Allocation – Supported Projects
Lars Hertervig. The frenzy of light
Mediacircus TV received NOK 250 000 for the production of the documentary film "Lars Hertervig. The frenzy of light". Hertervig (1830–1902) was considered to be one Norway's greatest artists before he was diagnosed with incurable insanity and pushed out into the cold. The paintings from the last 30 years of his life were considered the scribblings of a child, but subsequently turned out to bear clear similarities to styles that gained ground in Europe several decades later. Was the painter insane or just ahead of his time? The film questions the myths about Hertervig. The director and scriptwriter is Karl Johan Paulsen.
The list of the major grants made by the Fritt Ord Foundation in April 2012 has now been published.
New Norwegian drama
Among the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in March 2012, we find 11 theatre projects, mainly regarding development of new Norwegian drama. For example, in collaboration with the Harstad Cultural Centre, Holte Productions has been granted NOK 60 000 for the development of the play "Anna Elisabeth – The woman who built the city", based on Anna Elisabeth Kaarbø's diaries from about 1913. The Rimfrost Theatre Group on Senja has received NOK 50 000 for the project "Dedicated enthusiasts", in which they use ordinary people's words to tell stories about dedicated enthusiasts and 'rural Norway'. A grant of NOK 25 000 was allocated to the theatre production "Congo re:born", based on the case of Tjostolv Moland and Joshua French. This initiative was taken by Kjersti Horn, Emil Johnsen, Ågot Sendstad, Mads Sjøgård and Kaia Varjord.
A list has been published of the major grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in March 2012.
House of Literature in Trondheim
The Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated MNOK 2 to the establishment of a House of Literature in Trondheim in the Huitfeldtgården Building at Kjøpmannsgata 14. The literary community and the Trondheim Public Library have been prime movers behind the process. The House of Literature will be an arena for literature and the open exchange of ideas and opinions. The goal is to render visible and strengthen literary circles in central Norway and influence the atmosphere for debates in the region. In addition to providing premises for debates, lectures and readings, according to plan, the House of Literature will offer a café, bookshop and work stations for writers.
The list of the major grants made by the Fritt Ord Foundation in March 2012 has now been published.
Action on Belarus!
Norwegian P.E.N. has been granted NOK 50 000 for a full-day conference on Belarus in collaboration with the Human Rights House Foundation, Oslo, and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. The conference is entitled "Action on Belarus!" and will be held at the House of Literature in Oslo from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 22 March 2012. The conference will feature a number of high-profile speakers from Norway and abroad, including Thorbjørn Jagland, secretary general in the Council of Europe, and Natallia Radzina, editor of the Belorussian website Charter97.org. Is Norway's policy in respect of Belarus clear enough? How we can best help the freedom-seeking people of Belarus? For the full programme, see The Norwegian Helsinki Committee's website.
A list has been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in February 2012.
Good girl
The Media Operators have been granted NOK 300 000 for the production of "Good girl", a personal documentary film by award-winning director Solveig Melkeraaen. After being a "good girl" all her life, Melkeraaen fell victim to severe depression in 2008. The film tracks her experience of depression and treatment, which included electroshock therapy. The ultimate goal of the film is to encourage more openness about mental illness.
A list has been published of the major grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in January 2012.
Face to face
The young people's organisations in Stange, Stange Library and the Stange Culture School have been granted NOK 100 000 for a series of political/philosophical café evenings aimed at young people. Entitled "Face to face", this series of meeting will take its point of departure in the tragic events that took place in Norway on 22 July. The scheduled topics include: "Freedom of expression and common racism" and "How is a terrorist created – and how to avoid becoming one ...?". On the first debate evening, the audience will be invited to direct questions to philosopher and poet Cornelius Jakhelln. Throughout 2012, the venue for the events will be the Grevskapet Room at the library, featuring Jonas Kippersund as moderator.
A list has been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in December 2011.
One Day in History
Photographer Andrea Gjestvang has been granted NOK 100 000 for a portrait project with the working title "One Day in History". Gjestvang will photograph a large number of the young people who survived the Utøya tragedy on 22 July now as they are resuming their regular lives. The portraits will be accompanied by the young people's own words. The project will initially be published in magazines in Norway and abroad and be displayed at several exhibitions. In the long term, the goal is a book publication. "One Day in History" is Gjestvang's contribution to the European photo project "The Rise of Populism".
