The World’s Heaviest Film Award in Collaboration with Kosta Boda

Stockholm Film Festival has the great joy of introducing a new collaboration with Kosta Boda and one of Kosta Boda’s most prominent artists, Markus Åkesson. The winner of the newly launched Nikon Short Film Award will be honoured with a custom-made 9 kg heavy festival figurine by Åkesson.

- I feel very honoured to be able to contribute to an award at Stockholm Film Festival. Film as an artform is a big source of inspiration of mine and I’m really looking forward to this year’s nominees, says Markus Åkesson.

Markus Åkesson is an artist who has made himself known in the trendy cosmopolitan underground scene. His art has been noted internationally and can be found in many collections all around the world. Åkesson grew up in the woods by Kalmar, Småland, and has always been drawn to the forest, the myths, the glass – and the film.

Together with the glass-blowers and -sculptors in the hut at Kosta Glasbruk, Åkesson explores and experiments with the art of glass. Just like with Åkesson’s elaborate art, his glass making is not of the small or light kind.

- Inspired by a poppy bud from my garden, I have made a sculpture that has then been moulded in sand form by the glass casters at Kosta Boda Glasswork in Småland, says Åkesson.

Kosta Boda has been making glass since 1742. With a focus on modern lifestyle products and inspiring art, Kosta Boda creates glass that makes a difference. There is a deep understanding and love for the material and in their work with design, interior, lifestyle and art; Kosta Boda strives to create products and objects that are bold and innovative.

It’s only fitting that the Nikon Short Film Award hand out an award made with the same unconventional and audacious vision that the competition hopes to inspire. Founded to encourage creators around all of Europe to use their creativity, the competition urges filmmakers to create their best possible short film with a runtime of only 60 seconds. Nikon has a solid history of lifting creators all over the world and now they, together with the festival, are undertaking one of their biggest ventures to inspire filmmaking in all of Europe. The winning submission will be screened at the festival and the winner will receive an exclusive camera kit from Nikon’s series.

The official jury for the competition consists of Hollywood-director Daniel Espinosa, actress Gizem Erdogan, and artist and actress Alba August. The winner will also receive the opportunity to share a lunch and receive guidance from the lauded director Tarek Saleh (Boy from Heaven).

The award ceremony will take place on the 16th of November at Skandia theatre in Stockholm and press will have the opportunity to attend.

For more information about the Nikon Short Film Award, visit the festival’s website

Angela Ljungblad, Pressansvarig Stockholms filmfestival
+46 (0)86775012
press@stockholmfilmfestival.se

Vincent von Sydow, Pressekreterare Stockholms filmfestival
+46 (0)86775013
pressekreterare@stockholmfilmfestival.se