Joachim Trier

Early life and education

Trier was born in Denmark to a Danish father and Norwegian mother and raised in Oslo, Norway. His father, Jacob Trier, was the sound technician of The Pinchcliffe Grand Prix, a notable film produced in Norway in 1975. His grandfather was Erik Løchen, artistic director of Norsk Film from 1981 to 1983 and also a filmmaker and screenwriter known for such experimental work as his 1972 film Remonstrance, which was constructed so that its five reels could be shown in any order, rendering 120 possible versions of its radical story of a film crew trying to make a political film.

As a teenager, Trier was a skateboarding champion who shot and produced his own skateboarding videos. He studied at the European Film College in Ebeltoft, Denmark and at the National Film and Television School in the United Kingdom.

Career

2000–2006: Early work

Trier started his career writing and directing short films. His early short films include Pietà (2000) and Still (2001). After graduating from National Film and Television School Trier directed the short film Procter, a thriller revolving around a man who watches a suicide on a videotape and investigates the mystery surrounding the incident. The film premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival where he gained prominence winning the Best British Short Award. Ellen Margrethe Sand of Verdens Gang praised Trier, writing, "[He] utilises the scarcely allotted time and his film medium to the last drop". The short would also earn nominations for the European Film Award for Best Short Film and the Amanda Award in Norway.

Trier's debut film, Reprise, is about two aspiring writers and their volatile relationship. Released by Miramax in 2006, it received Norway's top film awards, the Amanda Award and the Aamot Statuette. Internationally, it won prizes at film festivals in Toronto, Istanbul, Rotterdam, Milan, and Karlovy Vary. Trier was named one of ''Variety'''s "10 Directors to Watch" in 2007.

2011–present: Breakthrough and acclaim

Trier gained prominence for his Norwegian drama film Oslo, August 31st (2011). His sophomore effort as a director, the film revolves around a day in the life of Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie), a recovering drug addict who catches up with old friends in Oslo. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. The film is considered to be an adaptation of the Pierre Drieu La Rochelle novel Will O' the Wisp (1931) and Louis Malle's The Fire Within (1963). It received critical acclaim and awards and was featured on several critics' 2012 Top 10 lists. A.O. Scott of The New York Times declared it a "perfectly linear story that bristles with suspense and ambiguity".

Trier was named as one of the jury members for the Cinéfondation and short film sections of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. In 2015, Trier directed the English-language film Louder Than Bombs, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne, and Isabelle Huppert. It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival where it received positive reviews with acclaim for its leading performance from Huppert. His fourth feature, the supernatural horror-romance Thelma, screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews. Andrew Barber of Variety praised the film describing it as an, "unnervingly effective slow-burn, and those with the patience for Trier's patient accumulation of detail will find it pays off in unexpected ways." It was selected as the Norwegian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, held in 2018.

In 2018, he co-directed, with his brother, Emil, a 55-minute documentary, The Other Munch, featuring the writer Karl Ove Knausgård curating, with Kari Brandtzæg, To the Forest, an exhibition of paintings by Edvard Munch at Oslo's Munch Museum. Trier and Knausgård visit locations from Munch's life, discuss his works, themes, obsessions, and process. The Trier brothers connect Knausgård's unorthodox interpretation of Munch to Knausgård's literary works, in a portrait of both artists. Karl Ove Knausgård stated "When I was invited to curate the exhibition, I proposed that we make a film to coincide with it." Also in 2018, Trier served as the Jury President of the Critics' Week section at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

In June 2018, Trier was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

On 7 July 2021, The Worst Person in the World premiered to high acclaim competing for the Palme d'Or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where star Renate Reinsve won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter praised Trier's ability as a director, writing, "More than ever, Trier reveals how well he can keep shifting tones and emotional arcs without losing any narrative momentum." The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and Trier himself earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 94th Academy Awards.

In 2023 it was announced that Trier would reunite with actor Renate Reinsve for his next film, Sentimental Value, a family drama that subsequently began filming in Norway. The film was screened at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prix. A family drama, the film revolves around the fractured relationship between two daughters and their father, a filmmaker on the rebound. It stars Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning. Pete Hammond of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "This may be the closest Trier has gotten to the master of this kind of human conflict, Ingmar Bergman, whose films would seem to be an influence, or at the very least an inspiration". The film was distributed by Neon and released in the United States on 7 November 2025.

Influences

In 2012, Trier participated in the Sight & Sound critics' poll where he listed his 10 favorite films in alphabetical order:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey (USA, 1968)
• 8½ (Italy, 1963)
• Annie Hall (USA, 1977)
• Bresson's entire oeuvre
• Goodfellas (USA, 1990)
• Hiroshima Mon Amour (France, 1959)
• Mirror (Soviet Union, 1974)
• La notte (Italy, 1961)
• Persona (Sweden, 1966)
• Vertigo (USA, 1958) In 2022, Trier participated in the poll as a filmmaker, swapping in Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life (2010) for the Bresson entry.

Filmography

Feature film

Documentary film

Short film

Awards and nominations

Directed Academy Award performances Under Trier's direction, these actors have received Academy Award nominations for their performances in their respective roles.

References

References

1. Weston, Hillary. "The Art Form of Memory: A Conversation with Joachim Trier".
2. kort og godt fra Dagbladet (22 November 2002)
3. Abbasov, Jasmine. (13 January 2022). "The Oslo Trilogy, with Joachim Trier, Anders Danielsen Lie, and Renate Reinsve". Film at Lincoln Center.
4. Tinkham, Chris. (2 May 2008). "Joachim Trier".
5. Stabenfeldt, Fredrik. "Former EFC-student - now critically acclaimed director". European Film College.
6. Sand, Ellen Margrethe. (22 November 2002). "Perler på en snor". [[Verdens Gang]].
7. Svendsen, Trond Olav. "Amandaprisen". Kunnskapsforlaget.
8. Svendsen, Trond Olav. "Aamotstatuetten". Kunnskapsforlaget.
9. Langlo, Jan. "Hvem er hvem?". Aschehoug.
10. "Biography". RSA Films.
11. "Festival de Cannes: Official Selection". Cannes.
12. (14 April 2011). "Cannes film festival 2011: The full lineup". guardian.co.uk.
13. Weston, Hillary. "Cinematic Panic: The Quiet Allure of Joachim Trier's 'Oslo, August 31st'". Black Book.
14. "2012 Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic.com.
15. "Best of 2012". criticstop10.com.
16. (25 May 2012). "Temptation Dominates the Road to Recovery". The New York Times.
17. "The 2014 Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury".
18. (21 August 2014). "Movie starring Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne begins film preparations in Bayside". queenscourier.com.
19. "2015 Official Selection". Cannes.
20. "Back Home (2015)".
21. (25 July 2017). "Toronto Film Festival 2017 Unveils Strong Slate". Deadline.
22. (15 September 2017). "Film Review Thelma".
23. (6 September 2017). ""Thelma" blir den norske Oscar-kandidaten". NRK.
24. Keslassy, Elsa. (6 September 2017). "Joachim Trier's 'Thema' Chosen by Norway to Run for Foreign-Language Oscar Nomination". Variety.
25. (4 May 2017). "Karl Ove Knausgaard Is an Art Curator Now". [[The New York Observer]].
26. "TOWARDS THE FOREST – KNAUSGÅRD ON MUNCH".
27. (November 2019). "Karl Ove Knausgård Interview: The Other Side of Edvard Munch". [[Louisiana Museum of Modern Art]].
28. (25 September 2018). "The Other Munch".
29. (28 March 2019). "Review {{!}} Karl Ove Knausgaard turns his attention to Edvard Munch: 'So Much Longing in So Little Space,' by Karl Ove Knausgaard book review". [[Washington Post]].
30. (1 May 2019). "Karl Ove Knausgaard Reflects on the Man Who Gave Us 'The Scream'". [[The New York Times]].
31. (2019). "So much longing in so little space : the art of Edvard Munch".
32. (8 October 2020). "Karl Ove Knausgaard as art historian".
33. (11 July 2021). "Joachim Trier • Director of The Worst Person in the World". [[Cineuropa]].
34. "The Other Munch".
35. (26 September 2018). "#195 - Karl Ove Knausgaard, Emil Trier & Joachim Trier". Film Society of Lincoln Center.
36. (25 September 2018). "The Other Munch: Extended Discussion with Writer Karl Ove Knausgaard and Directors Emil & Joachim Trier".
37. (28 September 2018). "Q&A with Karl Ove Knausgård".
38. "Norwegian director Joachim Trier, Jury President of the 57th Semaine de la Critique {{!}} La Semaine de la Critique of Festival de Cannes".
39. (25 June 2018). "ACADEMY INVITES 928 TO MEMBERSHIP".
40. (9 July 2021). "Meet the team from the film Verdens Verste Menneske (The Worst Person in the World) by Joachim Trier".
41. Lawson, Richard. (10 July 2021). "'The Worst Person in the World' Is the Best Film at Cannes So Far".
42. Bradshaw, Peter. (8 July 2021). "The Worst Person in the World review – Nordic romcom is an instant classic".
43. (8 July 2021). "'The Worst Person in the World': Film Review - Cannes 2021".
44. (25 October 2021). "Worst Person In The World Heads To Oscars For Norway". Nordic Drama.
45. Davis, Clayton. (21 December 2021). "Oscars Shortlists Include Beyoncé, 'Spider-Man' and Two Jonny Greenwood Scores as France's 'Titane' Is Snubbed". Variety.
46. (18 September 2023). "Joachim Trier Sets Next Film 'Sentimental Value,' a Father-Daughter Drama With 'Worst Person in the World' Star Renate Reinsve".
47. (21 May 2025). "'Sentimental Value' Review: Joachim Trier's Bergmanesque Family Drama Is A Sister Act With Wonderful Renate Reinsve (But Stellan Skarsgård Steals It) – Cannes Film Festival".
48. (July 2025). "'Sentimental Value' Trailer: Renate Reinsve Rebukes Her Famous Father Stellan Skarsgård in Joachim Trier's Cannes Hit".
49. "Joachim Trier".
50. "Joachim Trier {{!}} BFI".
51. Ordoña, Michael. (8 February 2022). "Here is the full list of 2022 Oscar nominations".
52. (25 March 2023). "Bodilprisen 2023: Vinderne".
53. (3 February 2022). "BAFTAs 2022: the nominations in full".
54. (5 December 2022). "Winners announced at the British Independent Film Awards 2022".
55. (7 May 2011). "OFFICIAL SELECTION 2011".
56. (15 April 2015). "The 2015 Official Selection".
57. (3 June 2021). "The films of the Official Selection 2021".
58. (10 April 2025). "The films of the Official Selection 2025".
59. Dargis, Manohla. (24 May 2025). "'Un Simple Accident' Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival". [[The New York Times]].
60. "Joachim Trier".
61. Hunter, Allan. (25 August 2002). "Edinburgh: Out Of Control wins best British film award".
62. Brown, Colin. (7 November 2002). "Kaurismaki, Almodovar lead European Film Award nominations".
63. Roxborough, Scott. (11 December 2021). "'Quo Vadis, Aida?' Wins Best Film at 2021 European Film Awards".
64. Roxborough, Scott. (18 November 2025). "Nominations for the 2026 European Film Awards Unveiled".
65. (7 October 2025). "Here come the nominees for the LUX Audience Award 2026".
66. (2025-12-08). "Golden Globes 2026: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo nominated for Wicked".
67. (21 October 2021). "Announcing the Nominees for the 31st Annual Gotham Awards".
68. (18 January 2022). "Prix Lumières du cinéma : L'Événement sacré meilleur film de l'année".
69. Mitchell, Wendy. (25 August 2017). "Joachim Trier's 'Thelma' wins critics prize at Norwegian Film Festival in Haugesund".
70. (27 September 2021). "RIFF 2021: Reykjavík International Film Festival".
71. "Og Robert Prisen 2023 gik til...".
72. Roxborough, Scott. (21 November 2011). "'Oslo, August 31' Wins Big in Stockholm".
73. Asp, Jon. (20 November 2015). "Joachim Trier's 'Louder Than Bombs' Wins Stockholm Film Festival's Bronze Horse".
74. (16 September 2006). "Winners Announced at 2006 Toronto International Film Festival".
75. (14 September 2025). "TIFF 50 announces its 2025 award winners".