“Power Play” – a scathing, scabrous chronicle of Gro Harlem Brundtland unlikely climb to power as Norway and Scandinavia’s first woman prime minister – won the 2024 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize for best drama series screenwriting at Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival Tuesday night.
Awarded at the fest’s TV Drama Vision, the prize went to the satirical series’ main writers Johan Fasting, Silje Storstein and Kristin Grue. The Nordic drama series screenwriting award carries a cash prize of €20,000.
With the Nftfp win, “Power Play,” like “Blackport” before it, completes a double of winning a top TV fest in Europe – it walked off with best series at Canneseries last year – and then the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize.
While Nordic Noir exposed human evil festering below Scandinavia’s acclaimed social democracy, “Power Play” underscores a more recent TV phenomenon of exposing the myth to that model and its decline via comedy and farce.
Awarded at the fest’s TV Drama Vision, the prize went to the satirical series’ main writers Johan Fasting, Silje Storstein and Kristin Grue. The Nordic drama series screenwriting award carries a cash prize of €20,000.
With the Nftfp win, “Power Play,” like “Blackport” before it, completes a double of winning a top TV fest in Europe – it walked off with best series at Canneseries last year – and then the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize.
While Nordic Noir exposed human evil festering below Scandinavia’s acclaimed social democracy, “Power Play” underscores a more recent TV phenomenon of exposing the myth to that model and its decline via comedy and farce.
- 1/30/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Big-budget disaster series “Estonia,” Canneseries winner “Power Play” and “Painkiller,” the TV drama debut of Göteborg victor Gabriela Pilcher (“Amateur”) feature among the five contenders for next year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize which serves to underscore the robust breadth of current Nordic scripted series.
Also in the running is “Prisoner,” a second admired Canneseries main competition contender featuring “The Killing” star Sofie Gråbøl, and “Descendants,” the showrunning debut of famed Icelandic thesp Tinna Hrafnsdóttir.
Backed by the Göteborg Film Festival and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the 8th edition of the Prize, awarded to series’ main writers, pits Beta Film, the sales agent on “Estonia” and owner of its producer, “Bordertown’s” Fisher King, against Fremantle, owner of “Power Play” producer Motlys/Novemberfilm and Red Arrow Studios International, the sales agent on “Descendants.” REinvent International Sales handles sales on “Painkiller” and “Power Play.”
The Nordic drama series...
Also in the running is “Prisoner,” a second admired Canneseries main competition contender featuring “The Killing” star Sofie Gråbøl, and “Descendants,” the showrunning debut of famed Icelandic thesp Tinna Hrafnsdóttir.
Backed by the Göteborg Film Festival and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the 8th edition of the Prize, awarded to series’ main writers, pits Beta Film, the sales agent on “Estonia” and owner of its producer, “Bordertown’s” Fisher King, against Fremantle, owner of “Power Play” producer Motlys/Novemberfilm and Red Arrow Studios International, the sales agent on “Descendants.” REinvent International Sales handles sales on “Painkiller” and “Power Play.”
The Nordic drama series...
- 12/15/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Power Play, a 1970s-set comedy that plays with the conventions of period TV, docudrama and political satire, has won the top prize for best series at this year’s Canneseries television festival.
The series stars Kathrine Thorborg Johansen as Gro Harlem Brundtland, a young doctor and women’s choice activist in the 1970s who, through a series of accidents, stumbles into politics and, while the government around her implodes, learns to play the power game, rising the ranks to become Norway’s first female prime minister. The project, which plays like a comedic version of Danish political series Borgen, also took the best music honor at Canneseries for Kåre Christoffer Vestrheim, Andrea Louise Horstad, Kristoffer Lo and Eivind Helgerød.
Created by showrunner Johan Fasting and directed by Yngvild Sve Flikke, the series was produced by Motlys and Fremantle label Novemberfilm for Nrk / Ndr in Norway. Power Play is being sold worldwide by REinvent International Sales.
The series stars Kathrine Thorborg Johansen as Gro Harlem Brundtland, a young doctor and women’s choice activist in the 1970s who, through a series of accidents, stumbles into politics and, while the government around her implodes, learns to play the power game, rising the ranks to become Norway’s first female prime minister. The project, which plays like a comedic version of Danish political series Borgen, also took the best music honor at Canneseries for Kåre Christoffer Vestrheim, Andrea Louise Horstad, Kristoffer Lo and Eivind Helgerød.
Created by showrunner Johan Fasting and directed by Yngvild Sve Flikke, the series was produced by Motlys and Fremantle label Novemberfilm for Nrk / Ndr in Norway. Power Play is being sold worldwide by REinvent International Sales.
- 4/19/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Gro Harlem Brundtland started out as a doctor. Climbing the ranks, she became Norway’s first female Prime Minister. Now, new show “Power Play” takes a closer look at her way to the top.
“She is aware that we made it,” says showrunner Johan Fasting, who co-wrote with Silje Storstein and Kristin Grue. Currently in her eighties, Brundtland wasn’t involved in developing the series, however.
“This story needed to be told, now. It wouldn’t make sense to wait just to be courteous.”
Playing in main competition at his year’s Canneseries, which runs April 14-19, “Power Play” is produced by Motlys and Novemberfilm, with REinvent International Sales handling international distribution.
Brundtland served three terms as Pm; she was also the director-general of the World Health Organization. Although she entered politics back in the 1970s, things are still rocky for high-profile female politicians. Recently, Jacinda Ardern resigned as Pm of New Zealand,...
“She is aware that we made it,” says showrunner Johan Fasting, who co-wrote with Silje Storstein and Kristin Grue. Currently in her eighties, Brundtland wasn’t involved in developing the series, however.
“This story needed to be told, now. It wouldn’t make sense to wait just to be courteous.”
Playing in main competition at his year’s Canneseries, which runs April 14-19, “Power Play” is produced by Motlys and Novemberfilm, with REinvent International Sales handling international distribution.
Brundtland served three terms as Pm; she was also the director-general of the World Health Organization. Although she entered politics back in the 1970s, things are still rocky for high-profile female politicians. Recently, Jacinda Ardern resigned as Pm of New Zealand,...
- 4/16/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Spanish production and distribution company Elamedia has acquired “Tengo sueños eléctricos” (I Have Electric Dreams), the Locarno prize-winning debut by director Valentina Maurel, which will screen in the Horizontes Latinos section of the San Sebastian Film Festival. Elamedia will be releasing the film in Spanish theaters later this year.
Set in Costa Rica, “Electric Dreams” follows Eva (Daniela Marin Navarro), a strong-willed 16-year-old girl who lives with her mother, her younger sister and their cat, but desperately wants to move in with her estranged father (Reinaldo Amien Guttierez). Clinging onto him as he goes through a second adolescence, she balances between the tenderness and sensitivity of teenage life and the ruthlessness of the adult world.
Produced by Wrong Men (Belgium) and Geko Films (France) and co-produced with Tres Tigres (Costa Rica), the film had its world premiere in the international competition at Locarno, where Maurel won the award for best...
Set in Costa Rica, “Electric Dreams” follows Eva (Daniela Marin Navarro), a strong-willed 16-year-old girl who lives with her mother, her younger sister and their cat, but desperately wants to move in with her estranged father (Reinaldo Amien Guttierez). Clinging onto him as he goes through a second adolescence, she balances between the tenderness and sensitivity of teenage life and the ruthlessness of the adult world.
Produced by Wrong Men (Belgium) and Geko Films (France) and co-produced with Tres Tigres (Costa Rica), the film had its world premiere in the international competition at Locarno, where Maurel won the award for best...
- 9/17/2022
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Ninjababy Ninjababy, 12.05am, Film4, Tuesday, March 8
This Norwegian comedy drama uses animation to accentuate the emotional experience of the hard partying Rakel (Kristine Kujath Thorp), who gets a shock when she discovers she is heavily pregnant. She starts chatting to her "stealthy ninjababy", who appears in animated form as she grapples with what to do next in a film that offers comedy and poignancy in equal measure. Loosely adapted with an offbeat fluidity from the graphic novel by Inga Sætre, Yngvild Sve Flikke's film has a thoroughly modern take on potential motherhood that isn't scared to acknowledge it is not for everyone. If you liked Baby Done or Saint Frances, it offers a similar vibe.
Phantom Thread, 11.15pm, BBC2, Tuesday, March 8
Jennie Kermode writes: Featuring the last film performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, who announced his retirement shortly before it was released in 2018, Paul Thomas Anderson’s sumptuously presented drama has echoes of.
