Director biography:
BIOGRAPHY

Director, scriptwriter, producer and owner of the film production company BulBul Film as (est.1994). Bent Hamer was born in Sandefjord, Norway. Educated in Film Theory and Literature at Stockholms Universitet and Stockholms Filmskola.

His latest feature film, O’ HORTEN, was released in Norway, December 26th 2007, and had it's international premiere in "Un Certain Regard" (2008)

His other feature films include FACTOTUM (2005), KITCHEN STORIES (2003) and EGGS (1995) which had its international premiere at the Director's Fortnight in Cannes where KITCHEN STORIES received The Europa Cinemas prize. Both EGGS and KITCHEN STORIES were awarded The International Film Critics Prize (FIPRESCI).

Bent Hamer’s films have been distributed in more than 40 countries, they have participated in more than 80 film festivals around the world and have won him some 30 prizes.

FILMOGRAPHY FEATURES
(2007) O’ HORTEN
Writer, director and producer. Produced by BulBul Film as.

(2005) FACTOTUM (95’)
Writer, director and producer. (Co-written/co-produced with Jim Stark. Based on the novel, Factotum by Charles Bukowski.).
Produced by BulBul Film as and StarkSales Inc.

(2003) SALMER FRA KJØKKENET / KITCHEN STORIES (95’)
Writer, director and producer. (Written in co-operation with Jörgen Bergmark).
Produced by BulBul Film as.

(1998) EN DAG TIL I SOLEN / WATER EASY REACH (95’)
Writer and director. Produced by BulBul Film as.

(1995) EGGS (85’)
Writer and director. Produced by BulBul Film as.

FILMOGRAPHY SHORTS
(1995) BARE KØDD / JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT (3’)
(Written by Tove Cecilie Sverdrup)

(1994) APPLAUS / APPLAUSE (7’)

(1993) STEIN / STONE (20’)

(1992) SØNDAGSMIDDAG / SUNDAY DINNER (16’)

(1992) HAPPY HOUR / HAPPY HOUR (4’)
(Co-writer/director Jörgen Bergmark)

(1991) MAKRELLEN ER KOMEN / LONGITUDE-LATITUDE (13’)

FILMOGRAPHY DOCUMENTARIES
(2005) NORGE EROBREREN / NORWAY THE CONQUEROR (25’)

(1994) MOT TIL VERDIGHET / COURAGE TO DIGNITY (20’)

FILMOGRAPHY COMMERCIALS
(1995-2003) 20 commercials as director

AWARDS
(2008) The Norwegian Film Critics Association
The Film Critics Prize; O’ Horten

(2008) Trondheim International Film Festival - Kosmorama
Best Screenplay; O’ Horten
Best Innovative Film; O’ Horten
(Best Music; Kaada)
(Best Supporting Actor; Trond Viggo Torgersen)

(2008) The Norwegian Cinema Directors Association
The Silver Lump for best Norwegian film 2007; O’ Horten

(2005) Copenhagen International Film Festival, Denmark
The Golden Swan for best director; Factotum
(Best Actress; Lili Taylor)

(2005) Riga Nordic Film Festival
Half Life Achievement Prize

(2004) Aamot Statuetten, Norway
Film & Kino’s honorary award for Kitchen Stories

(2003) The Norwegian Film Critics Association
The Norwegian Film Critics Prize for Kitchen Stories

(2003) Tromsø International Film Festival, Norway
The International Film Critics Prize (FIPRESCI); Kitchen Stories

(2003) Cannes International Film Festival (Directors’ Fortnight), France
The Europa Cinemas prize; Kitchen Stories
Regard Jeune Prize; Kitchen Stories

(2003) The Norwegian Film Festival, Amanda award
(2003) Best Norwegian Feature Film; Kitchen Stories

(2003) Festival Paysages de Cinéastes, Chatenay-Malabry, France
The Public Award; Kitchen Stories
(Best Director of Photography; Philip Øgaard for Kitchen Stories)

(2003) Copenhagen International Film Festival, Denmark
The Golden Swan for best director; Kitchen Stories

(2003) Festival du cinema européen, Cinessonne, France
The Students Prize; Kitchen Stories

(2003) Flanders International Film Festival Ghent, Belgium
Best Screenplay; Kitchen Stories

(2003) Nordic Film Days Lübeck, Germany
The Baltic Film Price for Kitchen Stories

(2003) Valladolid International Film Festival, Spain
Silver Spike; Kitchen Stories
(Best Director of Photography; Philip Øgaard for Kitchen Stories)

(2003) São Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil
Best Director for Kitchen Stories

(2003) The Oslo Award: The film of the year; Kitchen Stories

(2003) Arne Skouens Honorary Award

(2003) Vestfold Fylkeskommune; The Culture Award

(1999) Sandefjord Kommune; The Culture Award

(1998) The Norwegian Film Festival, Amanda award
Best Screenplay; Water Easy Reach

(1998) Semana Internacional de Cine Naval y del Mar, Cartagena, Spain
Best Director; Water Easy Reach
Best Script; Water Easy Reach
(Best Photographer; Philip Øgaard for Water Easy Reach)
(Best Actress; Ingrid Rubio in Water Easy Reach)

(1996) Nordic Film Festival Rouen, France
Prix de la Public; Eggs

(1996) Bruxelles Cinédécouvert, Belgium
Aide à la Distribution Prix; Eggs

(1996) The Norwegian Film Critics Association
The Film Critics Prize for Eggs

(1996) The Norwegian Cinema Directors Association
The Silver Lump for best Norwegian film 1995; Eggs

(1995) Toronto International Film Festival, Canada
The International Film Critics Prize (FIPRESCI); Eggs

(1995) Cannes International Film Festival (Directors’ Fortnight), France
Prix de la Jeunesse; Eggs

(1995) Moscow International Film Festival, Russia
The Russian National prize; St. Ana Award for Eggs
The Kodak Prize; Eggs

(1995) The Norwegian Film Festival, Amanda award
Best Norwegian Feature Film; Eggs
(Best Male Actors; Sverre Hansen and Kjell Stormoen in Eggs)

(1995) Nordic Film Days Lübeck, Germany
NDR’s 1. prize; The Optimus Award; Eggs
The Baltic film prize; The Bird Woman Award; Eggs

(1995) Night & Day Magazine Oslo, Norway
The Film of the Year; Eggs

(1994) The Norwegian Film Festival, Amanda award
Best Short Film; Applause

NOMINATIONS
(2004) RISE (Recontres Internationales des Scénaristes Européens)
Best European Screenplay: Kitchen Stories

(2003) THE ACADEMY AWARD (Oscars)
The Norwegian entry: Kitchen Stories

(2003) EUROPEAN FILM AWARD
Public Prize; Kitchen Stories
Best European Film; Kitchen Stories
Best European Director; Kitchen Stories

JURY WORK
Istanbul International Film Festival; Competition
Tromsø International Film Festival; Competition
Copenhagen International Film Festival; Competition
Sundance Institute/Sundance Film Festival; The HKL Award
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival; Competition
Nordic Panorama; Best Nordic Short Film
Amanda Award; Best Norwegian Short Film