Euronews Tradition was just lately in Reykjavík for the European Movie Awards, and whereas within the metropolis, we sat down with Iceland's Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, one among solely eight ladies in energy in Europe.
She made her mark on the worldwide cultural map this yr when she revealed her first thriller novel, entitled 'Reykjavík', which she co-wrote with best-selling creator of the ‘Darkish Iceland’ sequence Ragnar Jónasson.
Jakobsdóttir, former minister of training, science and tradition, is the chairperson of the Left-Inexperienced motion and has been serving because the prime minister since 2017. She is Iceland's second feminine prime minister, after Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir.
Throughout our sitdown with Katrín Jakobsdóttir, we talked about Iceland's place inside the filmmaking business, gender parity in politics and the humanities, and the way the world could be a greater place if extra politicians embraced their artistic drives.
Euronews Tradition: The European Movie Awards happen in Iceland this yr, a rustic which has turn out to be the Hollywood of Europe, contemplating it has accommodated numerous huge funds productions – from Star Wars to Sport of Thrones. How important is it for Reykjavík to host the awards?
Katrín Jakobsdóttir: We’re very comfortable that the occasion may happen in Iceland this yr. The Icelandic public has actually realized within the final 15 years or so how essential the film business is. It's actually the core of contemporary narrative that occurs within the films and in tv. Now we have seen nice Icelandic films and tv sequence coming into actuality in the previous couple of years. I believe that is possibly symbolic for us to be internet hosting this essential prize, exhibiting that we're actually on the map of the film world.
Wanting on the nominees this yr, there appears to be a parity between female and male nominees. Iceland has at all times been forward of the curb in relation to gender equality – from the primary feminine president elected in 1980 and your occasion advocating for equal pay. You’re additionally a member of the Council of Girls World Leaders since 2020. In your opinion, is sufficient being accomplished to assist and improve the visibility of ladies in politics and tradition?
Now we have accomplished quite a bit right here in Iceland. What we do is take a look at the whole lot by means of the gender lens, if I could say so. Not simply politics, however all sectors in society. And once we take into consideration the film sector, the artwork of filmmaking, clearly it's critical for us who watch the films that they're instructed from completely different views, that we've women and men and folks with completely different backgrounds and origins telling us their tales.
The movie business was once a really male dominated sector – it's altering and I'm very glad for that, as a result of it's so essential for all of us to have completely different tales instructed with completely different views to boost our understanding that the world is a really numerous place. Movies, identical to literature and all different arts, are important to actually strengthen the understanding of various individuals.
And once we take a look at the world right this moment, the place we've a horrible tragic battle in Europe after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I believe it’s possibly extra essential than ever to have this understanding that peace is actually the precondition for each progress that we are able to make, and understanding and respecting completely different individuals is the precondition for peace.
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As regards to respect for different individuals, there have been many tales this yr that present this engrained sexist double normal that refuses to die – I’m pondering of the Finnish Prime Minster Sanna Marin, for instance, who was drug examined this yr, and the way male counterparts will not be held as much as the identical scrutiny. Are you seeing any progress almost about altering attitudes?
There's progress, however I typically get very pissed off right here in Iceland. We nonetheless haven’t reached our aim of equal pay. Regardless that we've a laws and we’re engaged on it, we’re nonetheless not there. We nonetheless have gender-based violence right here in Iceland, and it’s a prime precedence for my authorities to combat this by means of amendments to the laws.
So, I get pissed off right here in my nation. However after I go overseas and stand in worldwide conferences, there are so few of us and so many males, nonetheless within the yr 2022. It's fairly surprising. And what we're seeing around the globe is a backlash in relation to ladies’s rights, in relation to sexual and reproductive rights. I believe for all of us who need to see a extra equal world and a greater world, this can be a core subject - to combat for girls’s rights around the globe and cease that backlash.
One change that's being carried out, particularly in awards ceremonies, is gender impartial classes. Is that this a good suggestion in your opinion, or may these paradoxically restrict feminine visibility with fewer prizes being awarded?
I believe range is the important thing phrase right here. We don’t solely have women and men – we even have differing types of individuals and we've a comparatively new laws in Iceland relating to gender autonomy, which says that it's the proper of the person to decide on one’s personal gender. I believe that extra range isn’t a nasty factor for women and men. I believe we merely should embrace the truth that the world is stuffed with very completely different individuals.
One award that the European Movie Awards hand out is the Sustainability Award, which this yr goes to the European Inexperienced Deal. Iceland has lengthy targeted on the safety of the setting and sustainable tourism. Do you assume sufficient is being accomplished, each in Iceland and on a world degree, or is the difficulty nonetheless being paid lip-service?
We aren't doing sufficient. I don’t assume anyone is doing sufficient. Now we have a disaster, not simply in relation to local weather but additionally in relation to biodiversity. Increasingly persons are realizing that these two issues are intently entwined. In fact, we are attempting to do our greatest with bold objectives – we’re heading for carbon neutrality no later than 2040, we’re heading for an power shift to inexperienced power in our transport system… Nevertheless it’s a giant problem, and sure, we're making progress, however I would like that it was even quicker.
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