Anders Thomas Jensen's 'The Last Viking' triumphs at Svend Prisen awards

The Danish comedy-drama "The Last Viking," directed by Anders Thomas Jensen, emerged as a major winner at this year's Svend Prisen awards, a public vote film festival held in Svendborg. The film secured the top prize for Best Danish Film, triumphing over other notable nominees including "Klassefesten 4: Venner for livet," "Ternet Ninja 3," and "De forbandede år 3 - Fredens pris." The film's narrative follows Manfred, played by Mads Mikkelsen, who is the sole keeper of the location of his brother's hidden robbery money, but suffers memory loss after a head injury. The brothers embark on a journey back to their childhood home to find the money and rediscover their identities.

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The Last Viking wins the main prize for Best Danish Film.

Mads Mikkelsen was also recognized for his performance, receiving the award for Best Actor. His co-star, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his extensive career spanning over three decades. Lie Kaas, who began his acting journey in 1991, has delivered acclaimed performances in films such as Lars von Trier's "Idioterne" and Susanne Bier's "Elsker dig for evigt." This marks his sixth Svend award, having previously won last year for his role in the drama "Vejen hjem."

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Manfred is the only one who knows where the money from a robbery committed by his brother is hidden. But Manfred remembers nothing after being hit by a mental challenge.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by the board of the Svend Filmdage film festival. Klaus Hansen, the board's chair, described Lie Kaas as "one of his generation's most significant Danish actors," praising his versatility in portraying characters ranging from deep psychological darkness to absurd comedy. Trine Dyrholm continued her winning streak, receiving the award for Best Actress for her role in the romance drama "Begyndelser." Additionally, the DR drama series "Uniformen" was named Best Danish TV Drama Series, and Molly Blixt Egelind won Best Actress in a TV Drama Series for her work in "Sygeplejeskolen."

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Together, the brothers set off back to their childhood country to find the money, but also to discover who they themselves are.

The Svend Prisen is distinguished as an audience award. Film nominations are based on ticket sales from the past year, while series nominations are determined by viewership figures from traditional television and streaming platforms. Actors nominated in their respective categories have appeared in the nominated films and series. A jury, comprising cultural journalist Maria Månson, Kino.dk CEO Daniel Bentien, Dorte Wiedemann from the Association of Danish Film Distributors, and Klaus Hansen from the regional film fund FilmFyn, selects the nominees. The public then votes on these selections across nine regular categories.

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one of his generation's most significant Danish actors