The 98th Academy Awards, held annually in March at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, awarded the film industry's best achievements from the previous year. According to sources, the Norwegian film 'Affeksjonsverdi' won an Oscar for Best International Film. This marks the first time a Norwegian film has received an Oscar. Sources indicate the film received nine Oscar nominations, and 1,072 people are credited in the production. Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery (Ap) was reportedly present at the ceremony. The exact number of awards the film won besides Best International Film has not been disclosed.
Director Joachim Trier, described by major media as 'just a film nerd from Norway,' stated the win 'means everything' to him. In his acceptance speech, he thanked his mother, father, and wife Helle. Trier noted the film is about a dysfunctional family, contrasting it with the 'lovely gang' on stage with him. He also made a political statement paraphrasing James Baldwin about adult responsibility for children, urging not to vote for politicians who don't take this seriously. The specific political statement Trier paraphrased from James Baldwin has not been detailed in available sources.
I am just a film nerd from Norway.
Actor Bjørn Alexander, who played journalist Stian, expressed excitement about the win but had hoped for more awards. He described the afterparty atmosphere with 'trampeklapp og stående applaus' for Trier, and reported the Oscar statuette was placed in front of Trier at a table. Alexander claimed the win is 'a clear proof that the Norwegian film industry actually delivers and the level is solid,' highlighting that high international quality is possible without Marvel-level budgets. The exact budget of 'Affeksjonsverdi' compared to Marvel films remains unknown.
Kjersti Mo, director of the Norwegian Film Institute, called it a 'historical moment for Norwegian film,' emphasizing the importance of Nordic and European cooperation and a model combining cultural policy and artistic freedom. The details of this Nordic and European cooperation model have not been specified. Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery described it as 'completely fantastic' and a 'historical event we will never forget,' claiming she screamed so loudly she thinks the eardrum of the person in front of her burst. She noted pride that producer Maria Ekerhovd is from Bergen, calling it significant for Norway as a film nation.
This means everything to me.
This development follows previous coverage of the 2026 Oscars, where Sean Penn won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Netflix films claimed multiple awards, and the ceremony featured a historic tie and a new category. Earlier reporting indicated Stellan Skarsgård was positioned as a strong Best Supporting Actor contender for his role in the Norwegian film 'Sentimental Value,' but Penn ultimately won that category. The Best Picture race between 'One Battle After Another' and 'Sinners' was highly competitive, with new voting guidelines requiring voters to attest they've seen all films they vote on, though an Academy Awards voter anonymously admitted they haven't watched half of the nominated films. The ceremony also included an emotional tribute by Billy Crystal to his late friend Rob Reiner, and Conan O'Brien joked about speaking Norwegian during his opening monologue.
The win for 'Affeksjonsverdi' represents a milestone for Norwegian cinema, building on a year where Norwegian films gained international recognition at festivals like Berlin and Cannes. The film's success, despite not achieving all hoped-for awards, demonstrates the growing impact of Nordic cinema on the global stage. The political dimension added by Trier's speech introduces a social message into the celebration, reflecting broader conversations about artistic responsibility. As the Norwegian film industry celebrates this breakthrough, questions remain about how this model of cultural policy and international collaboration might influence future productions. The identity of other key cast members not mentioned in the sources has not been revealed.