The Freyas aimed to foster greater collaboration and visibility for Nordic productions, a sentiment echoed by many throughout the evening. Director Hanna Bergholm, accepting the Best Film award for "Nightborn" – which features "Compartment No. 6" star Seidi Haarla and Rupert Grint – emphasized the supportive community within Finnish filmmaking. She noted the value of "this forum where we Nordic filmmakers can support each other and speak for Nordic films. That’s so precious."
Beyond the top features, the awards celebrated a wide array of talent. Trine Dyrholm's win for "The Danish Woman" was complemented by the series' own recognition, a testament to its compelling narrative and performances. Producer Marianne Slot, while accepting the series award, delivered a timely caution about the evolving industry landscape: "These days, AI is threatening originals. We have to take care of originals."
Individual acting honors were also distributed widely. Icelandic-American actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson was named Nordic Actor in a Series for his role in "Reykjavik Fusion," expressing pride in the "coalition of the Nordic nations." Swedish actor Fares Fares secured the Nordic Actor in a Film award for Alex Schulman’s "Archipelago." Fares highlighted the awards' significance, stating, "When I heard of this award, I thought this was long overdue. Why didn’t we have this Nordic film and TV award before? What a great idea!" He also voiced hope that the awards would inspire Swedes to explore more films from Finland, Iceland, and Estonia.
The Freyas also recognized seasoned veterans and rising stars with special accolades. The prestigious Falcon Award was presented to Swedish filmmaking legend Lasse Hallström, known for classics like "My Life as a Dog." Finnish director Dome Karukoski praised Hallström's work for shaping "numerous young Nordic directors with its humanity and warmth." Hallström, in turn, movingly credited his wife, Swedish actress Lena Olin, who herself received the Goddess Award. Olin reflected on the journey of Nordic actors, noting a shift from a humble, story-first approach to a global recognition of their immense talent. "Now I feel there are so many extraordinary films, TV shows coming out of the Nordics. We have created so much greatness," she shared.
The Nordic Impact Award went to the powerful Finnish and Norwegian documentary "The Secret Reading Club of Kabul," co-directed by Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen. Hirvonen conveyed a message from Adil, who remains in Afghanistan, expressing that if she had known their film would be honored, "I would have had hope. I would have believed that if the world hears, at least someone cares." This poignant win underscored the power of storytelling from challenging environments.
Further awards included the Local Nordic Hero Award for Finnish actress Laura Birn, celebrated for her international breakthrough role as Demerzel in Apple TV’s "Foundation," and the Icebreaker Award for Norwegian actress Thea Sofie Loch Næss, marking her as a promising young professional.
The ceremony, expertly hosted by Finnish actor Pekka Strang, currently filming the fourth season of "White Lotus," injected humor into the proceedings, playfully linking the Nordic climate to the distinctive "Nordic noir" genre. The inaugural Freyas truly served as a powerful platform, not just for celebrating achievements, but for strengthening bonds and inspiring future creative endeavors across the Nordic audiovisual landscape.