A list has now been published of the major grants made by the Fritt Ord Foundation in December 2011.
Read more >
Folk Music and Nazism
Valdres Museum of Cultural Heritage has been granted NOK 100 000 for an exhibition on folk music and Nazism in cooperation with master's degree student Bjørnar Blaavarp Heimdal, the magazine Folk Music and the Holocaust Centre. The exhibition will focus on the Occupation Forces' fascination with Norwegian folk music and dance. Further, it will show how (and why) Norwegian folk musicians and folk dancers played a part in national socialist propaganda. Posters, texts and images from the German propaganda machine will be central in the exhibition, which is scheduled to open in June 2012.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in November 2011.
Photo: Ola Brenno playing for Heinrich Himmler
To kill a rabbit. The life of Henriette Schønberg Erken
Maria Berg Reinertsen has received a grant of NOK 125 000 for the book project "To kill a rabbit. The life of Henriette Schønberg Erken (1866–1953)". Erken completely dominated the Norwegian cookbook market in the early half of the 1900s, not least with her masterpiece The Big Cookbook. Using the story of Henriette Schønberg Erken, Reinertsen seeks to understand the moral overtones of the food and the place of the cookbook in Norway, as well as to show the development of the role played by women in the past century. Reinertsen has signed a contract with CappelenDamm, and the book is scheduled for publication in autumn 2013.
The list of the major grants made by the Fritt Ord Foundation in October 2011 has now been published.
To the Young People
The first rounds of reviewing applications associated with the tragedies on 22 July have now been completed. The recipients include the young (photo)journalists in Paragon Features, who have been granted NOK 100 000 for the first phase of the project entitled "To the Young People". The terrorist acts on the island of Utøya constituted an attack on the young people's values. In "To the Young People", Paragon Features will present portraits of six groups of young people from all over Norway. One of the survivors from Utøya will be the gateway to each group, and the goal is to document the everyday lives of the Utøya generation, as well as their values and ideals, by producing a travelling exhibition and a book. The focal point of the first part of the project is 18-year-old Marie Ødegården from Kongsberg.
See the list of the first 22 July projects that have received support from the Fritt Ord Foundation.
Read more >
Bergen International Film Festival 2011
The Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated funding for three projects in connection with the Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF) being held from 19 to 26 October 2011. NOK 25 000 has been granted to a project on in-depth journalism in documentary films and NOK 100 000 for the presentation of documentary films for school children. NOK 100 000 has also been granted to the secondary programme "Checkpoints", a collaboration between BIFF and the Rafto Foundation. This project will shed light on breaches of human rights through the screening of more than 20 films from all over the world.
A list has been published of the minor grants awarded in September 2011.
Read more >
International Philosophy Olympiad Oslo 2012
The society Foreningen IPO Oslo 2012 has been granted NOK 300 000 to organise the 20th International Philosophy Olympiad for upper secondary school students. The event will be held in Oslo from 16 to 20 May 2012, with "The Limits of Freedom" as its overall theme. Twenty-nine countries from Europe, Asia and America were represented at the 2011 Philosophy Olympiad in Vienna. In addition to an essay competition, the event consists of seminars, discussion groups and lectures at a high philosophical level.
A list has now been published of the major grants awarded in August 2011.
Hunted Poverty
Linda Bournane Engelberth has received NOK 100 000 for the documentary photography project "Hunted Poverty". Engelberth follows individuals, families and larger groups of Roma people as they travel between Romania and an existence as beggars in Norway. She plans to photograph them at work, at leisure and on special occasions such as weddings and funerals. Her work will be carried out in Oslo and in one of Romania's many mining towns. Engelberth is also among the 10 selected photographers featured in the Norwegian Journal of Photography.
A list of Fritt Ord's minor grants in June 2011 has now been published.
Our version: Norwegian-Vietnamese in the Vietnam War
The Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated NOK 200 000 to the project "Our version: Norwegian-Vietnamese in the Vietnam War" headed by Khang Ngoc Nguyen in collaboration with Ola Alsvik of the Norwegian Institute of Local History and Photographer André Clemetsen. Norwegian media's presentation of the Vietnam War has always been dominated by American perspectives. This project will culminate in a book that conveys the experiences of South Vietnamese veterans living in Norway. The book will be based on life story interviews with veterans and photographs of them.
