HARPA winners & nominees

What is HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award?

– An annual event during Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival
– Communicating & presenting the quality of Nordic film and media-music
– Strengthening artistic and musical interaction between the Nordic countries and beyond
– Increasing Nordic film composers’ access to the European markets
– Strengthening the Nordic film position in EU
– Connecting Nordic creatives with global decision makers for international collaborations.

Each year during the Harpa Nordic Film Music Days the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award is awarded to this years most outstanding Nordic composer - and thereby putting spotlight on Nordic talent and craftmanship.

Over the last two months national juries from each Nordic country have watched, listened, discussed and finally decided which of the 50 submitted scores will proceed as their national nominee.

Now the decision is handed over to an international jury, and the winner of the 13th HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award will be revealed as part of the 2023 HARPA Nordic Film Music Days.

NEXT EDITION Sat. 18.02.23 – Sun. 19.02.23

Nominated HARPA 2023 Best Score

Martin Dirkov (DK) for his score for "Holy Spider" (directed by Ali Abassi)
Anna-Mari Kähärä (FIN) for her score for "Armotonta Menoa - Hoivatyön lauluja" (directed by Susanna Helke)
Páll Ragnar Pálsson and Eðvarð Egilsson for their score for "Skjálfti" (directed by Tinna Hrafnsdóttir)
WINNER Jørund Fluge Samuelsen (NO) for his score for "Alle hater Johan' (directed by Hallvar Witzø)
Anna von Hausswolff and Filip Leyman for their score for "The most beautyful boy in the world" (directed by Kristina Lindström & Kristian Petri)

Nominated HARPA 2022 Best Score

Jonas Struck (DK) for his score for “Vores mand i Amerika” (directed by Christina Rosendahl)
WINNER Sanna Salmenkallio (FIN) for her score for “Aalto” (directed by Virpi Suutari)
Tóti Guðnason (IS) for his score for “Lamb” (directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson)
Erik Ljunggren (NO) for his score for “Gritt” (directed by Itonje Søimer Guttormsen)
Johan Testad (SE) for his score for “Björnstad” (directed by Peter Grönlund)

Nominated HARPA 2021 Best Score

WINNER Flemming Nordkrog (Denmark) for his score for Matias Mariani's (BR) ’Shine Your Eyes’
Pessi Levanto (Finland) for his score for Marie Grahtø Sørensen ’Psychosia’
Hugar: Bergur Þórisson and Pétur Jónsson (Iceland) 2021 for Hrafnhildur Gunnarsdóttir (IS) ’The Vasulka Effect’
Marcus Paus (Norway) for his score for Andre Øvredal’s (NO) ’Torden’
Jon Ekstrand (Sweden) for his score for Jesper Ganslandt’s (SE) ’438 dagar’

Nominated HARPA 2020 Best Score

Kåre Bjerkø (Denmark) for "Det som Göms i Snö"
Panu Aaltio (Finland) for "Luontosinfonia"
Gyða Valtýsdóttir (Iceland) for "Mihkel"
WINNER Gaute Storaas (Norway) for "Bröllop, Begravning och Dop"
Anders Niska & Klas Wahl (Sweden) for "Balloons over Babylon"

Nominated HARPA 2019 Best Score

Jonas Struck (Denmark) for his score for Max Kestner's QEDA – Man Divided
WINNER Davíð Þór Jónsson (Iceland) for his score for Benedikt Erlingssons Woman at War / Kona fer í stríð
Ola Fløttum (Norway) for his score for Joachim Trier's Thelma
Timo Hietala (Finland) for his score for Heikki Kujanpää's Laugh or Die / Suomen hauskin mies
Johan Testad (Sweden) for his score for Peter Grönlunds Goliat

Nominated HARPA 2018 Best Score

WINNER Daníel Bjarnason (Iceland) for his score for Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson feature film 'Under the Tree'.
Henrik Skram (Norway) for his score for Synne Teksum's 'Snøfall'.
Miska and Juri Seppä (Finland) for their score for Rike Jokela's 'Tatu and Patu'.
Kristian Selin Eidnes Andersen (Denmark) for his score for Amanda Kernell's 'Sameblood'.
Björn Olsson (Sweden) for his score for Johannes Nyholms 'Jätten'

Nominated HARPA 2017 Best Score

WINNER Sune Martin for his score to Martin Zandvliets drama 'Land of Mine' (DK)
Gaute Storaas for his score to Hannes Holms comedy 'En mand der hedder Ove' (N)
Marko Nyberg for his score to Ville Jankeris comedy, 'Onnenonkija.' (SF)
Sophia Ersson for her score to Alexandra-Therese Keinings drama 'Pojkerne'. (S)
Hildur Guðnadottir for her score for Baltasar Kormákur's feature film EIÐURINN (The Oath) (IS)

Nominated HARPA 2017 Life time acivement

WINNER Bent Fabricius-Bjerre for his life long work producing music for television, movies - and entertainment. (DK)
Geir Bøhren & Bent Åserud for their lifelong work producing music for television, movies - and entertainment. (N)
Anssi Tikanmäki for his lifelong work producing music for film and presenting it life. (SF) (NO VIDEO)
Jan Sandström for his lifelong work (S)
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson for his lifelong work (IS)