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Erik Fosse and Mads Gilbert honoured with the Freedom of Expression Tribute
Erik Fosse og Mads Gilbert
The Freedom of Expression Tribute is being awarded to the physicians Erik Fosse and Mads Gilbert for their outstanding, unflagging eye witness accounts of the suffering sustained by the civilian population during the bombing of Gaza.
Erik Fosse and Mads Gilbert provided vivid details to western and Arab journalists about the impact of the bombing of Gaza during first 10 days of 2009. They reported on what they saw with their own eyes at the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, based on their medical experience. Their first-hand accounts and their medical efforts were motivated by their strong commitment to the civilian population.
The humanitarian organisation Norwac (The Norwegian Aid Committee) decided to send them to Gaza on 28 December 2008. Erik Fosse and Mads Gilbert, both physicians who work for Norwac, crossed the border on 31 December 2008. For several days, they were the only western witnesses to the events that unfolded. Other health care workers began to enter the area on 8 January 2009, and Fosse and Gilbert left Gaza on 10 January 2009.
Fosse and Gilbert both have long experience of providing medical services in war-torn areas and conflict zones in the Balkans and the Middle East. They have worked in Gaza on several occasions over the past 20 years.
Otherwise, Erik Fosse is a professor and chief physician at the Intervention Centre at Rikshospitalet, the National Hospital, University of Oslo. He is also the director of Norwac. Mads Gilbert is a professor, department manager and senior medical officer at the Emergency Medical Treatment Ward at University Hospital Northern Norway in Tromsø.
Fosse and Gilbert are currently writing a book about the events that took place in Gaza. It will be published in Norwegian, English and Arabic in autumn 2009.
The tributes will be awarded to them on Tuesday, 24 February 2009, at 11 a.m. in Institusjonen Fritt Ord's premises at Uranienborgveien 2, Oslo. The Freedom of Expression Tribute acknowledges remarkable efforts to promote free speech, often in connection with current events. The tribute is accompanied by a crystal vase and NOK 50 000 to each winner.
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Supported projects – examples
The development and production of documentary films
The Fritt Ord Foundation's major grants in June 2013 include funding for the development and production of nine documentary films. For example, development support has been awarded to India Film's project with the working title "Munch in hell", an international documentary that will examine Edvard Munch and his position in Norway. Further, development support has been granted to Bonanza Post Production for a documentary film about school drop-outs and to Gammaglimt for development of the documentary film "Blackhearts". Funds were also allocated for a documentary film on the New York Review of Books focusing, among other things, on human rights and freedom of expression.
A list has now been published of the major grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in June 2013 (in Norwegian).
'Ida's Diary' to Good Pitch Europe 2013
The Norwegian documentary film 'Ida's Diary' has been selected for inclusion in the pitch forum Good Pitch Europe 2013 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in London on 7 June 2013. The pitch forum was initiated by the BRITDOC Foundation in collaboration with the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Programme. 'Ida's Diary' has been directed by August Baugstø Hanssen and produced by Carsten Aanonsen of Indie Film. Presenting the personal story of a young girl who is a self-mutilator, the film is based on recordings from the girl's own video diary.
The Fritt Ord Foundation has granted NOK 250 000 in production support for 'Ida’s Diary'.
The Fritt Ord Foundation has granted NOK 250 000 in production support for 'Ida’s Diary'.
Women's suffrage anniversary in Bamble: Marie Høeg
The Fritt Ord Foundation has granted NOK 100 000 to Bamble Municipality for its celebration of the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Norway, which the municipality will celebrate by re-enacting the story of the Langesund woman Marie Høeg (1866–1949). Høeg was a suffragette, organiser, photographer and lesbian, and she played an important part in winning the right for women to vote in Norway. While the municipality will celebrate the anniversary with a number of events throughout 2013, the main emphasis will be on women's suffrage week, beginning on 31 August. The celebrations will include a relaunch of "The Discussion Society" and a photo exhibition at the Wrightegaarden Estate. A preview of the exhibition will be on display in the Bamble City Hall from 11 June.
Gay Kids. Gay People Were Young Once Too
The exhibition "Gay Kids. Kule barn som også finnes" ("Gay Kids. Gay People Were Young Once Too") opens at Maihaugen at 10 a.m. on 31 May 2013. "Gay Kids" is a beautifully illustrated book and an exhibition that sheds light on what it is like to grow up and fall in love with someone of the same sex. The project is a joint venture between Gay and Lesbian Health Norway, the Norwegian Literary Festival and Maihaugen. Olemic Thommessen, the Conservative Party's spokesperson on family policy, will open the exhibition, followed by presentations by Stig-Werner Moe and Bera U. Moseng from Gay and Lesbian Health Norway.
The project has received support from the Fritt Ord Foundation.
The project has received support from the Fritt Ord Foundation.