A list of the Fritt Ord Foundation's major grants in June 2011 has now been published.
Røros Literature Festival
Røros Literary Association has received NOK 30 000 from the Fritt Ord Foundation for the 2011 Røros Literature Festival. Occasioned by the Nansen-Amundsen Year, the theme of the 2011 festival will be "Frost and heat", and it will be held from 29 September to 2 October. Participating authors include Endre Lund Eriksen, Hilde Hagerup, Monica Kristensen, Trygve Lundemo, Eugene Schoulgin and Herbjørg Wassmo. The programme includes visits from authors to schools and daycare centres, lectures, seminars, literary journeys and the Sami Culture Bus.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded in May 2011.
Farewell Comrades!
Piraya Film has been granted NOK 500 000 to co-produce the TV series 'Farewell Comrades!' with Andrej Nekrasov as the main director. This large-scale joint international project gives a unique understanding of what happened during the 16 years under the global socialistic system prior to the Soviet Union's fall in 1991. In addition to the TV series, consisting of six one-hour episodes, 'Farewell Comrades!' consists of a book, a website and solutions for mobile telephony. The series will be launched internationally in November and December, and will be shown by NRK during this period.
A list of the Fritt Ord Foundation's major grants in April 2011 has now been published.
Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons
The Teknisk Industri publishing house has been granted NOK 75 000 to publish the art book: "Marit Følstad – Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons", which explores video art in book form. Marit Følstad have carved out a strong reputation at the national and international levels alike with her performance projects and video installations. Although video art has been an important aspect of the art scene since the 1990s, there are still very few book publications that address this artistic expression in depth. The text of the book has been written by Christoph Cox, Magnus Haglund and Robert Morgan.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in March 2011.
Arabic Film Week – Stories from the Levant
Films from the South has been granted NOK 150 000 by the Fritt Ord Foundation for the mini-festival 'Arabic Film Week', which will be held at the House of Film in Oslo from 30 April to 1 May 2011. The programme includes the world premier of the Egyptian film-maker Neveen Shalaby's 'The Agenda and Me'. This is one of the first documentary films from this year's revolution in Egypt. We follow four Egyptians from different walks of life from the outbreak of the demonstrations to Mubarak's stepping down.
A list has now been published of the major grants awarded in March 2011.
North Korea: With Eyes and Ears Wide Open
Director and producer David Kinsella has been granted NOK 100 000 to make a feasibility study for the documentary film ”With Eyes and Ears Wide Open” from North Korea. The film will focus on women, their rights and their place in North Korean society. As in his earlier films, David Kinsella will seek to find a visual truth by capturing human feelings, movements, tensions and body language on camera.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in February 2011.
Caricatures of "The Jew" in the inter-war years in Norway
The Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities has been granted NOK 150 000 to make a travelling exhibition "The caricatures of 'The Jew' in the inter-war years in Norway". By focusing on the over-representation of 'The Jew' in the caricature genre – in comic magazines and in the party press – the exhibition seeks to show how anti-Semitic stereotypes and notions were used by the Norwegian majority society in wide circles.
A list of the Fritt Ord Foundation's major grants in January 2011 has now been published.
Read more >
The underground scene in the 1980s
The Fritt Ord Foundation has granted
NOK 100 000 for Fin Serck-Hanssen's exhibition and photo book from the underground scene in the 1980s. The exhibition will be arranged at the Henie Onstad Art Centre, and the book will be published by Teknisk Industri Publishing House. The project comprises Serck-Hanssen's pictures from the Norwegian and international music world. Some of the material has never been shown before, while other pictures have been printed in magazines such as Puls and Nye Takter. The book will also feature new essays by Andrew Pogany, Glenn O'Brian and Ole Robert Sunde.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Freedom of Expression Foundation in December 2010.
Freedom of Expression 2011
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has been granted NOK 500 000 for the project "Freedom of Expression 2011". With this, the Helsinki Committee will be able to intensify the monitoring, reporting and lobbying activities associated with the media in Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Turkey. News and analyses will be published on an ongoing basis, and the project will result in a special report to be launched at a conference and used in lobbying activities in Norway and abroad.