This Norwegian comedy drama uses animation to accentuate the emotional experience of the hard partying Rakel (Kristine Kujath Thorp), who gets a shock when she discovers she is heavily pregnant. She starts chatting to her "stealthy ninjababy", who appears in animated form as she grapples with what to do next in a film that offers comedy and poignancy in equal measure. Loosely adapted with an offbeat fluidity from the graphic novel by Inga Sætre, Yngvild Sve Flikke's film has a thoroughly modern take on potential motherhood that isn't scared to acknowledge it is not for everyone. If you liked Baby Done or Saint Frances, it offers a similar vibe.
Phantom Thread, 11.15pm, BBC2, Tuesday, March 8
Jennie Kermode writes: Featuring the last film performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, who announced his retirement shortly before it was released in 2018, Paul Thomas Anderson’s sumptuously presented drama has echoes of.
- 3/7/2022
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The European Film Awards, Europe’s biggest awards celebration, revealed its major winners during a mostly virtual ceremony on Saturday, December 11. The night was originally slated for an in-person event, but concerns about the Omicron variant moved festivities online. The powerful Bosnian wartime drama “Quo Vadis, Aida?” took home the top prize for Best Film, with its director Jasmila Žbanić and lead actress Jasna Đuričić also winning Best Director and Actress respectively. “Flee,” from Danish filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen, also won in two categories — Documentary and Animated Feature.
The awards ceremony was hosted by German actor Annabelle Mandeng. The hybrid event saw nominees, presenters, and winners participating in a mixture of live, virtual, and pre-recorded formats.
“Quo Vadis, Aida” tells the story of the Srebrenica genocide, during which Serbian troops sent 8,372 Bosniak men and boys to their deaths in July 1995. The powerful story is told through the eyes of Aida,...
The awards ceremony was hosted by German actor Annabelle Mandeng. The hybrid event saw nominees, presenters, and winners participating in a mixture of live, virtual, and pre-recorded formats.
“Quo Vadis, Aida” tells the story of the Srebrenica genocide, during which Serbian troops sent 8,372 Bosniak men and boys to their deaths in July 1995. The powerful story is told through the eyes of Aida,...
- 12/11/2021
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Bosnian war drama also wins best director and best actress.
Jasmila Žbanić’s Quo Vadis, Aida? won three prizes including best film at this year’s European Film Awards, which went ahead as a hybrid event in Berlin tonight (Dec 11).
Žbanić was also named best director by the European Film Academy’s (Efa) 4,200-strong membership, whilst the film’s star Jasna Đuričić won best actress.
In her acceptance speech, Žbanić dedicated her award to “the women of Srebrenica and mothers who taught us how to turn destruction into love. I hope it will encourage more female solidarity, female stories, female perspective in film,...
Jasmila Žbanić’s Quo Vadis, Aida? won three prizes including best film at this year’s European Film Awards, which went ahead as a hybrid event in Berlin tonight (Dec 11).
Žbanić was also named best director by the European Film Academy’s (Efa) 4,200-strong membership, whilst the film’s star Jasna Đuričić won best actress.
In her acceptance speech, Žbanić dedicated her award to “the women of Srebrenica and mothers who taught us how to turn destruction into love. I hope it will encourage more female solidarity, female stories, female perspective in film,...
- 12/11/2021
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Update: Jasmila Žbanić’s Quo Vadis, Aida? was the big winner at the 34th European Film Awards tonight. The story of a woman’s fight to save her family during the true events of the 1995 Bosnian War genocide in Srebrenica scooped the top European Film prize as well as European Director for Žbanić and European Actress for Jasna Đuričić. (Scroll down for the full list of winners.)
Quo Vadis, Aida? was nominated for an Oscar at the 93rd Academy Awards and its triumph tonight was indicative of how the European Film Academy leaned this year. While the EFAs can be somewhat predictive of the Oscar for Best International Feature, this evening’s ceremony saw a fair bit of crossover from the 2021 Oscars.
Other winners that had already achieved Oscar recognition included Florian Zeller’s The Father which repeated with wins for Anthony Hopkins as European Actor and for Zeller and Christopher Hampton’s screenplay.
Quo Vadis, Aida? was nominated for an Oscar at the 93rd Academy Awards and its triumph tonight was indicative of how the European Film Academy leaned this year. While the EFAs can be somewhat predictive of the Oscar for Best International Feature, this evening’s ceremony saw a fair bit of crossover from the 2021 Oscars.
Other winners that had already achieved Oscar recognition included Florian Zeller’s The Father which repeated with wins for Anthony Hopkins as European Actor and for Zeller and Christopher Hampton’s screenplay.
- 12/11/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Hand of God,” Julia Ducournau’s “Titane,” Jasmila Žbanić’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?,” Florian Zeller’s “The Father,” and Juho Kuosmanen’s “Compartment No. 6” are the five nominees for best film at the upcoming 34th European Film Awards, which see no clear frontrunner this year.
The more than 4,100 academy members will now vote for the winners, who will be honored at a Dec. 11 ceremony in Berlin.
And the nominees are: European Film
“Compartment No. 6,” Juho Kuosmanen
“Quo Vadis Aida?” Jasmila Žbanić
“The Father,” Florian Zeller
“The Hand of God,” Paolo Sorrentino
“Titane,” Julia Ducournau
European Comedy
“Nijababy,” Yngvild Sve Flikke
“The Morning After,” Méliane Marcaggi
“The People Upstairs,” Cesc Gay
European Documentary
“Babi Yar. Context,” Sergei Loznitsa
“Flee,” Jonas Poher Rasmussen
“Mr Bachman and his Class,” Maria Speth
“Taming The Garden,” Salomé Jashi
“The Most Beautiful Boy in the World,” Stina Gardell
European Animated Feature Film
“Even Mice Belong in Heaven,...
The more than 4,100 academy members will now vote for the winners, who will be honored at a Dec. 11 ceremony in Berlin.
And the nominees are: European Film
“Compartment No. 6,” Juho Kuosmanen
“Quo Vadis Aida?” Jasmila Žbanić
“The Father,” Florian Zeller
“The Hand of God,” Paolo Sorrentino
“Titane,” Julia Ducournau
European Comedy
“Nijababy,” Yngvild Sve Flikke
“The Morning After,” Méliane Marcaggi
“The People Upstairs,” Cesc Gay
European Documentary
“Babi Yar. Context,” Sergei Loznitsa
“Flee,” Jonas Poher Rasmussen
“Mr Bachman and his Class,” Maria Speth
“Taming The Garden,” Salomé Jashi
“The Most Beautiful Boy in the World,” Stina Gardell
European Animated Feature Film
“Even Mice Belong in Heaven,...
- 11/9/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The European Film Academy has announced nominations for the 34th European Film Awards which will be handed out in Berlin on December 11. Julia Ducournau’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner, Titane; Florian Zeller’s 2020 drama and double Oscar winner The Father; and Jasmila Zbanic’s Quo Vadis Aida?, which was nominated for an Oscar at the 93rd edition, are tied with four mentions each.
Titane is the Oscar submission from France this year and, likewise, several other candidates for the International Feature Academy Award figure at the EFAs. They include Paolo Sorrentino’s The Hand Of God and Juho Kuosmanen’s Compartment No. 6, from Italy and Finland, respectively. Each of those films, alongside the titles above, is nominated in the European Film 2021 category, and both figure in three races.
Ducournau, Zeller, Zbanic and Sorrentino are all up for European Director 2021 while Radu Jude rounds out the field for his Bad...
Titane is the Oscar submission from France this year and, likewise, several other candidates for the International Feature Academy Award figure at the EFAs. They include Paolo Sorrentino’s The Hand Of God and Juho Kuosmanen’s Compartment No. 6, from Italy and Finland, respectively. Each of those films, alongside the titles above, is nominated in the European Film 2021 category, and both figure in three races.
Ducournau, Zeller, Zbanic and Sorrentino are all up for European Director 2021 while Radu Jude rounds out the field for his Bad...
- 11/9/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscars: Norway Submits Joachim Trier’s ‘The Worst Person In The World’ To International Feature Race
Norway has selected Joachim Trier’s Cannes hit The Worst Person In The World as its submission to the Oscars’ International Feature Film category. The choice was made by the Norwegian Oscar Committee which had earlier shortlisted three pictures, opting for Trier’s third installment of the Oslo Trilogy which the committee believes “has a unique opportunity to reach all the way to an Oscar for best international film.”
