The jury of 2006 has spoken, and presents all of the winners at the 17th Stockholm International Film Festival. For the second time in festival history, the desirable honorary award for best film is presented to a female director.

The Bronze Horse for Best Film 2006 goes to Sherrybaby by Laurie Collyer.

Best film: Sherrybaby by Laurie Collyer
The jury’s motivation: “A pure and heartbreaking work about survival and dignity. It takes you on a desperate quest for love, through a landscape of struggle, guilt and broken dreams which at times is hard to watch yet impossible to forget”.

Best actress: Maggie Gyllenhaal for Sherrybaby
The jury’s motivation: “Vulnerable. True. Uncompromising. Her stunning performance hits the spectator hard and will set new standards for actors worldwide”.

Best actor: Ryan Gosling for Half Nelson
The jury’s motivation: “With sincerity and charm he balances on the brim of the abyss with a sad smile, giving addiction a whole new face and his lost character human value”.

The Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award 2006
The Lifetime Achievement Award of 2006 is presented to Swedish director Lasse Hallström. The motivation is as follows: One of Sweden’s most beloved directors managed to take the step from Bullerby Village to Hollywood with retained humility. With a genuine feel for authenticity and a great understanding of the inner self, Hallström makes films that audiences worldwide have taken to heart.
His work is driven by simplicity and an immediate presence, telling stories of alienation and human transformation.

The Stockholm Visionary Award 2006
The Stockholm Visionary Award of 2006 is presented to director Darren Aronofsky. The motivation follows: “After only three feature films, Darren Aronofsky has emerged as one of the most interesting filmmakers of our time. His storytelling is driven by passion; his unexpected narrative solutions break all cinematic conventions. Darren Aronofsky is a true visionary whose creative filmmaking inspires and captures, by taking the audience to places we never knew existed”.