"Sisterhood", a French-Moroccan co-production directed by Nora El Hourch, has won the Church of Sweden Youth Film Award 2024 at the 41st International Children's and Young People's Film Festival in Malmö (9-15 March, 2024). The film's story is about three young women whose close friendship is threatened after one of them is sexually harrassed and discloses the attack to the public. The award is endowed with a prize money of 100.000 SEK. The award honours films for young people that maintain a high level of artistic quality and raise existential, equality and social issues in a way which speak to both young people and adults.
The motivation of the jury reads: "Through nuanced and complex characters, the film depicts young women’s revolt against men’s violence capital. The film raises questions about class, gender, ethnicity and social media as a means of power. An emotional portrayal of friendships put to the test, family ties being challenged and the value of unwavering Sisterhood."
Members of the jury were Peter Pontikis (director and screenwriter), Jesper Ödermark (educator), Jessica Jankert (scriptwriter), Erica Lang (confirmation and youth priest) and Victor Samuelsson (trainee in a congregation and commisioner for the democratic rights of children and young people).
The film also received the prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Zlín 2024.