"Look at Me..." Award 2024
Director Nellie Rajala has been awarded the Church Media Foundation's "Look at Me..." Award for her film The Elf Ring. The award was presented at the 43rd Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival (November 16-24, 2024) in Finland, where the film competed in the Finnish Film Competition.
The short film The Elf Ring tells the story of seven-year-old Lycke, who goes chanterelle picking with her grandfather at their secret mushroom spot. During the trip, the grandfather shares a mythical tale about an elf ring and its dangers. The journey back home by boat doesn’t go smoothly, and upon their return, Lycke’s mother reveals that her grandfather’s health is declining. Determined, Lycke sets out to save him.
The "Look at Me..." Award was judged by Mikko Hieta, a member of the Church Media Foundation's Board.
"The winner of the Finnish Film Competition shows us a child who believes that things can be changed. In this film, faith, hope, and love are powerfully present, inspiring the child to act when adults seem ready to give up," Hieta said in his statement about the award.
According to Hieta, The Elf Ring’s director, Nellie Rajala, uses skillful visual and auditory storytelling to prompt reflections on themes ranging from the strong bond between generations to respect for nature.
"Despite the challenges of the short film format, the story remains cohesive, and the film as a whole is both beautiful and impactful. Particularly noteworthy is that the filmmaker is still at the early stages of her career. She has succeeded well," Hieta added.
A Child's Perspective: Important and Insightful
The Finnish Film Competition included eight films — five feature-length and three short films — all of which meaningfully highlight the perspectives of children and young people.
"These films remind adults that a child's point of view is unique, important, and often more perceptive than that of adults," Hieta noted.
The "Look at Me..." Award includes a cash prize of 1,500 euros. It is awarded annually at the Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival to a Finnish director of a feature or short film. The award aims to support Finnish films for children and young people and to encourage filmmakers to explore themes of Christian responsibility and values.