Cinema: Birita (FO)

Where: Høllin
Duration: 89 min.

In this moving and deeply personal feature documentary, a family of theatre-makers on the tiny archipelago of the Faroe Islands attempts to stage Shakespeare’s King Lear, casting in the lead role their mother and celebrated theatre actress Birita Mohr, who is living with Alzheimer’s. Birita’s son Búi Dam, a theatre director, leads the project – a controversial endeavour driven by his belief that, even though his mother can no longer speak, she longs to return to the stage. Directing the play, Búi must grapple with justifying the project’s premise, while his father, a retired theatre director, tries to balance caregiving with his own well-being. As this remarkable drama unfolds, Birita’s joyful presence brings a surprising lightness to the process, leaving a profound impact on everyone involved.

Further information
Nominated: Búi Dam, director and producers Jón Hammer, Durita Sumberg and Mark Steele.
National premiere: 17 April 2026
Production company: Outlier Projects

This year, six Nordic films have been nominated for the prestigious Nordic Council Film Prize. The nominated films will be screened during October 7-9. The winner will be announced on 20 October. 

Since 2002, the Nordic Council Film Prize has been awarded to a full-length feature film that has roots in Nordic culture and displays high standards of artistic quality.