A new honorary award will debut when Nordisk Film Fonden hosts ISBJØRNEN for the ninth time at the historic Nordisk Film studios in Valby. Alice Prisen celebrates a director or screenwriter who, with humour, courage, and artistic strength, succeeds in bringing together and entertaining a broad cinema audience.

The award is named after the groundbreaking director and screenwriter Alice O'Fredericks – Denmark’s first female film director and one of the most prolific filmmakers in Danish history. She directed more than 70 feature films, including major audience favourites such as FATHER OF FOUR and many film adaptations of Morten Korch’s novels.

“Alice O'Fredericks was a pioneer in Danish film. With this award, we want to honour artists who manage to unite a broad audience through humour, humanity, and storytelling - entirely in the spirit of Alice. It is an award for those who dare to go all the way for the audience and deliver film stories that live long in the memory. The award is both a tribute to our film heritage and to the voices shaping the future of Danish film," says Allan Mathson Hansen, CEO of Nordisk Film.

This year’s ceremony will be hosted by actress Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, who will expertly guide the audience through the evening. She has previously hosted ISBJØRNEN in 2017, 2021, 2022, and 2023 – and now returns for a fifth time.

ISBJØRNEN offers a festive gala atmosphere, with musical performances, panel discussions, and, of course, the presentation of Nordisk Film Fonden’s honorary awards – which over the years have become some of the industry’s most significant recognitions.

In addition to the new Alice Prisen, three other honorary awards will be presented during the evening:

• Nordisk Film Prisen, first awarded in 1996 and since 2010 a talent prize celebrating new voices and creators in Danish film. Last year’s winner was documentary filmmaker Roja Pakari.
• Ove Sprogøe Prisen, presented to a Danish actor for an outstanding performance in film or theatre. Last year’s recipient was Sofie Torp.
• Erik Ballings Rejselegat, awarded to a person whose work during the year has attracted particular public attention and interest. Last year’s winner was Christian Andersen, director and screenwriter.

Since 1993, Nordisk Film Fonden has distributed grants to support the Danish film industry – over the past decade with a special focus on strengthening future storytelling by developing and promoting world-class film talent.

The foundation helps young filmmakers take their first steps internationally through the Store Isbjørn (DKK 30,000) and Lille Isbjørn (DKK 15,000) travel grants, and supports innovative initiatives such as The Isbjørn Project Scheme and Signature Projects.

It also organises the annual PICTURE THIS conference, which inspires Danish filmmakers to use new technologies to strengthen the cinematic art form, and supports educational programmes such as Super16 in Copenhagen, Super8 in Aarhus, and 18 Frames in Odense – as well as initiatives like ViZARTS Lab at Aalborg University, the Screenplay School for Children’s Fiction, and the European Film College.

As the only non-profit foundation in Denmark dedicated exclusively to the film industry, Nordisk Film Fonden distributes around seven million Danish kroner annually.

Photo credits
Cover photo: Inga Aistrup/Ritzau Scanpix
News list photo: Mogens Amsmnæs/Ritzau Scanpix