A list has now been published of the major grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in December 2010.
Read more >
Gunnar Goes God
’Gunnar Goes God’ is an astonishing, unpolished documentary film that follows a doubter's quest for answers to the big questions in life. Director Gunnar Hall Jensen is an ordinary family father of small children who feels a growing sense of unrest; something is very wrong with his safe middle class life. He starts to ponder what it is that is missing. With humour and ingenuity, Gunnar seeks to understand why he feels like he is in a void, even though he has "everything". Philosophising has consequences, and Gunnar embarks on an important journey. Together with three others, he ventures to the Sahara to visit the monks at the world's oldest monastery.
The Fritt Ord Foundation has provided NOK 400 000 in support for the production and distribution of 'Gunnar Goes God'.
Read more >
The mysterious Joronn Sitje
Messel Publishing House has been granted NOK 75 000 for the publication of a book about the artist Joronn Sitje by Gry Iverslien Katz. The book is based on the artist's diaries and letters. Joronn Sitje (1897–1982) was recognised early as one of her generation's most promising artists and she eventually became an important exponent of Norwegian expressionism. She lived in Kenya for many years, and her motifs include African culture and everyday life.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in November 2010.
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Student grants at Lillehammer University College
Karianne Berge and Ida Solheim-Olsen have been awarded a Fritt Ord Foundation Student Grant of NOK 20 000 to make a documentary film about whaling – truths, myths and the struggle to continue making a living. The students are taking master's degrees from the documentary film unit at Lillehammer University College. The other master's degree projects that have been awarded grants previously are Nihad Daqaq's documentary film ”The Honor Killing Victims” (NOK 35 000) and May Odeh's documentary film ”Oslo I Love You” (NOK 30 000).
See the list of the recipients of the Fritt Ord Foundation's student grants.
Wikileaks – Freedom of Speech and How to Reinvent Journalism
Piraya Film has received NOK 200 000 for the development of a documentary film on Wikileaks. By accessing the people behind the Wikileaks organisation, the film will take a closer look at their endeavours to fight secrecy and corruption in government and business. In so doing, it will explore the new type of journalism that is emerging in response to the fact that, according to the producer, editorial staffs the world over are failing to do their job as the fourth estate. The film will also follow specific trails leading to existing and future disclosures. Petr Lom will be directing the film.
Read more >
Series of pamphlets
Frekk Publishing House has received start-up support of NOK 50 000 from the Fritt Ord Foundation to publish a series of pamphlets on different topics related to society, politics and culture. The list of upcoming publications includes ”The Good Life” by Bård Flaaten and Nicolai Strøm-Olsen, ”Poles in Norway” by Elzbieta Anna Czapka and Kristian Meisingset and ”New York and Tokyo” by Ståle Økland.
See the list of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in September 2010.
Tears of Gaza
’Tears of Gaza' documents Israeli attacks by telling the stories of three children. Through the children, we get insight into the consequences of the war – both for them and for their families. In collaboration with the people of Gaza, Director Vibeke Løkkeberg has depicted the dramatic events that occurred and the desperation and feelings of impotence resulting from the attacks. The film features unique pictures taken by the people of Gaza themselves. The Fritt Ord Foundation has provided NOK 800 000 in support for the development, production and distribution of 'Tears of Gaza'.
Read more >
Taliban Oil
Fenris Film has been granted NOK 120 000 to develop the documentary film "Taliban Oil", directed by Ola Flyum. All the biggest oil companies are vying for access to the oil and gas resources in the Afghanistan region. What role do petroleum resources play in the current war? The film team "Taliban Oil" plans to take a closer look at the contact between the US and the Taliban prior to 11 September 2001. What interests has Norway had in the region's energy market over the past decade?
A list has now been published of the major grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in September.
Expressions through clothing and symbols – freedom or limitation?
The Newspaper Artists Building has been granted NOK 35 000 for the exhibition "Expressions through clothing and symbols – freedom or limitation?". The exhibition seeks to enhance understanding for different cultural expressions in the form of clothing and symbols, as well as to mirror the discussion that has been conducted in the media recently. Are clothing and symbols as meaning bearers not also an aspect of freedom of expression? Where do we draw the line, if there is one?
