The Award
Michael Nyqvist Foundation Award
Michael Nyqvist Foundation Award annually recognises artist in the acting community. People who share Michaels spirit and conviction that acting can bring people together. The winners are selected by the foundations board members and previous winners. The award ceremony takes place in Sweden in November. The prize statue is designed by Michaels daughter, Ellen Nyqvist.
2023 Winner.
Jonas Karlsson, Sweden
Motivation by the board:
With precision, warmth and timing, he gives us one character after another to love, laugh at or be appalled of. All these emotions you also find expressed in his writings. Reading his texts is a pure adventure where he with a soft hand guides us towards delightfulness and surprises.
Jonas's artistry stands for great emotions and empathy, paired with an equally great intellectual sharpness. He is a renaissance man who reaches us regardless of whether he is on stage, filming or writing short stories. Jonas has a richly composed career behind him. The fact that he on top of all things mentioned sings like a god and draws fantastically well, tells us that we can safely trust that he will continue to provide us with his truly unique role interpretations.
Konträr, Sweden
Motivation by the board:
Behind the walls of Konträr hides an anonymous trio. Thanks to their work, the Stockholm audience has in a very short time been presented 20 premieres and over 150 artists have found a new place and venue to work from.
For a year now, the programming venue Konträr has been operating at Östgötagatan 33, Södermalm.
Konträr ; a deviation or offshoot from PotatoPotato performing arts that contrary of what its name might indicate (opposite, combative, negative, polar), offers the Stockholm audience eager and committed theater that gives artists an accessible place to work. In a city that continues to lose meeting places for the arts, we cannot welcome this initiative enough and encourage its ambitions to develop, internationalize and revitalize Stockholm.
Konträr are the present and the future; contemporary performing arts finds through its artistic leaders Freja, Linda and Jenny, together with Erik as international curator and Tove, technical director, a place for production and performance that makes visions possible!
2022 Winner.
Henrik Dorsin, Sweden
Motivation by the board:
Henrik Dorsin receives the award for his courage and his never-ending imagination. He possesses a unique ability to be completely on the spot – and out of touch – always with a presence. Simultaneously. The very same body contains both a political acuity and a unbridled sense of humour. A true Renaissance man; actor, comedian, writer, singer and theater manager, Henrik Dorsin is a theatrical genius. When other theaters close, he opens the doors to a new one.
Kharkiv State Puppet Theatre, Ukraine
Motivation by the board:
Kharkiv State Puppet Theatre performs in ways that touch and engage, that crosses boundaries and unites people. With a firm belief in the healing power of the arts, the Kharkiv State Puppet Theater has despite the difficult situation in the city and despite the constant shelling of the Russian army during spring and summer of 2022 managed to conduct performances for children and adults. With an indomitable optimism for the future and hope for peace, these performances have been presented in subways, in hospitals and other temporary places where people gathered.
2021 Winner.
Josephine Bornebusch, Sweden
Motivation by the board:
”Josephine Bornebusch has gone from clarity to clarity. For many years, she has dazzled us with her acting, her art of comedy and her perfect timing. Now as she has taken on new roles as director and screenwriter, she's doing it just as unquestionably. With the movie "Orca", she demonstrated an outstanding ability to turn a pandemic limitation into a strength and show great artistic courage.”
Good Chance Theatre, UK
Motivation by the board:
“Two British playwrights, Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, founded Good Chance Theatre in a refugee camp in the Calais Jungle 2015. The objective was to create a space of welcoming and gathering for people of all nationalities to share their stories. Through theatre and art, Good Chance creates collaborations between artists from all over the world, connecting people, stories and cultures. An organisation that literally crosses borders, sees the individual and presents hope.”
2020 Winner.
Trine Dyrholm, Denmark
Motivation by the board:
“Courage is the word that comes to mind when you think of Trine. Courage is the recurring theme in everything she does. Courage to never choose the easy way but instead always venture out on thin ice and unknown water. She tackles her characters with a rare kind of energy and desire, and it is a favour to be within her power field. She dares to stretch the bow to its limits, as she stretches boundaries, both her own and her surroundings. She gives of herself what the role requires. All completely without vanity. The part comes first. Not the ego. Always. ”
The Classical Theatre of Harlem, USA
Motivation by the board:
“Theatre in, for and of the community inspires lives. The Classical Theatre of Harlem provides theatrical productions and theatre-based educational and literary programs at little or no cost to underserved communities in Harlem. Since its founding in 1999, CTH has prioritized opportunity and access in the theatrical arts: onstage, backstage, in its administration, board and audience. By leading with diversity, equity and inclusion as its core values, CTH attracts one of the most racially generationally and socio-economically diverse theatre audiences in New York City.”
2019 Winner.
David Dencik, Sweden
Motivation by the board:
“David is a magician who allows himself to be transformed for each new role that he takes upon himself, both physically and mentally. He moves with exquisite ease between different genres without sacrificing authencity nor credibility. In short; a true magician!”
Moomsteatern, Sweden
Motivation by the board:
“While today in society we often talk about the importance of identifying problematic norms, Mooms theatre in Malmö is actively working the issue. Ever since 1987, Mooms theatre has successfully been a viable stage, where all productions are made with norm-breaking actors. By utilizing the different characteristics of their actors, Mooms theatre challenges the art itself. And by doing so, wins the heart of the audience. Mooms theatre is not a pedagogical tool, nor an institution for caregiving; it is a professional theatre that is passionate about telling stories in a unique and inimitable way. Organically and without effort, Mooms theatre builds bridges and promotes dialogue between different groups in society.”
2018 Winner.
Vicky Krieps, Luxemburg
Motivation by the board:
”Vicky Krieps for her luminous acting and striving for authenticity. Never resting upon her ego, but on her ability to be transparent and inquisitive. Different languages do not limit her as the truths she pursues are universal.”
Arabiska Teatern, Sweden
Motivation by the board:
"The Arabic Theatre in Stockholm believes in theatre as a force for social change. Their work is driven by individuals with great courage and vision aiming at prioritizing young people and children. Intolerance, racism or women's unquestionable place on stage and in society - no theme is too controversial to be illuminated. The Arabic Theatre gives a voice to Arabic, the second largest language in Sweden, with the purpose of counteracting exclusion and preventing conflicts from home being repeated in Sweden. The Arabic Theatre makes a difference.”
Do you want to contribute?
If you wish to pay your respects to Michael and make sure that his
artistic vision will live on, you are most welcome to contribute to the Foundation.