Committee chief, Kjersti Mo, who is also Director of the Norwegian Film Institute, called the movie a “tribute to film art in the form of a drama comedy that conveys deep seriousness with playful lightness and elegance.” This is Trier’s third time repping his home country.
The Worst Person In The World debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in July, winning the Best Actress prize for lead Renate Reinsve. It later went on to play myriad festivals including Karlovy Vary,...
Committee chief, Kjersti Mo, who is also Director of the Norwegian Film Institute, called the movie a “tribute to film art in the form of a drama comedy that conveys deep seriousness with playful lightness and elegance.” This is Trier’s third time repping his home country.
The Worst Person In The World debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in July, winning the Best Actress prize for lead Renate Reinsve. It later went on to play myriad festivals including Karlovy Vary,...
- 10/26/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Joachim Trier’s film premiered in Competition at Cannes.
Norway has chosen Joachim Trier’s Cannes 2021 Competition title The Worst Person In The World as its entry for the best international feature award at the 2022 Oscars.
The film was chosen by the eight-person Norwegian Oscar committee, ahead of Eirik Svensson’s Betrayed and Yngvild Sve Flikke’s Ninjababy.
Renate Reinsve won the best actress award in Cannes for her performance as a young woman navigating the troubled waters of her love life and her struggles to find a career path.
Reinsve has also been tipped for recognition in acting categories...
Norway has chosen Joachim Trier’s Cannes 2021 Competition title The Worst Person In The World as its entry for the best international feature award at the 2022 Oscars.
The film was chosen by the eight-person Norwegian Oscar committee, ahead of Eirik Svensson’s Betrayed and Yngvild Sve Flikke’s Ninjababy.
Renate Reinsve won the best actress award in Cannes for her performance as a young woman navigating the troubled waters of her love life and her struggles to find a career path.
Reinsve has also been tipped for recognition in acting categories...
- 10/25/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Despite kooky touches including a talking foetus, this is an insightful look at a young woman’s life
This hilarious and sneakily brilliant comedy from Norway begins like half a dozen unwanted-pregnancy movies you might already have seen. Rakel (Kristine Kujath Thorp) is a 23-year-old graphic design dropout who has not remotely got her life together yet. When she discovers she’s pregnant, she books a termination: “This is Norway. I can get an abortion.” The baby’s father goes with her, endearingly dorky aikido teacher Mos (Nader Khademi), with whom she had a one-night stand. At the clinic Rakel is appalled to discover she’s actually seven months gone – she’s had no symptoms, no bump, no nausea. She’s beyond the limit. Mos is out of the picture as daddy.
Director Yngvild Sve Flikke, who co-wrote the script based on an acclaimed graphic novel by Inga Sætre, craftily...
This hilarious and sneakily brilliant comedy from Norway begins like half a dozen unwanted-pregnancy movies you might already have seen. Rakel (Kristine Kujath Thorp) is a 23-year-old graphic design dropout who has not remotely got her life together yet. When she discovers she’s pregnant, she books a termination: “This is Norway. I can get an abortion.” The baby’s father goes with her, endearingly dorky aikido teacher Mos (Nader Khademi), with whom she had a one-night stand. At the clinic Rakel is appalled to discover she’s actually seven months gone – she’s had no symptoms, no bump, no nausea. She’s beyond the limit. Mos is out of the picture as daddy.
Director Yngvild Sve Flikke, who co-wrote the script based on an acclaimed graphic novel by Inga Sætre, craftily...
- 9/8/2021
- by Cath Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
Kristine Kujath Thorp never expected “Ninjababy” – her first role in a feature film and the lead role to boot – would garner quite this kind of reaction.
A niche indie project about a young woman grappling with an unwanted pregnancy, it revolves around Rakel (played by Kujath Thorp) talking to and even arguing with her growing foetus, which is animated over the live-action footage, as she realizes that she is not ready for a baby.
Kujath Thorp admits that when she started shooting the film, which had its U.K. premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Friday, she suffered from “imposter syndrome” and was convinced she’d be replaced on the project within her first week.
Instead, she has garnered rave reviews and, on Saturday, even won Norway’s most prestigious acting award.
Variety caught up with the actor the morning after “Ninjababy” swept the board at the Norwegian International Film Festival,...
A niche indie project about a young woman grappling with an unwanted pregnancy, it revolves around Rakel (played by Kujath Thorp) talking to and even arguing with her growing foetus, which is animated over the live-action footage, as she realizes that she is not ready for a baby.
Kujath Thorp admits that when she started shooting the film, which had its U.K. premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Friday, she suffered from “imposter syndrome” and was convinced she’d be replaced on the project within her first week.
Instead, she has garnered rave reviews and, on Saturday, even won Norway’s most prestigious acting award.
Variety caught up with the actor the morning after “Ninjababy” swept the board at the Norwegian International Film Festival,...
- 8/23/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
After a stellar year picking up awards at Berlin, South by Southwest, Edinburgh and Melbourne, “Ninjababy” continued its prize-winning streak at Norway’s top plaudits for national movies, the Amanda Awards. Their prize ceremony kicked off the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund on Saturday night.
The second feature from TV-film director Yngvild Sve Flikke (“Women in Oversized Men’s Shirts”), the ebullient comedy-drama film won out in four major categories: director, actress (Kristine Kujath Thorp), supporting actor (Nader Khademi) and screenplay.
Flikke’s sophomore feature is based on the graphic novel by Sætre, The Art of Falling,” which itself won numerous youth literature awards in 2012 for the Norwegian illustrator. The film follows aspiring artist Rakel, 23, who unexpectedly discovers she is six months pregnant and that the father is not her boyfriend, The story then pursues a series of comedic, yet grounded, twists and turns.
“I’m a restless person,...
The second feature from TV-film director Yngvild Sve Flikke (“Women in Oversized Men’s Shirts”), the ebullient comedy-drama film won out in four major categories: director, actress (Kristine Kujath Thorp), supporting actor (Nader Khademi) and screenplay.
Flikke’s sophomore feature is based on the graphic novel by Sætre, The Art of Falling,” which itself won numerous youth literature awards in 2012 for the Norwegian illustrator. The film follows aspiring artist Rakel, 23, who unexpectedly discovers she is six months pregnant and that the father is not her boyfriend, The story then pursues a series of comedic, yet grounded, twists and turns.
“I’m a restless person,...
- 8/22/2021
- by Alexander Durie
- Variety Film + TV
Features world premieres of Cindy Jansen’s documentary Prince Of Muck and Richie Adams’ The Road Dance.
The 74th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has announced the full programme for its 2021 edition, which will run August 18-25 as a combination of in-person and online screenings.
It includes world premieres of Cindy Jansen’s documentary Prince Of Muck, about the retired patriarch of an Inner Hebridean island; and Richie Adams’ The Road Dance based on Stv News presenter John MacKay’s book. MacKay also stars in the film.
Further titles include the UK premieres of Leos Carax’s Cannes opening film...
The 74th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has announced the full programme for its 2021 edition, which will run August 18-25 as a combination of in-person and online screenings.
It includes world premieres of Cindy Jansen’s documentary Prince Of Muck, about the retired patriarch of an Inner Hebridean island; and Richie Adams’ The Road Dance based on Stv News presenter John MacKay’s book. MacKay also stars in the film.
Further titles include the UK premieres of Leos Carax’s Cannes opening film...
- 7/28/2021
- by Melissa Kasule
- ScreenDaily
The Norwegian comedy-drama premiered at Berlinale’s Generation 14plus.
TrustNordisk has closed a slew of new deals on Yngvild Sve Flikke’s Norwegian festival hit Ninjababy.
Deals have been done for the US (Soro Films), Canada (Mongrel Media), the UK and Ireland (Curzon Artificial Eye), France (Wild Bunch Distribution), Germany (Koch Films), Austria (Filmladen) and Switzerland (Xenix).
The film previously sold to Lithuania (Scanorama); Taiwan (CatchPlay); and Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia (Cinemania Group).
The Norwegian comedy-drama premiered at Berlinale’s Generation 14plus and then won the audience award in SXSW’s Global section.
TrustNordisk has closed a slew of new deals on Yngvild Sve Flikke’s Norwegian festival hit Ninjababy.
Deals have been done for the US (Soro Films), Canada (Mongrel Media), the UK and Ireland (Curzon Artificial Eye), France (Wild Bunch Distribution), Germany (Koch Films), Austria (Filmladen) and Switzerland (Xenix).
The film previously sold to Lithuania (Scanorama); Taiwan (CatchPlay); and Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia (Cinemania Group).
The Norwegian comedy-drama premiered at Berlinale’s Generation 14plus and then won the audience award in SXSW’s Global section.
- 6/23/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Filmmakers set to travel to Berlin for screenings of award-winning features.
Tracey Deer’s Canadian drama Beans and Kateryna Gornostai’s Ukrainian feature Stop-Zemlia are to receive Crystal Bear awards at the Berlin International Film Festival’s Summer Special event (June 9-20).
The winners were decided by two young juries who viewed films from the Berlinale’s two competition programmes in the Generation strand – Kplus and 14plus. These juries were inactive during the festival’s online, industry-only event in March due to the pandemic.
Beans was named best film by the Generation Kplus jury. Inspired by true events, the story...
Tracey Deer’s Canadian drama Beans and Kateryna Gornostai’s Ukrainian feature Stop-Zemlia are to receive Crystal Bear awards at the Berlin International Film Festival’s Summer Special event (June 9-20).
The winners were decided by two young juries who viewed films from the Berlinale’s two competition programmes in the Generation strand – Kplus and 14plus. These juries were inactive during the festival’s online, industry-only event in March due to the pandemic.
Beans was named best film by the Generation Kplus jury. Inspired by true events, the story...
- 5/26/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The title of 2021 Berlinale and SXSW selection Ninjababy might conjure thoughts of wacky superhero adventures; “Ninjababy” could be Astro Boy or Turbo Kid’s infant cousin. Director Yngvild Sve Flikke’s film, based on Inga H Sætre’s graphic novel, is no superhero adventure, although it is a bit wacky. Rather, Ninjababy is a delightfully unruly, genuinely moving portrait of a young woman stuck in a situation with no easy way out. Smartly plotted and downright hilarious, it features a star-making performance from lead Kristine Kujath Thorp.
In other words, do not let the title hold you back from experiencing this wonderful film. Also, do not let the plot summary impede your interest. While the storyline may seem familiar, the characterizations and raucous humor are not. Thorp plays Rakel, an adrift 23-year-old unsure of what’s to come. She is a good-natured screw-up, a graphic design dropout and would-be comic...
In other words, do not let the title hold you back from experiencing this wonderful film. Also, do not let the plot summary impede your interest. While the storyline may seem familiar, the characterizations and raucous humor are not. Thorp plays Rakel, an adrift 23-year-old unsure of what’s to come. She is a good-natured screw-up, a graphic design dropout and would-be comic...
- 3/29/2021
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
The 28th SXSW Film Festival revealed the Audience Award winners Tuesday, with Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free, The Fallout and Not Going Quietly among the list of honorees. The news comes after the online edition of the fest announced its jury awards.
The Mary Wharton-directed docu Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free chronicles the iconic musician’s work on his lauded 1994 record Wildflowers via newly discovered archived footage. The film won the Audience Award in the Headliners category, while The Fallout, Megan Park’s reflection on teen grief and trauma after a mass shooting — something all too familiar right now — won under the narrative feature competition banner. On the documentary competition banner, Nicholas Bruckman’s moving feature docu Not Going Quietly took the Audience Award.
Over the course of five days of SXSW Online, the SXSW Film Festival screened 75 features including 57 world premieres, three international premieres, four North American Premieres,...
The Mary Wharton-directed docu Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free chronicles the iconic musician’s work on his lauded 1994 record Wildflowers via newly discovered archived footage. The film won the Audience Award in the Headliners category, while The Fallout, Megan Park’s reflection on teen grief and trauma after a mass shooting — something all too familiar right now — won under the narrative feature competition banner. On the documentary competition banner, Nicholas Bruckman’s moving feature docu Not Going Quietly took the Audience Award.
Over the course of five days of SXSW Online, the SXSW Film Festival screened 75 features including 57 world premieres, three international premieres, four North American Premieres,...
- 3/23/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The documentary “Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free” and Megan Park’s “The Fallout” won the audience awards from the 2021 SXSW Film Festival, it was announced Tuesday.
Mary Wharton’s “Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free,” which tells the backstory behind the late rock star’s “Wildflowers” recording sessions, won among the three headlining films playing the festival. “The Fallout,” a teen drama starring Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler, won the audience prize for narrative features after it also won the category’s jury prize.
“Not Going Quietly,” a documentary by Nicholas Bruckman about progressive political activist Ady Barkan and his fight with Als, won the audience award for films in the documentary feature competition. Director Natalie Morales also won the Narrative Spotlight audience award for her film “Language Lessons,” and Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler won the Documentary Spotlight Audience Award for “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America.
Mary Wharton’s “Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free,” which tells the backstory behind the late rock star’s “Wildflowers” recording sessions, won among the three headlining films playing the festival. “The Fallout,” a teen drama starring Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler, won the audience prize for narrative features after it also won the category’s jury prize.
“Not Going Quietly,” a documentary by Nicholas Bruckman about progressive political activist Ady Barkan and his fight with Als, won the audience award for films in the documentary feature competition. Director Natalie Morales also won the Narrative Spotlight audience award for her film “Language Lessons,” and Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler won the Documentary Spotlight Audience Award for “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America.
- 3/23/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Winners include Language Lessons, Who We Are: A Chronicle Of Racism In America.
Documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free and The Fallout and are among SXSW audience award winners announced across multiple sections on Tuesday (March 23).
Narrative feature competition winner The Fallout fared well when the juried award winners were unveiled last week. Megan Park’s follows a high-school student as she navigates life in the wake of a school tragedy.
Mary Wharton directed Headliners winner Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free, which follows the legendary late performer as he records his second solo album ’Wildflowers’.
Nicholas Bruckman’s...
Documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free and The Fallout and are among SXSW audience award winners announced across multiple sections on Tuesday (March 23).
Narrative feature competition winner The Fallout fared well when the juried award winners were unveiled last week. Megan Park’s follows a high-school student as she navigates life in the wake of a school tragedy.
Mary Wharton directed Headliners winner Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free, which follows the legendary late performer as he records his second solo album ’Wildflowers’.
Nicholas Bruckman’s...
- 3/23/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Winners include Language Lessons, Who We Are: A Chronicle Of Racism In America.
Documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free and The Fallout and are among SXSW audience award winners announced across multiple sections on Tuesday (March 23).
Narrative feature competition winner The Fallout fared well when the juried award winners were unveiled last week. Megan Park’s follows a high-school student as she navigates life in the wake of a school tragedy.
Mary Wharton directed Headliners winner Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free, which follows the legendary late performer as he records his second solo album ’Wildflowers’.
Nicholas Bruckman’s...
Documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free and The Fallout and are among SXSW audience award winners announced across multiple sections on Tuesday (March 23).
Narrative feature competition winner The Fallout fared well when the juried award winners were unveiled last week. Megan Park’s follows a high-school student as she navigates life in the wake of a school tragedy.
Mary Wharton directed Headliners winner Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free, which follows the legendary late performer as he records his second solo album ’Wildflowers’.
Nicholas Bruckman’s...
- 3/23/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Some films provide such obvious American remake fodder that you just want to draw a protective circle around them to ensure that people experience the unassuming charms of the original. Norwegian director Yngvild Sve Flikke’s raucous, rude and ultimately poignant pregnancy comedy is an excellent example. Propelled by the internal quarrel of a 23-year-old cartoonist who discovers she’s expecting too late to do anything about it, Ninjababy is funny and insightful, imaginative and unsentimental. The movie offers a fresh take on a familiar situation through its unhesitant embrace of a protagonist who makes no apologies for her chaotic approach ...
- 3/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Some films provide such obvious American remake fodder that you just want to draw a protective circle around them to ensure that people experience the unassuming charms of the original. Norwegian director Yngvild Sve Flikke’s raucous, rude and ultimately poignant pregnancy comedy is an excellent example. Propelled by the internal quarrel of a 23-year-old cartoonist who discovers she’s expecting too late to do anything about it, Ninjababy is funny and insightful, imaginative and unsentimental. The movie offers a fresh take on a familiar situation through its unhesitant embrace of a protagonist who makes no apologies for her chaotic approach ...