Lars Hertervig. The frenzy of light
Mediacircus TV received NOK 250 000 for the production of the documentary film "Lars Hertervig. The frenzy of light". Hertervig (1830–1902) was considered to be one Norway's greatest artists before he was diagnosed with incurable insanity and pushed out into the cold. The paintings from the last 30 years of his life were considered the scribblings of a child, but subsequently turned out to bear clear similarities to styles that gained ground in Europe several decades later. Was the painter insane or just ahead of his time? The film questions the myths about Hertervig. The director and scriptwriter is Karl Johan Paulsen.
The list of the major grants made by the Fritt Ord Foundation in April 2012 has now been published.
New Norwegian drama
Among the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in March 2012, we find 11 theatre projects, mainly regarding development of new Norwegian drama. For example, in collaboration with the Harstad Cultural Centre, Holte Productions has been granted NOK 60 000 for the development of the play "Anna Elisabeth – The woman who built the city", based on Anna Elisabeth Kaarbø's diaries from about 1913. The Rimfrost Theatre Group on Senja has received NOK 50 000 for the project "Dedicated enthusiasts", in which they use ordinary people's words to tell stories about dedicated enthusiasts and 'rural Norway'. A grant of NOK 25 000 was allocated to the theatre production "Congo re:born", based on the case of Tjostolv Moland and Joshua French. This initiative was taken by Kjersti Horn, Emil Johnsen, Ågot Sendstad, Mads Sjøgård and Kaia Varjord.
A list has been published of the major grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in March 2012.
House of Literature in Trondheim
The Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated MNOK 2 to the establishment of a House of Literature in Trondheim in the Huitfeldtgården Building at Kjøpmannsgata 14. The literary community and the Trondheim Public Library have been prime movers behind the process. The House of Literature will be an arena for literature and the open exchange of ideas and opinions. The goal is to render visible and strengthen literary circles in central Norway and influence the atmosphere for debates in the region. In addition to providing premises for debates, lectures and readings, according to plan, the House of Literature will offer a café, bookshop and work stations for writers.
The list of the major grants made by the Fritt Ord Foundation in March 2012 has now been published.
Action on Belarus!
Norwegian P.E.N. has been granted NOK 50 000 for a full-day conference on Belarus in collaboration with the Human Rights House Foundation, Oslo, and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. The conference is entitled "Action on Belarus!" and will be held at the House of Literature in Oslo from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 22 March 2012. The conference will feature a number of high-profile speakers from Norway and abroad, including Thorbjørn Jagland, secretary general in the Council of Europe, and Natallia Radzina, editor of the Belorussian website Charter97.org. Is Norway's policy in respect of Belarus clear enough? How we can best help the freedom-seeking people of Belarus? For the full programme, see The Norwegian Helsinki Committee's website.
A list has been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in February 2012.
Good girl
The Media Operators have been granted NOK 300 000 for the production of "Good girl", a personal documentary film by award-winning director Solveig Melkeraaen. After being a "good girl" all her life, Melkeraaen fell victim to severe depression in 2008. The film tracks her experience of depression and treatment, which included electroshock therapy. The ultimate goal of the film is to encourage more openness about mental illness.
A list has been published of the major grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in January 2012.
Face to face
The young people's organisations in Stange, Stange Library and the Stange Culture School have been granted NOK 100 000 for a series of political/philosophical café evenings aimed at young people. Entitled "Face to face", this series of meeting will take its point of departure in the tragic events that took place in Norway on 22 July. The scheduled topics include: "Freedom of expression and common racism" and "How is a terrorist created – and how to avoid becoming one ...?". On the first debate evening, the audience will be invited to direct questions to philosopher and poet Cornelius Jakhelln. Throughout 2012, the venue for the events will be the Grevskapet Room at the library, featuring Jonas Kippersund as moderator.
A list has been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in December 2011.
One Day in History
Photographer Andrea Gjestvang has been granted NOK 100 000 for a portrait project with the working title "One Day in History". Gjestvang will photograph a large number of the young people who survived the Utøya tragedy on 22 July now as they are resuming their regular lives. The portraits will be accompanied by the young people's own words. The project will initially be published in magazines in Norway and abroad and be displayed at several exhibitions. In the long term, the goal is a book publication. "One Day in History" is Gjestvang's contribution to the European photo project "The Rise of Populism".
