Norwegian director Halfdan Ullman Tundel (34 years old) won a prestigious award at the Cannes Film Festival

The Norwegian director was announced as the winner of the first prize on Saturday evening.

On Saturday, Halfdan Ullmann Tundel was asked to return to Cannes at short notice to participate in the festival's star-studded awards ceremony. Here he received the prestigious debut award Golden cameraGolden cameraA cinematic award given to directors at the Cannes Film Festival for best first film.. It was another actor of the film, Mathieu Robinette, who went on stage and received the award. It is not known whether Tondel arrived in time.

All the first films at Cannes compete to win the Camera d'Or (Golden Camera). The award has been awarded for 46 years. This is the first time the award has gone to a Norwegian film director. It has previously gone to prominent directors such as Belgian Lukas Dhont (for “Girl”), Briton Steve McQueen (“Hunger”) and American Jarmusch Strange (“Stranger Than Paradise”).

Tundel, 34, is the son of writer Len Ullmann, 57, and the grandson of Leif Ullmann, 85, and the late Swedish director Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007).

World premiere

“Armand” takes place one afternoon in an elementary school. The film's events revolve around Elisabeth (Renate Rensef), who is summoned to attend a parents' meeting at short notice. Her son Armand is accused of something, but what that “something” is seems unclear. The school principal, the health nurse, and another pair of parents soon became part of a meeting over which the school quickly lost control.

“Armand” had its world premiere as part of the Un Certain Regard program during the Cannes Film Festival on May 18. In Norway, the film will premiere in cinemas on September 27.

Armand has received more than eight million Norwegian kroner in grants from the Norwegian Film Institute. In addition, the film received support from SFI, NL Film fond and Talent Norway.

Praise for the directing work

Aftenposten critic Kjetil Lesmoen saw the film at Cannes and gave it a four. He wrote in his review that:Armand» It is a promising Norwegian directorial debut, and Renate Rensef gives us her best performance since The Worst Person in the World.

Lesmoyne praises the director's talent: “For those of us who have followed Halfdan Ullmann Tondels as a short filmmaker, this strong debut comes as no surprise. It's good to see that talent is exactly what the short films delivered.”

Endeavour He gave the film a grade of B+ and wrote that it has an “uncomfortably funny beginning that burrows into the mind.” Industrial magazines Hollywood Reporter And diverse Calls for a tighter script.

“Halfdan Ullmann Tundel is one of our new and exciting talents,” Kirsti Moe, director of the Norwegian Film Institute, said in a press release when the film was selected to screen at Cannes.

Armand was also announced on Friday as the winner. Prize in Cannes For voice work in the film.

• Read Aftenposten's review of “Armand” here: