This week an awards ceremony was held at The Alfie Atkins Cultural Centre (Alfons Åbergs Kulturhus) in Gothenburg, Sweden, to celebrate individuals who have done something extra special in making author Gunilla Bergström’s work come alive. The persons were awarded a special Alfie Atkins gold coin.
Gunilla Bergström’s stories about Alfie Aktins have become a cultural treasure with 26 titles, translated into over 40 languages and read for generations. To celebrate the people helping Bergström’s work come to life they have been awarded the special Alfie Atkins gold coin.
“For Gunilla, creation was the greatest joy in life”, says Sofia Torell, niece of Gunilla Bergström and board member of Bok-Makaren, which manages the rights to the Alfie Atkins works. “Gunilla knew exactly how she wanted it. She captured the big issues as well as the mundane and did not draw a line between fantasy and reality.”
Gunilla Bergström.
“Gunilla created one of Sweden’s most beloved children’s book characters. A cultural treasure that has been brought to life, extended and deepened through the artistic interpretations and efforts of several people. With this ceremony, we especially want to pay tribute to these people”, continues Sofia Torell.
Director Tomas Alfredsson. Photo: Another Park Film
The award recipients include Björn Gustafsson, the original voice actor of Alfie Atkins. Tomas Alfredsson, director and creator of the new Alfie Atkins Book-Films and the actor Jonas Karlsson who narrates the book-films and audio books.
Actor Jonas Karlsson. Photo: Visuellt Ljud
The exclusive Alfie Atkins gold coin has been produced in a limited collector’s edition by Mynthuset Sverige with motifs from the very first story, Good Night, Alfie Atkins. The ceremony was organized by Bok-Makaren and the coins were handed out by board chairman Michael Treschow.
The Alfie Atkin’s Gold coin is awarded:
Ann-Margret Bergström; for sculptures that embody Alfie’s play, mischief and invention.
Annika Gunnarsson; for enhancing the characteristics of the Alfie Atkins illustrations within the visible and invisible.
Björn Gustafson; because the trust that the Alfie Atkin’s works rely on was given a voice.
Georg Riedel; for tones that give life to the “non-arranged-exploitation” of the Alfie stories.
Jan Hellman; for reliable handling of all “boring things” so Gunilla had more time for her creativity.
Jonas Karlsson; for with integrity and courage deepening Alfie’s everyday simplicity and quiet pace.
Sofia Hahr; for bringing forth Gunilla’s creations with humility and care.
Tomas Alfredson; for the extension of the book works’ limitlessness between fantasy and reality.
Tor Svae; for creating Alfies’s home with play and imagination.
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