A list has now been published of the major grants made by the Fritt Ord Foundation in December 2011.
Read more >
Folk Music and Nazism
Valdres Museum of Cultural Heritage has been granted NOK 100 000 for an exhibition on folk music and Nazism in cooperation with master's degree student Bjørnar Blaavarp Heimdal, the magazine Folk Music and the Holocaust Centre. The exhibition will focus on the Occupation Forces' fascination with Norwegian folk music and dance. Further, it will show how (and why) Norwegian folk musicians and folk dancers played a part in national socialist propaganda. Posters, texts and images from the German propaganda machine will be central in the exhibition, which is scheduled to open in June 2012.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in November 2011.
Photo: Ola Brenno playing for Heinrich Himmler
To kill a rabbit. The life of Henriette Schønberg Erken
Maria Berg Reinertsen has received a grant of NOK 125 000 for the book project "To kill a rabbit. The life of Henriette Schønberg Erken (1866–1953)". Erken completely dominated the Norwegian cookbook market in the early half of the 1900s, not least with her masterpiece The Big Cookbook. Using the story of Henriette Schønberg Erken, Reinertsen seeks to understand the moral overtones of the food and the place of the cookbook in Norway, as well as to show the development of the role played by women in the past century. Reinertsen has signed a contract with CappelenDamm, and the book is scheduled for publication in autumn 2013.
The list of the major grants made by the Fritt Ord Foundation in October 2011 has now been published.
To the Young People
The first rounds of reviewing applications associated with the tragedies on 22 July have now been completed. The recipients include the young (photo)journalists in Paragon Features, who have been granted NOK 100 000 for the first phase of the project entitled "To the Young People". The terrorist acts on the island of Utøya constituted an attack on the young people's values. In "To the Young People", Paragon Features will present portraits of six groups of young people from all over Norway. One of the survivors from Utøya will be the gateway to each group, and the goal is to document the everyday lives of the Utøya generation, as well as their values and ideals, by producing a travelling exhibition and a book. The focal point of the first part of the project is 18-year-old Marie Ødegården from Kongsberg.
See the list of the first 22 July projects that have received support from the Fritt Ord Foundation.
Read more >
Bergen International Film Festival 2011
The Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated funding for three projects in connection with the Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF) being held from 19 to 26 October 2011. NOK 25 000 has been granted to a project on in-depth journalism in documentary films and NOK 100 000 for the presentation of documentary films for school children. NOK 100 000 has also been granted to the secondary programme "Checkpoints", a collaboration between BIFF and the Rafto Foundation. This project will shed light on breaches of human rights through the screening of more than 20 films from all over the world.
A list has been published of the minor grants awarded in September 2011.
Read more >
International Philosophy Olympiad Oslo 2012
The society Foreningen IPO Oslo 2012 has been granted NOK 300 000 to organise the 20th International Philosophy Olympiad for upper secondary school students. The event will be held in Oslo from 16 to 20 May 2012, with "The Limits of Freedom" as its overall theme. Twenty-nine countries from Europe, Asia and America were represented at the 2011 Philosophy Olympiad in Vienna. In addition to an essay competition, the event consists of seminars, discussion groups and lectures at a high philosophical level.
A list has now been published of the major grants awarded in August 2011.
Hunted Poverty
Linda Bournane Engelberth has received NOK 100 000 for the documentary photography project "Hunted Poverty". Engelberth follows individuals, families and larger groups of Roma people as they travel between Romania and an existence as beggars in Norway. She plans to photograph them at work, at leisure and on special occasions such as weddings and funerals. Her work will be carried out in Oslo and in one of Romania's many mining towns. Engelberth is also among the 10 selected photographers featured in the Norwegian Journal of Photography.
A list of Fritt Ord's minor grants in June 2011 has now been published.
Our version: Norwegian-Vietnamese in the Vietnam War
The Fritt Ord Foundation has allocated NOK 200 000 to the project "Our version: Norwegian-Vietnamese in the Vietnam War" headed by Khang Ngoc Nguyen in collaboration with Ola Alsvik of the Norwegian Institute of Local History and Photographer André Clemetsen. Norwegian media's presentation of the Vietnam War has always been dominated by American perspectives. This project will culminate in a book that conveys the experiences of South Vietnamese veterans living in Norway. The book will be based on life story interviews with veterans and photographs of them.
A list of the Fritt Ord Foundation's major grants in June 2011 has now been published.
Røros Literature Festival
Røros Literary Association has received NOK 30 000 from the Fritt Ord Foundation for the 2011 Røros Literature Festival. Occasioned by the Nansen-Amundsen Year, the theme of the 2011 festival will be "Frost and heat", and it will be held from 29 September to 2 October. Participating authors include Endre Lund Eriksen, Hilde Hagerup, Monica Kristensen, Trygve Lundemo, Eugene Schoulgin and Herbjørg Wassmo. The programme includes visits from authors to schools and daycare centres, lectures, seminars, literary journeys and the Sami Culture Bus.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded in May 2011.
Farewell Comrades!
Piraya Film has been granted NOK 500 000 to co-produce the TV series 'Farewell Comrades!' with Andrej Nekrasov as the main director. This large-scale joint international project gives a unique understanding of what happened during the 16 years under the global socialistic system prior to the Soviet Union's fall in 1991. In addition to the TV series, consisting of six one-hour episodes, 'Farewell Comrades!' consists of a book, a website and solutions for mobile telephony. The series will be launched internationally in November and December, and will be shown by NRK during this period.
A list of the Fritt Ord Foundation's major grants in April 2011 has now been published.
Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons
The Teknisk Industri publishing house has been granted NOK 75 000 to publish the art book: "Marit Følstad – Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons", which explores video art in book form. Marit Følstad have carved out a strong reputation at the national and international levels alike with her performance projects and video installations. Although video art has been an important aspect of the art scene since the 1990s, there are still very few book publications that address this artistic expression in depth. The text of the book has been written by Christoph Cox, Magnus Haglund and Robert Morgan.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in March 2011.
Arabic Film Week – Stories from the Levant
Films from the South has been granted NOK 150 000 by the Fritt Ord Foundation for the mini-festival 'Arabic Film Week', which will be held at the House of Film in Oslo from 30 April to 1 May 2011. The programme includes the world premier of the Egyptian film-maker Neveen Shalaby's 'The Agenda and Me'. This is one of the first documentary films from this year's revolution in Egypt. We follow four Egyptians from different walks of life from the outbreak of the demonstrations to Mubarak's stepping down.
A list has now been published of the major grants awarded in March 2011.
North Korea: With Eyes and Ears Wide Open
Director and producer David Kinsella has been granted NOK 100 000 to make a feasibility study for the documentary film ”With Eyes and Ears Wide Open” from North Korea. The film will focus on women, their rights and their place in North Korean society. As in his earlier films, David Kinsella will seek to find a visual truth by capturing human feelings, movements, tensions and body language on camera.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in February 2011.
Caricatures of "The Jew" in the inter-war years in Norway
The Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities has been granted NOK 150 000 to make a travelling exhibition "The caricatures of 'The Jew' in the inter-war years in Norway". By focusing on the over-representation of 'The Jew' in the caricature genre – in comic magazines and in the party press – the exhibition seeks to show how anti-Semitic stereotypes and notions were used by the Norwegian majority society in wide circles.
A list of the Fritt Ord Foundation's major grants in January 2011 has now been published.
Read more >
The underground scene in the 1980s
The Fritt Ord Foundation has granted
NOK 100 000 for Fin Serck-Hanssen's exhibition and photo book from the underground scene in the 1980s. The exhibition will be arranged at the Henie Onstad Art Centre, and the book will be published by Teknisk Industri Publishing House. The project comprises Serck-Hanssen's pictures from the Norwegian and international music world. Some of the material has never been shown before, while other pictures have been printed in magazines such as Puls and Nye Takter. The book will also feature new essays by Andrew Pogany, Glenn O'Brian and Ole Robert Sunde.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Freedom of Expression Foundation in December 2010.
Freedom of Expression 2011
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has been granted NOK 500 000 for the project "Freedom of Expression 2011". With this, the Helsinki Committee will be able to intensify the monitoring, reporting and lobbying activities associated with the media in Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Turkey. News and analyses will be published on an ongoing basis, and the project will result in a special report to be launched at a conference and used in lobbying activities in Norway and abroad.
