarded to The Flying Classroom directed by Carolina Hellsgård from Germany and Under The Naked Sky directed by Lilian Sijbesma from the Netherlands.

Bronze horse for best film in category 6-10 years:

The Flying Classroom by Carolina Hellsgård

The junior group’s motivation: “This year’s winner is a film that impressed the jury on all levels. The film realistically addresses themes such as group dynamics and friendship, leaving a strong impression on its audience. It is a beautifully directed drama that also incorporates action, adding another layer of excitement to the film, amplified by the impressive film music. Together, it creates cinematic magic that entertains the audience from beginning to end.”

Carolina Hellsgård, the director of The Flying Classroom, says, “It feels absolutely fantastic that The Flying Classroom has won this year’s Bronze Horse. It’s a great honor, and I hope that more children and adults have the opportunity to see the film in Sweden, as it addresses societal conflicts and issues that are also relevant here.”

Bronze horse for best film in category 11-19 years:

Under The Naked Sky by Lilian Sijbesma

The junior group’s motivation: “A peaceful portrayal of a complicated upbringing where the main character is forced to live in two roles. With deep acting from all parties, emotions such as shame, disappointment, sorrow, and joy are portrayed. With a well-thought-out structure focusing on both character and story, where visual contrasts take center stage, the jury is entirely unanimous that this film is this year’s winner.”

“We are really thrilled and want to thank the jury that you watched our film but also that you were touched by it, that means a lot. The reason that we made this film is because we find it really important to show what it’s like for a kid like Elvie to grow up”, says director Lilian Sijbesma.