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LOVEABLE will now receive the support of the Europa Cinemas Network, with additional promotion and incentives for exhibitors to extend the film’s run on screen.

The jury issued the following statement: “We as a Jury decided to give the Europa Cinemas Label to LOVEABLE, an outstanding debut feature by Lilja Ingolfsdottir. She has an irresistible way of taking the viewer on an emotional roller coaster with her protagonist Maria, played brilliantly by the actress Helga Guren. It is far more than another breakup drama, but a complex exploration of all shades of relationships and love. Through the eyes of the main character, one follows not only Maria facing her inner self, but the audience is allowed to reflect on their own personal experience. In the end, the great and universal message is clear: we can only love others if we love ourselves. We, as exhibitors, expect our audience to fall in love with this film, as much as we did!”

Sold internationally by TrustNordisk, LOVEABLE is produced by Nordisk Film Production (Norway), and co-produced by Amarcord (Norway).

The cast includes Helga Guren, Oddgeir Thune, Heidi Gjermundsen Broch and Marte Solem. The script is by Lilja Ingolfsdottir. Image by Øystein Mamen, editing by Lilja Ingolfsdottir and Anton Robsahm, sound by Bror Kristiansen.

Synopsis: Maria (40) strives to balance parenthood and a demanding career while her second husband, Sigmund, frequently travels for work. As the strain of competing needs takes its toll, their marriage begins to unravel. Despite Maria’s desperate efforts to salvage their relationship, Sigmund eventually informs her of his desire for a divorce, forcing her to confront her deepest fears. This revelation propels her into a torrent of grief, anger, and unconscious memories from her own past. Maria eventually realizes that part of the key to understanding her situation lies in her relationship with her own mother and her internal self-image. Through a deeper confrontation with her mother, she finally connects with herself in a way she never knew she lacked. When she meets her husband for a conversation, the pain of abandonment is no longer the same. The film explores contemporary notions of romance, equality within relationships, and the empowerment of womanhood.

Lilja Ingolfsdottir trained at the London International Film School and the Prague Film School, Famu. Her oeuvre, which spans two decades, includes several award-winning shorts such as "What I wish you had said to me; that you will never say", "As a Flamingo", "Neglect", "Hong Kong", "Show me your original face before your mother and father were born" and "What We Fear".

Ingolfsdottir's films have premiered at prestigious international short film festivals such as Edinburgh, Grimstad and Haugesund. Her recognition in the industry has been marked by awards and grants, demonstrating her significant influence on Norwegian film. Her latest film "The things I wish you had told me, but never will" (2021) premiered at the Short Film Festival in Grimstad where it won the Norwegian Film Association award. “Loveable” is her feature debut. Ingolfsdottir teaches screenwriting and directing at the Norwegian Film School. She has also developed several feature film scripts and worked as a script consultant.

The Europa Cinemas Label Jury of Karlovy Vary this year comprised Sabine Hofmann (Filmcasino & Filmhaus. Kino am Spittelberg, Vienna, Austria), Alicia Nieto (Cines Renoir, Madrid, Spain) and Auksė Podolskytė (Skalvija Cinema Center, Vilnius, Lithuania).

The Label is also awarded in Berlin, Cannes, Locarno and Venice. Recipients of the Label honored at Karlovy Vary in the past include: Men Don’t Cry, Original Bliss, Babai, Free Fall, Le Grand Cahier, “I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians”, Scandinavian Silence, As Far As I Can Walk, Fucking Bornholm and The Hypnosis in 2023.

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Press enquiries: Charles McDonald

charles@charlesmcdonald.co.uk

+44 7785 246 377

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Photo credits LOVEABLE – © Øystein Mamen