- 3/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
As she developed her sophomore feature, director Yngvild Sve Flikke sought to evoke the messiness of life. “I’m a restless person,” the Scandinavian filmmaker tells Variety. “If I’m working on something knowing exactly where it’s going, I’ll get an itch in my back, telling me to change it up. I wanted to make [a film] that was as crazy as life can be.”
A veteran of Norwegian public broadcasting, Flikke set her sights on illustrator Inga Sætre’s acclaimed graphic novel “The Art of Falling,” about a hard-partying young adult faced with an unanticipated pregnancy. Working alongside Sætre and longtime collaborator Johan Fasting, Flikke adapted the comic into the crowd-pleasing “Ninjababy,” which premieres on Tuesday at SXSW following a Berlin berth earlier this month.
Winner of the audience award at this past January’s Tromsø Film Festival, the irreverent comedy follows 23-year-old Rakel (Kristine Thorp), an aspiring artist...
A veteran of Norwegian public broadcasting, Flikke set her sights on illustrator Inga Sætre’s acclaimed graphic novel “The Art of Falling,” about a hard-partying young adult faced with an unanticipated pregnancy. Working alongside Sætre and longtime collaborator Johan Fasting, Flikke adapted the comic into the crowd-pleasing “Ninjababy,” which premieres on Tuesday at SXSW following a Berlin berth earlier this month.
Winner of the audience award at this past January’s Tromsø Film Festival, the irreverent comedy follows 23-year-old Rakel (Kristine Thorp), an aspiring artist...
- 3/16/2021
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
With a two-part structure featuring an online press and industry component that’s just concluded, followed by physical screenings this summer, the Berlin International Film Festival is unveiling a selection of the year’s finest films. Along with our extensive coverage of the festival (with a few reviews still to come), we’ve asked our Berlinale contributors to share their personal favorites. Check out their lists below, with links to coverage where available.
Ed Frankl
Memory Box
1. Petite Maman (Céline Sciamma)
2. Memory Box (Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige)
3. Brother’s Keeper (Ferit Karahan)
4. Ballad of a White Cow (Behtash Sanaeeha & Maryam Moghaddam)
5. Ninjababy (Yngvild Sve Flikke)
Honorable Mentions: The Fam, Language Lessons, Natural Light, Taste, and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy.
Leonardo Goi
Taste
1. Taste (Lê Bảo)
2. Petite Maman (Céline Sciamma)
3. The Scary of Sixty-First (Dasha Nekrasova)
4. Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi)
5. Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (Radu Jude...
Ed Frankl
Memory Box
1. Petite Maman (Céline Sciamma)
2. Memory Box (Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige)
3. Brother’s Keeper (Ferit Karahan)
4. Ballad of a White Cow (Behtash Sanaeeha & Maryam Moghaddam)
5. Ninjababy (Yngvild Sve Flikke)
Honorable Mentions: The Fam, Language Lessons, Natural Light, Taste, and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy.
Leonardo Goi
Taste
1. Taste (Lê Bảo)
2. Petite Maman (Céline Sciamma)
3. The Scary of Sixty-First (Dasha Nekrasova)
4. Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi)
5. Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (Radu Jude...
- 3/10/2021
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
A year after its in-person 2020 edition was canceled due to the pandemic, the SXSW Film Festival is bellying up for yet another virtual edition. But with a year of learning and innovating behind them — not to mention the lessons of a variety of other festivals that have gone the virtual route over the past 365 days — the SXSW team is preparing to offer up a multi-faceted event with ease. One major change: a single-serving pass that will get you into everything. (Learn more about that process right here.)
With reservations for film and episodics screenings open this afternoon, allow us to guide you toward a dozen of our most-anticipated picks for this year’s festival. Some of these titles have appeared at other events, but are just landing on U.S. shores (and screens now), while at least one is a holdover from last year’s truncated SXSW festival. All of...
With reservations for film and episodics screenings open this afternoon, allow us to guide you toward a dozen of our most-anticipated picks for this year’s festival. Some of these titles have appeared at other events, but are just landing on U.S. shores (and screens now), while at least one is a holdover from last year’s truncated SXSW festival. All of...
- 3/9/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The Filipino-Taiwanese documentary is directed by Venice Atienza.
Toronto-based sales outlet Syndicado Film Sales has boarded Last Days At Sea, Venice Atienza’s documentary which has its world premiere in Generation Kplus at this week’s online Berlinale.
The film was developed in Indonesia’s If/Then Sea Story Development Lab in 2018, going on to win the IDFA award at the Docs By The Sea lab in the same country that year.
It has also featured in the Rough Cut Lab in Visions Du Réel where it won the subtitling award; the IDFA Project Space; and the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum work-in-progress section.
Toronto-based sales outlet Syndicado Film Sales has boarded Last Days At Sea, Venice Atienza’s documentary which has its world premiere in Generation Kplus at this week’s online Berlinale.
The film was developed in Indonesia’s If/Then Sea Story Development Lab in 2018, going on to win the IDFA award at the Docs By The Sea lab in the same country that year.
It has also featured in the Rough Cut Lab in Visions Du Réel where it won the subtitling award; the IDFA Project Space; and the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum work-in-progress section.
- 3/4/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
It’s Rakel’s (Kristine Kujath Thorp) best friend and roommate Ingrid (Tora Christine Dietrichson) who first notices that something is amiss. Rakel is suddenly ravenous for fruit juice, averse to anything smelly, and she’s definitely gained some weight. The twentysomething Norwegian pals like to have their fun, but Rakel seems particularly wild — an opening animation that maps out the girls’ apartment points to Ingrid’s pin-neat bedroom, compared to Rakel’s “trash-o-rama” room — but who cares? Rakel might be a little spacey and immature, but she’s only in charge of herself. …Right?
By the time Rakel wises up to the reason behind her weight gain and weird cravings in Yngvild Sve Flikke’s “Ninjababy,” it’s far too late to do anything about it. Playing like something of a gender-swapped “Knocked Up” — imagine if it was Seth Rogen’s weed-smoking, shiftless Ben who was pregnant in Judd Apatow’s comedy,...
By the time Rakel wises up to the reason behind her weight gain and weird cravings in Yngvild Sve Flikke’s “Ninjababy,” it’s far too late to do anything about it. Playing like something of a gender-swapped “Knocked Up” — imagine if it was Seth Rogen’s weed-smoking, shiftless Ben who was pregnant in Judd Apatow’s comedy,...
- 3/3/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
TrustNordisk has closed key territory sales on “Riders of Justice,” Anders Thomas Jensen’s dark comedy starring Mads Mikkelsen.
“Riders of Justice” revolves around a military man Markus (Mikkelsen), who returns home to his teenage daughter after his wife dies in a tragic train accident. When a passenger on the wrecked train surfaces with claims of foul play, Markus begins to suspect the accident may have been a carefully orchestrated assassination.
Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Lars Brygmann, Nicolas Bro, Gustav Lindh and Andrea H. Gadeberg also star. The movie, which won four Danish Film Awards, was produced by Sisse Graum Jørgensen and Sidsel Hybschmann for Zentropa Entertainments3.
Jensen is the screenwriter behind Susanne Bier’s Oscar-winning drama “In a Better World.” His directorial credits include “Men & Chicken,” “Adam’s Apples,” “The Green Butchers” and “Flickering Lights” — all of which star Mikkelsen.
TrustNordisk sold the film to Canada (Mongrel Media), Spain (La Aventura...
“Riders of Justice” revolves around a military man Markus (Mikkelsen), who returns home to his teenage daughter after his wife dies in a tragic train accident. When a passenger on the wrecked train surfaces with claims of foul play, Markus begins to suspect the accident may have been a carefully orchestrated assassination.
Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Lars Brygmann, Nicolas Bro, Gustav Lindh and Andrea H. Gadeberg also star. The movie, which won four Danish Film Awards, was produced by Sisse Graum Jørgensen and Sidsel Hybschmann for Zentropa Entertainments3.
Jensen is the screenwriter behind Susanne Bier’s Oscar-winning drama “In a Better World.” His directorial credits include “Men & Chicken,” “Adam’s Apples,” “The Green Butchers” and “Flickering Lights” — all of which star Mikkelsen.
TrustNordisk sold the film to Canada (Mongrel Media), Spain (La Aventura...
- 3/2/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Young pregnancy drama marks the second feature of Norway’s Yngvild Sve Flikke.
TrustNordisk has closed a hat-trick of deals on Ninjababy, Yngvild Sve Flikke’s Norwegian drama that will screen in the Berlinale’s Generation strand this week.
