The documentary "Punishment" (OT: Straff), directed by Øystein Mamen (Norway, 2024), is the winner of the Faith in Film Award at the Tromsø International Film Festival 2024. The film portrays four inmates of a high security prison who attend a three-week Jesuit silent retreat.
The jury members were Eilif Bremer Landsend (filmmaker), Tale Næss (author and dramatist) and Einar-Arne Drivenes (historian).
Their motivation reads: "The prize goes to a film that moved the jury emotionally and intellectually. It portrayed its subjects and subject matter with respect and closeness through a clear artistic intention with a special sensitivity for the close-up and the human face. It made the film feel whole. The film is both a portrait of a building, a place and the people that are there. The film portrays the themes forgiveness and reconciliation in a way that touched us and made us reflect about the passing of time both for the characters, but also for us an audience. The film is a beautiful composition in four parts with a clear direction and with a director that want to tell us something without ever losing his ethical compass. The film asks a question on how society deals and has been dealing with those who trespass against the law. It’s a portrait of quiet intensity. A drama in the all the silence. The film is still in our hearts and our minds."
The Faith in Film award was created in 2017 and is borne by the Norwegian Church Academies, and the Tromsø Church Academy. The festival took place from 15-21 January, 2024.