A list has now been published of the major grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in December 2010.
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Gunnar Goes God
’Gunnar Goes God’ is an astonishing, unpolished documentary film that follows a doubter's quest for answers to the big questions in life. Director Gunnar Hall Jensen is an ordinary family father of small children who feels a growing sense of unrest; something is very wrong with his safe middle class life. He starts to ponder what it is that is missing. With humour and ingenuity, Gunnar seeks to understand why he feels like he is in a void, even though he has "everything". Philosophising has consequences, and Gunnar embarks on an important journey. Together with three others, he ventures to the Sahara to visit the monks at the world's oldest monastery.
The Fritt Ord Foundation has provided NOK 400 000 in support for the production and distribution of 'Gunnar Goes God'.
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The mysterious Joronn Sitje
Messel Publishing House has been granted NOK 75 000 for the publication of a book about the artist Joronn Sitje by Gry Iverslien Katz. The book is based on the artist's diaries and letters. Joronn Sitje (1897–1982) was recognised early as one of her generation's most promising artists and she eventually became an important exponent of Norwegian expressionism. She lived in Kenya for many years, and her motifs include African culture and everyday life.
A list has now been published of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in November 2010.
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Student grants at Lillehammer University College
Karianne Berge and Ida Solheim-Olsen have been awarded a Fritt Ord Foundation Student Grant of NOK 20 000 to make a documentary film about whaling – truths, myths and the struggle to continue making a living. The students are taking master's degrees from the documentary film unit at Lillehammer University College. The other master's degree projects that have been awarded grants previously are Nihad Daqaq's documentary film ”The Honor Killing Victims” (NOK 35 000) and May Odeh's documentary film ”Oslo I Love You” (NOK 30 000).
See the list of the recipients of the Fritt Ord Foundation's student grants.
Wikileaks – Freedom of Speech and How to Reinvent Journalism
Piraya Film has received NOK 200 000 for the development of a documentary film on Wikileaks. By accessing the people behind the Wikileaks organisation, the film will take a closer look at their endeavours to fight secrecy and corruption in government and business. In so doing, it will explore the new type of journalism that is emerging in response to the fact that, according to the producer, editorial staffs the world over are failing to do their job as the fourth estate. The film will also follow specific trails leading to existing and future disclosures. Petr Lom will be directing the film.
Read more >Series of pamphlets
Frekk Publishing House has received start-up support of NOK 50 000 from the Fritt Ord Foundation to publish a series of pamphlets on different topics related to society, politics and culture. The list of upcoming publications includes ”The Good Life” by Bård Flaaten and Nicolai Strøm-Olsen, ”Poles in Norway” by Elzbieta Anna Czapka and Kristian Meisingset and ”New York and Tokyo” by Ståle Økland.
See the list of the minor grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in September 2010.
Tears of Gaza
’Tears of Gaza' documents Israeli attacks by telling the stories of three children. Through the children, we get insight into the consequences of the war – both for them and for their families. In collaboration with the people of Gaza, Director Vibeke Løkkeberg has depicted the dramatic events that occurred and the desperation and feelings of impotence resulting from the attacks. The film features unique pictures taken by the people of Gaza themselves. The Fritt Ord Foundation has provided NOK 800 000 in support for the development, production and distribution of 'Tears of Gaza'.
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Taliban Oil
Fenris Film has been granted NOK 120 000 to develop the documentary film "Taliban Oil", directed by Ola Flyum. All the biggest oil companies are vying for access to the oil and gas resources in the Afghanistan region. What role do petroleum resources play in the current war? The film team "Taliban Oil" plans to take a closer look at the contact between the US and the Taliban prior to 11 September 2001. What interests has Norway had in the region's energy market over the past decade?
A list has now been published of the major grants awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation in September.
Expressions through clothing and symbols – freedom or limitation?
The Newspaper Artists Building has been granted NOK 35 000 for the exhibition "Expressions through clothing and symbols – freedom or limitation?". The exhibition seeks to enhance understanding for different cultural expressions in the form of clothing and symbols, as well as to mirror the discussion that has been conducted in the media recently. Are clothing and symbols as meaning bearers not also an aspect of freedom of expression? Where do we draw the line, if there is one?
Allocation