At the close of the 37th Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 11, 2026, the global film community turned its attention to a small Norwegian film that has quietly but powerfully made its mark: Sentimental Value. Directed by Joachim Trier, the movie not only captured the FIPRESCI Prize for Best International Screenplay at Palm Springs—one of the world’s most respected showcases for international cinema—but also earned a remarkable eight Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay. Its resonance across continents signals a rare feat for a film with modest origins and no advertising budget, yet one that has managed to break through to both audiences and critics alike.
To understand how Sentimental Value became the talk of awards season, it’s worth starting at the Palm Springs International Film Festival itself. This year’s edition, which ran from January 2 to January 12, 2026, screened a staggering 178 films from 72 countries and territories, including 53 premieres and 44 submissions for the International Feature Film Oscar. According to Variety and IndieWire, the festival’s international jury recognized Sentimental Value’s script—penned by Trier and longtime collaborator Eskil Vogt—for a story in which “love, family, art, and memory infuse new meanings.” The film’s screenplay stood out in a field crowded with Oscar hopefuls, earning the FIPRESCI Prize for Best International Screenplay, a testament to its nuanced exploration of familial bonds and artistic legacy.
But the accolades didn’t stop at the script. At the Golden Globes, held on January 11, 2026, Stellan Skarsgård took home the trophy for Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Film Role for his portrayal of Gustav, a once-renowned director attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughters. In his acceptance speech, Skarsgård brought a touch of humor and humility, saying, “I of course was not prepared for this, because I thought that I was too old.” He went on to thank his wife, Megan Everett-Skarsgård, and his children, joking, “I am playing a father that is a bad father, and my children have really told me what a bad father is.”
Skarsgård’s speech, however, quickly turned into a passionate plea for the preservation of the movie theater experience. “Hopefully you will see it in the cinema, because they are an extinguished species now. In a cinema, where the lights go down and eventually your chair…the pulse with some other people. That is magic. Cinema should be seen in cinemas.” His words resonated deeply in an era where streaming services often eclipse traditional theatrical releases, especially for international films with limited marketing resources.
The film’s plot, as described by IndieWire, follows two sisters, Nora and Agnes, as they attempt to reconnect with Gustav, their father. Gustav, still haunted by his past as a famous director, tries to bridge the emotional gap by offering Nora a role in his latest film. When she declines, the part goes to a young Hollywood actress, played by Elle Fanning, who quickly finds herself entangled in the family’s unresolved tensions. The story is both intimate and universal, delving into the complexities of love, regret, and the ways art can reflect and shape personal relationships.
Joachim Trier, never one to shy away from vulnerability, admitted in an IndieWire interview, “I’m out on a limb with this one. I’ve done this the best I can, [to] go to very gentle, tender places of love and connection and disconnection, to try to get in the intimacy of these relationships for real, and I’ve been really anxious throughout the whole process, asking, ‘Is it too much?’” He added, “This [multi-character narrative] more than anything I’ve done, I’m trying to create this one emotional arc in the story. It’s a super complicated balancing act, and thematically, we realized that we had a film when we had the ending.”
It’s this balance—the interplay of emotional rawness and narrative structure—that has made Sentimental Value stand out in a crowded field. The film’s ensemble cast, including Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning, brings a sense of authenticity and depth to the material, allowing Trier’s vision to shine through. Skarsgård’s performance, in particular, has been lauded for its subtlety and humor, qualities that have earned him not just the Golden Globe but also nominations at the European Film Awards, where he was previously recognized for his work in the TV mini-series Chernobyl.
The Palm Springs festival, meanwhile, remains a vital platform for international cinema. Alongside Sentimental Value, the festival’s top honor—the FIPRESCI Prize for Best International Feature Film—went to Oliver Laxe’s Sirât, Spain’s official Oscar submission. Other notable winners included Egypt’s Happy Birthday for Best International First Feature, Taiwan’s Left-Handed Girl ensemble for Best Actress, and Slovakia’s Milan Ondrík for Best Actor in Father. The festival also spotlighted documentaries and new voices, with awards going to Natchez (USA) and 3670 (South Korea), among others. As Variety reports, the event concluded with encore screenings of the award winners and a reminder to mark calendars for the upcoming Palm Springs ShortFest in June.
For those eager to see what the buzz is about, Sentimental Value is already available to rent and purchase online. This accessibility is a boon for international cinema lovers, especially given the film’s limited theatrical run and lack of a major advertising campaign. Yet, as Skarsgård’s speech made clear, there remains something irreplaceable about the communal experience of watching a film in a darkened theater, surrounded by strangers who, for a few hours, are united by the same story.
The journey of Sentimental Value—from a small Norwegian production to an awards-season heavyweight—serves as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the global appetite for films that grapple with the messiness of human relationships. In a world saturated with content, it’s heartening to see a film that began with modest means find its audience and its moment in the spotlight.
