Northern Lights was a 1978 independent film which dramatizes the founding of the Nonpartisan League in North Dakota, a Socialist political movement which took place in the American Midwest in the early 1900s.

The film was produced, directed, written and edited by John Hanson

John Hanson (director)

John Hanson is an American movie director and cinematographer.- Early Life :Born in St. Paul, Minnesota and raised in North Dakota, John Hanson received his B.A...

 and Rob Nilsson

Rob Nilsson

Rob Nilsson is an American independent film director, writer, and sometimes actor. He has won the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Sundance Grand Jury Prize.-Early life and education:...

, and starred Joe Spano

Joe Spano

Joseph Peter "Joe" Spano is an American actor who came to prominence through his role as Lt. Henry Goldblume on Hill Street Blues and is now well known for his work in NCIS as FBI Special Agent Tobias Fornell....

.

The film won the Caméra d'Or

Caméra d'Or

The Caméra d'Or is an award of the Cannes Film Festival for the best first feature film presented in one of the Cannes' selections ....

for best first feature film.