The film has been sold to Lithuania (Scanorama); Taiwan (CatchPlay); and Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia (Cinemania Group).
The film was previously picked up for Norway (Arthaus), Sweden (TriArt) and Denmark (Øst for Paradis).
Ninjababy follows a young, single woman named Rakel, played by Kristine Thorp, who unexpectedly discovers she is pregnant. Far from excited by the prospect of motherhood,...
TrustNordisk has closed a hat-trick of deals on Ninjababy, Yngvild Sve Flikke’s Norwegian drama that will screen in the Berlinale’s Generation strand this week.
The film has been sold to Lithuania (Scanorama); Taiwan (CatchPlay); and Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia (Cinemania Group).
The film was previously picked up for Norway (Arthaus), Sweden (TriArt) and Denmark (Øst for Paradis).
Ninjababy follows a young, single woman named Rakel, played by Kristine Thorp, who unexpectedly discovers she is pregnant. Far from excited by the prospect of motherhood,...
- 3/1/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
The Berlin International Film Festival has set its full slate for the upcoming 2021 edition. Berlinale usually follows Sundance with a February festival, but the pandemic has forced organizers to develop a new festival format for 2021. The 71st Berlin International Film Festival is set to take place with the “Industry Event” from March 1 to 5, which will include the European Film Market (EFM), the Berlinale Co-Production Market, the Berlinale Talents, and the World Cinema Fund in online forms. From June 9 to 20, 2021 the Berlinale will launch a “Summer Special” with numerous film presentations in Berlin, both at indoor and outdoor cinemas.
Included in the March event is the traditional film festival slate, which includes the main Berlinale Competition lineup as well as sidebar sections such as Berlinale Special & Berlinale Series, Encounters, Berlinale Shorts, Panorama, Forum & Forum Expanded, Generation, Perspektive Deutsches Kino, and Retrospective. With the exception of the Retrospective, the films will be shown at the March event.
Included in the March event is the traditional film festival slate, which includes the main Berlinale Competition lineup as well as sidebar sections such as Berlinale Special & Berlinale Series, Encounters, Berlinale Shorts, Panorama, Forum & Forum Expanded, Generation, Perspektive Deutsches Kino, and Retrospective. With the exception of the Retrospective, the films will be shown at the March event.
- 2/11/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The 2021 festival will take place in two parts.
The Berlin International Film Festival has unveiled the first films selected for its 2021 edition which will take place in two parts, starting with the industry-focused, online-only event from March 1-5.
They are the titles that will comprise the Generation and Retrospective strands, and come nearly two months later than last year’s equivalent announcement as organisers prepare to host the first virtual edition of the festival.
A second event, titled Summer Special, is scheduled to run June 9-20 and set to include physical screenings of the selection and their filmmakers, at 10 venues in Berlin.
The Berlin International Film Festival has unveiled the first films selected for its 2021 edition which will take place in two parts, starting with the industry-focused, online-only event from March 1-5.
They are the titles that will comprise the Generation and Retrospective strands, and come nearly two months later than last year’s equivalent announcement as organisers prepare to host the first virtual edition of the festival.
A second event, titled Summer Special, is scheduled to run June 9-20 and set to include physical screenings of the selection and their filmmakers, at 10 venues in Berlin.
- 2/8/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Mormon documentary ‘The Mission’ also triumphs.
Taneli Mustonen’s English-language horror feature project The Twin has won the best fiction award at the Finnish Film Affair (Ffa) 2020.
The film is produced by Don Films and is about a deceased twin that will not leave his family alone. The film is in production now for a planned launch in 2021.
The feature is being sold by Film Constellation, which previously handled Mustonen’s 2016 international hit Lake Bodom. It is being produced and is co-written by Aleksi Hyvarinen.
“This elevated horror piece speaks to a bigger thematic with its exploration of grief, giving...
Taneli Mustonen’s English-language horror feature project The Twin has won the best fiction award at the Finnish Film Affair (Ffa) 2020.
The film is produced by Don Films and is about a deceased twin that will not leave his family alone. The film is in production now for a planned launch in 2021.
The feature is being sold by Film Constellation, which previously handled Mustonen’s 2016 international hit Lake Bodom. It is being produced and is co-written by Aleksi Hyvarinen.
“This elevated horror piece speaks to a bigger thematic with its exploration of grief, giving...
- 9/25/2020
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
The hybrid event will run September 23-25 in Helsinki.
The Finnish Film Affair has unveiled the lineup for its hybrid event, which will run September 23-25 in Helsinki as well as online.
Some 300 industry professionals are expected to attend, with some in-person and 150 online.
New talents and female voices are prominent in this year’s programme, with debut features comprising one-third of the lineup. Across the selection, at least 58% of projects have at least one non-male director.
Nearly 50 films in development, production or post-production will be on offer. Some highlights in development include Lapland War from Unknown Soldier director Aku Louhimies,...
The Finnish Film Affair has unveiled the lineup for its hybrid event, which will run September 23-25 in Helsinki as well as online.
Some 300 industry professionals are expected to attend, with some in-person and 150 online.
New talents and female voices are prominent in this year’s programme, with debut features comprising one-third of the lineup. Across the selection, at least 58% of projects have at least one non-male director.
Nearly 50 films in development, production or post-production will be on offer. Some highlights in development include Lapland War from Unknown Soldier director Aku Louhimies,...
- 9/11/2020
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
A wide range of Scandinavian films, including the politically-charged Danish drama “Shorta,” the supernatural Icelandic drama “Lamb” with Noomi Rapace, and the Finnish-Iranian refugee tale “Any Day Now,’ were some of the highlights at this year’s Nordic Film Market.
They were presented, along with 13 other films in post-production, as part of the Work-in-Progress section. Half of the lineup was made up of first features, notably “Lamb” from Iceland’s Valdimar Johannsson, “Any Day Now” by Finnish-Iranian helmer Hamy Ramezan and “Shorta,” by Denmark’s Fredrik Louis Hviid and Anders Ølholm.
This 21st edition of the Nordic Film Market, which also boasts the popular Drama TV Vision conference, saw record participation with 450 attendees from 25 countries. These included more than 37 sales agents from the Nordics, France, Poland, Germany, Israel and the U.K., among others, as well as 67 festival programmers and 47 buyers. Cia Edström, the head of the Nordic Film Market,...
They were presented, along with 13 other films in post-production, as part of the Work-in-Progress section. Half of the lineup was made up of first features, notably “Lamb” from Iceland’s Valdimar Johannsson, “Any Day Now” by Finnish-Iranian helmer Hamy Ramezan and “Shorta,” by Denmark’s Fredrik Louis Hviid and Anders Ølholm.
This 21st edition of the Nordic Film Market, which also boasts the popular Drama TV Vision conference, saw record participation with 450 attendees from 25 countries. These included more than 37 sales agents from the Nordics, France, Poland, Germany, Israel and the U.K., among others, as well as 67 festival programmers and 47 buyers. Cia Edström, the head of the Nordic Film Market,...
- 2/2/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy and Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
GÖTEBORG, Sweden — Norway’s leading independent production company Motlys (“Louder than Bombs”), which won Saturday night best Nordic film, and best actor (Henriette Steenstrup) with Dag Johan Haugerud’s “Beware of Children,” is preparing feature film “Doppler” with Stian Kristiansen set to direct.
Prominent Norwegian author-scriptwriter Erlend Loe, attached to HBO Nordic’s first Danish Original “Kamikaze,” is adapting from his own best-selling novel, sold to 30 territories and named Book of the Year by The Guardian newspaper in 2012.
“Doppler” is a satirical comedy about Andreas Doppler who leaves his family and a comfortable existence in Oslo to start a new life in the forest. There he reconnects with nature and bonds with a baby moose.
Motlys producer Yngve Sæther said: “When I first read the novel, what I fell in love with was the dark and original humor, and Doppler’s weird and funny confrontations with civilization. The criticism of...
Prominent Norwegian author-scriptwriter Erlend Loe, attached to HBO Nordic’s first Danish Original “Kamikaze,” is adapting from his own best-selling novel, sold to 30 territories and named Book of the Year by The Guardian newspaper in 2012.
“Doppler” is a satirical comedy about Andreas Doppler who leaves his family and a comfortable existence in Oslo to start a new life in the forest. There he reconnects with nature and bonds with a baby moose.
Motlys producer Yngve Sæther said: “When I first read the novel, what I fell in love with was the dark and original humor, and Doppler’s weird and funny confrontations with civilization. The criticism of...
