Oscar-nominated films at Kosmorama!
We are proud and excited to announce that several of the films screening at Kosmorama this year have been nominated for an Oscar! This is a tremendous recognition for the films and their creators, and we can’t wait to share them with our festival audience.
The nominated films are:
Memoir of a Snail
Grace Pudel loves romance novels, guinea pigs, and snails. Her life story is marked by mishaps and hardships, and life takes a particularly painful turn when she is separated from her twin brother Gilbert and placed into foster care. Along with us, she reflects on life's many trials in this beautiful Australian film about self-discovery and appreciating the good things in life, no matter the circumstances. The story is told through masterful stop-motion animation.
The film is nominated in the category of Best Animated Film.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
The family man Iman is promoted to judge during a time of political unrest in Tehran, and he must navigate the increasing pressure and paranoia that comes with his new role. When his gun mysteriously disappears, it creates tension and distrust within the family, which is further strained by the political differences between him and the women in his life.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a biting political thriller directed by Mohammad Rasoulof. The film faced significant opposition from the Iranian government when it was announced for a premiere at Cannes in 2024, and Rasoulof himself was sentenced to 8 years in prison and had to flee Iran due to the film's political content.
The film is nominated in the category of Best International Film.
Pigen med nålen
Inspired by a shocking true story from Copenhagen after World War I, Pigen med nålen follows the young factory worker Karoline, who faces a life marked by loss, poverty, and hopelessness. When her husband doesn’t return from the war, and she becomes pregnant after an affair with the factory owner, she loses both her job and her home. In the midst of her desperation, she meets Dagmar, a woman running an illegal adoption agency. Their bond grows strong, but a brutal revelation turns everything upside down. The film portrays a harsh reality and explores powerful themes such as survival, moral choices, and the bond between women in times of crisis.
The film is nominated in the category of Best International Film.
Soundtrack to a Coup d'État
We find ourselves in Congo in the 1960s, where Patrice Lumumba is the first prime minister after independence from colonial powers. The liberation has brought political unrest, and control over the country’s natural resources is at stake. With jazz musicians as a tool, the U.S. sends its biggest stars to calm the situation, but it is merely a distraction. Behind the scenes, a CIA-backed coup is unfolding. This eye-opening documentary by Johan Grimonprez presents a dynamic and energetic story of how power, natural resources, and decolonization collide with the powerful influence and rhythm of jazz.
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat is presented in collaboration with the International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT). It is also part of our program series Music Film, which is a collaboration with Rockheim - Det nasjonale museet for populærmusikk.
The film is nominated in the category of Best Documentary.
Screening these films at Kosmorama is a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate and promote international cinema of the highest quality. We are confident that these films will inspire and engage our audience, and we look forward to watching them together during the festival.
And keep your eyes peeled, we might have a few more Oscar-candidates up our sleeve!
