WHEN THE LIGHT BREAKS named Film of the Year at the Edda Awards while TOUCH wins big with 10 awards
The Icelandic film Touch, directed by Baltasar Kormákur, emerged as the big winner at the 2025 Edda Awards, Iceland's premier film honors presented annually by the Icelandic Film and Television Academy. The film received a total of ten awards across major categories. When the Light Braks directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson, was awarded five Eddas, including the Film of the Year prize. The ceremony took place at the Hilton Hotel in Reykjavík on Wednesday, March 26.
Touch received awards including Best Screenplay, written jointly by author Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson and Baltasar Kormákur. Egill Ólafsson and Pálmi Kormákur won Actor of the Year awards – Egill for a leading role, and Pálmi for a supporting role.
Rúnar Rúnarsson was named Director of the Year, and Elín Hall and Katla Njálsdóttir from When the Light Breaks received awards for Actress of the Year in a Leading Role and Supporting Role, respectively. Rúnar's short film, O, was named Short Film of the Year.
Egill Ólafsson and Tinna Gunnlaugsdóttir received the Icelandic Film and Television Academy's Honorary Awards for their pioneering contributions to Icelandic film culture. A Discovery of the Year award was also presented, given to an individual who has not previously been nominated in the relevant professional category but has drawn particular attention for outstanding work during the year. This award went to Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter, director of the short film Fár.
The following were nominated for the 2025 Edda Awards, with winners in bold:
Children and Youth Film of the Year
- Geltu
- Heimavist
- Kirsuberjatómatar
Foreign Film of the Year
- All of us strangers
- Elskling
- Perfect Days
- Poor things
- Substance
Documentary of the Year
- When the Mountain Roars (Fjallið það öskrar)
- Cowboy of the north, the story of Johnny King (Kúreki Norðursins, sagan af Johnny King)
- The Day Iceland Stood Still
Documentary Short of the Year
- Kirsuberjatómatar
- Ómur jóla
- Vélsmiðja 1913
Film of the Year
- When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Odd Fish (Ljósvíkingar)
- Touch (Snerting)
Short Film of the Year
- Fár
- Vagus Symphony (Flökkusinfónía)
- O
Visual Effects of the Year
- Jörundur Rafn Arnarson, Christian Sjostedt for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Árni Gestur Sigfússon for Odd Fish (Ljósvíkingar)
- Michael Denis for Epilogue (Missir)
Costume Design of the Year
- Helga Rós Hannam for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Arndís Ey for Odd Fish (Ljósvíkingar)
- Margrét Einarsdóttir for Touch (Snerting)
Makeup of the Year
- Evalotte Oosterop for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Tinna Ingimarsdóttir for Natatorium
- Ásta Hafþórsdóttir for Touch (Snerting)
Screenplay of the Year
- Rúnar Rúnarsson for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Snævar Sölvason for Odd Fish (Ljósvíkingar)
- Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson and Baltasar Kormákur for Touch (Snerting)
Sound of the Year
- Agnar Friðbertsson, Birgir Tryggvason for Odd Fish (Ljósvíkingar)
- Björn Viktorsson for Natatorium
- Kjartan Kjartansson for Touch (Snerting)
Editing of the Year
- Andri Steinn Guðjónsson for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Jussi Rautaniemi for Natatorium
- Sigurður Eyþórsson for Touch (Snerting)
Cinematography of the Year
- Sophia Olsson for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Kerttu Hakkarainen for Natatorium
- Bergsteinn Björgúlfsson for Touch (Snerting)
Actor of the Year in a Leading Role
- Björn Jörundur Friðbjörnsson for Ljósvíkingar
- Egill Ólafsson for Touch (Snerting)
- Þorsteinn Gunnarsson for Missi
Actor of the Year in a Supporting Role
- Björn Thors for Nokkur augnablik um nótt
- Mikael Kaaber for Ljósbrot
- Pálmi Kormákur for Touch (Snerting)
Actress of the Year in a Leading Role
- Elín Hall for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Helga Braga Jónsdóttir for Top 10 Must (Topp 10 möst)
- Vigdís Hrefna Pálsdóttir for In the Blink of a Night (Nokkur augnablik um nótt)
Actress of the Year in a Supporting Role
- Katla Njálsdóttir for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Sólveig Arnarsdóttir for Odd Fish (Ljósvíkingar)
- Yoko Narahashi for Touch (Snerting)
Production Design of the Year
- Hulda Helgadóttir for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Snorri Freyr Hilmarsson for Natatorium
- Sunneva Ása Weisshappel for Touch (Snerting)
Director of the Year
- Rúnar Rúnarsson for When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
- Snævar Sölvason for Natatorium
- Baltasar Kormákur for Touch (Snerting)
Music of the Year
- Kristján Sturla Bjarnason for When the Mountain Roars (Fjallið það öskrar)
- Magnús Jóhann for Odd Fish (Ljósvíkingar)
- Högni Egilsson for Touch (Snerting)
Discovery of the Year
- Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter
Honorary Awards
- Egill Ólafsson and Tinna Gunnlaugsdóttir