- 2/1/2020
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
New films by Thomas Vinterberg, Charlotte Blom and Jonas Poher Rasmussen will be presented at the Goteborg Film Festival’s Nordic Film Market. In total, 16 films in post-production will be presented to industry participants in at the Nordic Film Market as part of the Work-in-Progress section. Half of the lineup is made up of first features.
Cia Edström, the head of the Nordic Film Market, said the industry showcase is seeing a big increase in participation this year. As many as 381 attendees from 25 countries so far have signed up for the event, including 37 sales agents, 67 festival programmers and 47 buyers. Edström noted the breadth and diversity of films and projects in this year’s program.
Vinterberg’s next film, “Another Round” is a modern drama starring Mads Mikkelsen. Represented in international markets by TrustNordisk, the film follows a group of high school teachers who embark on an experiment to be intoxicated...
Cia Edström, the head of the Nordic Film Market, said the industry showcase is seeing a big increase in participation this year. As many as 381 attendees from 25 countries so far have signed up for the event, including 37 sales agents, 67 festival programmers and 47 buyers. Edström noted the breadth and diversity of films and projects in this year’s program.
Vinterberg’s next film, “Another Round” is a modern drama starring Mads Mikkelsen. Represented in international markets by TrustNordisk, the film follows a group of high school teachers who embark on an experiment to be intoxicated...
- 1/16/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Out of 61 applications received, 9 productions were granted support by an international jury consisting of Rima Mismar (Lebanon), Dag Johan Haugerud (Norway) and Yngvild Sve Flikke (Norway). Among these films, 7 are fiction films and 2 are documentary.
The jury said this year's selection included a great variety of projects, which made it possible for the jury to pick a diverse selection of films with an extensive geographical range and good gender balance.
The majority of the projects are the directors feature film debut, in addition to some more established directors. The projects presents new views on important aspects of living; family ties, relationships across generations, homosexuality and aging - everything set against historical, political and social contexts of their respective countries.
For more information on Sørfond's grant support visit Here
The following productions received funding:
"Map of Latin American Dreams"
Docuemntary
Country: Argentina
Director: Martin Weber
Script: Martin Weber
Norwegian co-producer: Lightsource Film Production As - Arne Dahr
Main producer: Maravillacine
Amount of support: 280,000 Nok (approx. 30,400 Eur)
Project synopsis: Between 1992 and 2013, the photographer Martin Weber travelled through eight countries in Latin-America and asked people to write down their dreams on a blackboard. The film is a documentary road movie were Weber reflects on the people in the photographs, and we follow him on a new journey after the people he photographed to see how they have changed in line with their dreams.
"Will She Win the War?"
Documentary
Country: Iran
Director: Mina Keshavarz
Script: Mina Keshavarz
Norwegian co-producer: Gammaglimt As - Christian Falch
Main producer: MinDoc
Amount of support: 180,000 Nok (approx. 19,500 Eur)
Project synopsis: Roghieh, mother of five, decides to make a bazaar for female street vendors in her local community in South Iran. The bazaar is threatened by the new mayor, who want to tear it down and replace it with a shopping mall. Roghieh takes up the fight.
"The Heiresses"
Fiction
Country: Paraguay
Director: Marcelo Martinessi
Script: Marcelo Martinessi
Norwegian co-producer: Norsk Filmproduksjon As - Hilde Berg
Main producer: La Babosa Cine
Amount of support: 415,000 Nok (approx. 45,000 Eur)
Project synopsis: Asuncion, Paraguay. 2012. The Heiresses is the story of a woman of prosperous social background. She had inherited enough money to live comfortably. But at 60 years old she realizes that her inherited money is gone. This new reality alters the balance in which she has been living and forces her to transform a world that until then had seemed motionless.
"Where Life is Born"
Fiction
Country: Mexico
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Script: Carlos Reygadas
Norwegian co-producer: Mer Film As - Maria Ekerhovd
Main producer: Mantarraya Producciones
Amount of support: 280,000 Nok (approx. 30,400 Eur)
Project synopsis: "Where Life is Born" is a simple, but strong story about love and loss of love in an open relationship. The story follow a married couple in a difficult period and unfolds on their ranch were they breed fighting bulls.
"Retablo"
Fiction
Country: Peru
Director: Alvaro Delgado Aparicio
Script: Hector Gálves and Alvaro Delgado Aparicio
Norwegian co-producer: Dag Hoel Filmprod As - Dag Hoel
Main producer: Siri prod
Amount of support: 460,000 Nok (approx. 50,000 Eur)
Project synopsis: An artisan family in the highlands of Peru makes traditional art. The respective master teaches his son, Segundo, the secrets of the art. The father is Segundo´s hero and and beacon in life, until Segundo discover his fathers secret life.
"Candelaria"
Fiction
Country: Colombia
Director: Jhonny Hendrix
Script: Maria Camila Arias and Jhonny Hendrix
Norwegian co-producer: Dag Hoel Filmprod As - Dag Hoel
Main producer: Antorcha Films
Amount of support: 415,000 Nok (approx. 45,000 Eur)
Project synopsis: An old couple in Havana awakens their sleeping love life with a video camera. The films they make takes the couple out of a difficult economic situation. "Candelaria" is a film about love, moral and difficult decisions.
"Cactus Flower"
Fiction
Country: Egypt
Director: Hala ElKoussy
Script: Hala ElKoussy
Norwegian co-producer: DUOfilm As - Marie Fuglestein Lægreid and Linda Bolstad
Main producer: Transit Films
Amount of support: 370,000 Nok (approx. 40,200 Eur)
Project synopsis: About three people in Kairo that is brought together in a moment of homelessness. The trio embark on a journey, which leads to an extraordinary friendship and self-discovery.
"Wajib"
Fiction
Country: Jordan/Palestine
Director: Annemarie Jacir
Script: Annemarie Jacir
Norwegian co-producer: Ape&Bjørn As - Ruben Thorkildsen
Main producer: Philistine Films
Amount of support: 550,000 Nok (approx. 59,700 Eur)
Project synopsis: Shadi has returned to his hometown Nasaret to help his father with hand-delivery of invitations to his sister´s wedding, a palestinian custom. As father and son spends their days together, walking from house to house, sore details of their relationship is brought to light and challenges their fragile and different lives.
"The Immersed Family"
Fiction
Country: Argentina
Director: Maria Alché
Script: Maria Alché
Norwegian co-producer: 4 ½ Fiksjon As - Turid Øversveen
Main producer: Pasto - Barbara Fransisco
Amount of support: 550,000 Nok (approx. 59,700 Eur)
Project synopsis: A film about a typical Argentinian family, who attempts to tackle the secrets of the past. The film is told through the eyes of a middle aged women, and the story starts with her sisters death. ...
The jury said this year's selection included a great variety of projects, which made it possible for the jury to pick a diverse selection of films with an extensive geographical range and good gender balance.
The majority of the projects are the directors feature film debut, in addition to some more established directors. The projects presents new views on important aspects of living; family ties, relationships across generations, homosexuality and aging - everything set against historical, political and social contexts of their respective countries.
For more information on Sørfond's grant support visit Here
The following productions received funding:
"Map of Latin American Dreams"
Docuemntary
Country: Argentina
Director: Martin Weber
Script: Martin Weber
Norwegian co-producer: Lightsource Film Production As - Arne Dahr
Main producer: Maravillacine
Amount of support: 280,000 Nok (approx. 30,400 Eur)
Project synopsis: Between 1992 and 2013, the photographer Martin Weber travelled through eight countries in Latin-America and asked people to write down their dreams on a blackboard. The film is a documentary road movie were Weber reflects on the people in the photographs, and we follow him on a new journey after the people he photographed to see how they have changed in line with their dreams.
"Will She Win the War?"
Documentary
Country: Iran
Director: Mina Keshavarz
Script: Mina Keshavarz
Norwegian co-producer: Gammaglimt As - Christian Falch
Main producer: MinDoc
Amount of support: 180,000 Nok (approx. 19,500 Eur)
Project synopsis: Roghieh, mother of five, decides to make a bazaar for female street vendors in her local community in South Iran. The bazaar is threatened by the new mayor, who want to tear it down and replace it with a shopping mall. Roghieh takes up the fight.
"The Heiresses"
Fiction
Country: Paraguay
Director: Marcelo Martinessi
Script: Marcelo Martinessi
Norwegian co-producer: Norsk Filmproduksjon As - Hilde Berg
Main producer: La Babosa Cine
Amount of support: 415,000 Nok (approx. 45,000 Eur)
Project synopsis: Asuncion, Paraguay. 2012. The Heiresses is the story of a woman of prosperous social background. She had inherited enough money to live comfortably. But at 60 years old she realizes that her inherited money is gone. This new reality alters the balance in which she has been living and forces her to transform a world that until then had seemed motionless.
"Where Life is Born"
Fiction
Country: Mexico
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Script: Carlos Reygadas
Norwegian co-producer: Mer Film As - Maria Ekerhovd
Main producer: Mantarraya Producciones
Amount of support: 280,000 Nok (approx. 30,400 Eur)
Project synopsis: "Where Life is Born" is a simple, but strong story about love and loss of love in an open relationship. The story follow a married couple in a difficult period and unfolds on their ranch were they breed fighting bulls.
"Retablo"
Fiction
Country: Peru
Director: Alvaro Delgado Aparicio
Script: Hector Gálves and Alvaro Delgado Aparicio
Norwegian co-producer: Dag Hoel Filmprod As - Dag Hoel
Main producer: Siri prod
Amount of support: 460,000 Nok (approx. 50,000 Eur)
Project synopsis: An artisan family in the highlands of Peru makes traditional art. The respective master teaches his son, Segundo, the secrets of the art. The father is Segundo´s hero and and beacon in life, until Segundo discover his fathers secret life.
"Candelaria"
Fiction
Country: Colombia
Director: Jhonny Hendrix
Script: Maria Camila Arias and Jhonny Hendrix
Norwegian co-producer: Dag Hoel Filmprod As - Dag Hoel
Main producer: Antorcha Films
Amount of support: 415,000 Nok (approx. 45,000 Eur)
Project synopsis: An old couple in Havana awakens their sleeping love life with a video camera. The films they make takes the couple out of a difficult economic situation. "Candelaria" is a film about love, moral and difficult decisions.
"Cactus Flower"
Fiction
Country: Egypt
Director: Hala ElKoussy
Script: Hala ElKoussy
Norwegian co-producer: DUOfilm As - Marie Fuglestein Lægreid and Linda Bolstad
Main producer: Transit Films
Amount of support: 370,000 Nok (approx. 40,200 Eur)
Project synopsis: About three people in Kairo that is brought together in a moment of homelessness. The trio embark on a journey, which leads to an extraordinary friendship and self-discovery.
"Wajib"
Fiction
Country: Jordan/Palestine
Director: Annemarie Jacir
Script: Annemarie Jacir
Norwegian co-producer: Ape&Bjørn As - Ruben Thorkildsen
Main producer: Philistine Films
Amount of support: 550,000 Nok (approx. 59,700 Eur)
Project synopsis: Shadi has returned to his hometown Nasaret to help his father with hand-delivery of invitations to his sister´s wedding, a palestinian custom. As father and son spends their days together, walking from house to house, sore details of their relationship is brought to light and challenges their fragile and different lives.
"The Immersed Family"
Fiction
Country: Argentina
Director: Maria Alché
Script: Maria Alché
Norwegian co-producer: 4 ½ Fiksjon As - Turid Øversveen
Main producer: Pasto - Barbara Fransisco
Amount of support: 550,000 Nok (approx. 59,700 Eur)
Project synopsis: A film about a typical Argentinian family, who attempts to tackle the secrets of the past. The film is told through the eyes of a middle aged women, and the story starts with her sisters death. ...
- 5/2/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Norwegian director Hallvard Bræin’s action comedy Børning received both the jury and the audiences’ film prize at the ceremony in Haugesund’s Maritim HallScroll down for full list of winners
Norwegian director Hallvard Bræin’s feature debut, Børning – a local twist of Cannonball Run (1981), which became last year’s most popular Norwegian film, taking 381,648 admissions – was also the big winner at the Amanda awards ceremony in Haugesund on Saturday (Aug 15).
At the TV2 Norge televised presentation in Haugesund’s Maritim Hall, preceding today’s opening of the 43rd Norwegian International Film Festival, Børning received Amandas – Norway’s national film prizes - including Best Norwegian Feature, the People’s Amanda, Best Supporting Actor (Henrik Mestad) and Best Sound Design (Fredric Vogel, Petter Fladeby).
The frontrunner for the awards - Norwegian director Bent Hamer 1001 Grams (1001 gram), which has so far toured 25 international film festivals – was nominated in six categories, but won only Best Original Screenplay.
For the first...
Norwegian director Hallvard Bræin’s feature debut, Børning – a local twist of Cannonball Run (1981), which became last year’s most popular Norwegian film, taking 381,648 admissions – was also the big winner at the Amanda awards ceremony in Haugesund on Saturday (Aug 15).
At the TV2 Norge televised presentation in Haugesund’s Maritim Hall, preceding today’s opening of the 43rd Norwegian International Film Festival, Børning received Amandas – Norway’s national film prizes - including Best Norwegian Feature, the People’s Amanda, Best Supporting Actor (Henrik Mestad) and Best Sound Design (Fredric Vogel, Petter Fladeby).
The frontrunner for the awards - Norwegian director Bent Hamer 1001 Grams (1001 gram), which has so far toured 25 international film festivals – was nominated in six categories, but won only Best Original Screenplay.
For the first...
- 8/17/2015
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Norwegian cinema is garnering success abroad but attendance for national films has plummeted this year.
While Norwegian films are strong international performers, this year they face significant challenges at home, according to new figures released by the Norwegian Film Institute.
To date, attendance for local films has fallen considerably year-on-year and the industry now faces an uphill struggle to replicate the impressive 24% market-share achieved last year.
When the Norwegian Film Institute introduced the autumn season of local releases at Oslo’s Film House this week, the institute’s managing director Sindre Guldvog emphasised the international success of Norwegian cinema in 2015.
“For the first time in 36 years, Norway had a film in competition at Cannes - Joachim Trier’s Louder Than Bombs. And when France’s Les Arcs European Film Festival (December 12-19) will focus on Norway, it will be the fourth international showcase in 2015 with special programmes on Norway,” he said.
But while Norwegian...
While Norwegian films are strong international performers, this year they face significant challenges at home, according to new figures released by the Norwegian Film Institute.
To date, attendance for local films has fallen considerably year-on-year and the industry now faces an uphill struggle to replicate the impressive 24% market-share achieved last year.
When the Norwegian Film Institute introduced the autumn season of local releases at Oslo’s Film House this week, the institute’s managing director Sindre Guldvog emphasised the international success of Norwegian cinema in 2015.
“For the first time in 36 years, Norway had a film in competition at Cannes - Joachim Trier’s Louder Than Bombs. And when France’s Les Arcs European Film Festival (December 12-19) will focus on Norway, it will be the fourth international showcase in 2015 with special programmes on Norway,” he said.
But while Norwegian...
- 8/14/2015
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Norwegian cinema is garnering success abroad but attendance for national films has plummeted this year.
While Norwegian films are strong international performers, this year they face significant challenges at home, according to new figures released by the Norwegian Film Institute.
To date, attendance for local films has fallen considerably year-on-year and the industry now faces an uphill struggle to replicate the impressive 24% market-share achieved last year.
When the Norwegian Film Institute introduced the autumn season of local releases at Oslo’s Film House this week, the institute’s managing director Sindre Guldvog emphasised the international success of Norwegian cinema in 2015.
“For the first time in 36 years, Norway had a film in competition at Cannes - Joachim Trier’s Louder Than Bombs. And when France’s Les Arcs European Film Festival (December 12-19) will focus on Norway, it will be the fourth international showcase in 2015 with special programmes on Norway,” he said.
But while Norwegian...
While Norwegian films are strong international performers, this year they face significant challenges at home, according to new figures released by the Norwegian Film Institute.
To date, attendance for local films has fallen considerably year-on-year and the industry now faces an uphill struggle to replicate the impressive 24% market-share achieved last year.
When the Norwegian Film Institute introduced the autumn season of local releases at Oslo’s Film House this week, the institute’s managing director Sindre Guldvog emphasised the international success of Norwegian cinema in 2015.
“For the first time in 36 years, Norway had a film in competition at Cannes - Joachim Trier’s Louder Than Bombs. And when France’s Les Arcs European Film Festival (December 12-19) will focus on Norway, it will be the fourth international showcase in 2015 with special programmes on Norway,” he said.
But while Norwegian...
- 8/14/2015
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
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