As a strong signal of Nordisk Film’s commitment to the local film industry, the Scandinavian major is boosting its newly revamped Norwegian production arm with a team of eight new recruits under Kon-Tiki producer Aage Aaberge’s (pictured) aegis.
Two of the new staff members, in-house producer Sigurd Mikal Karoliussen and development producer Kristoffer Metcalfe, are joining Nordisk Film from Moskus Film. Karoliussen (former Nordisk Film & TV Fond Project Manager) has produced the successful family film Journey to the Christmas Star and Metcalfe had his directing debut with the youth film Amors Baller (Cupid’s Balls).
Other in-house producers include John Einar Hagen- former producer at the advertising agency Pravda- and Elisabeth Kvithyll, 2013 Student Oscar-nominated for Izer Aliu’s To Guard a Mountain. Tove Mar, co-founder of Maipo, becomes Nordisk Film Production AS’s Production Controller and Live Bonnevie who worked with Aaberge on Ploddy the Police Car on the Chase, is Development and Production Coordinator.
Commenting on Nordisk Film AS’s strategy, Aaberge told nordiskfilmogtvfond.com: “Our goal is to produce three to four features a year, a volume that will be cut down slightly when we add a TV series to our slate.” Family movies will be among our top priorities, but the first title to go into production is the €8 million WW2 resistance epic The 12th Man set to start filming in March 2016.”
Aaberge intends to use the Kon-Tiki model for the mega-project to be directed by Harald Zwart, i.e. a mix of Danish, Icelandic, Swedish talents behind and in front of the camera and Scandinavian financing. Written by Petter Skavlan (Kon-Tiki), The 12th Man is based on the true story of Norwegian resistance fighter and hero Jan Baalsrud.
Also on the company’s slate is an Edvard Munch biopic to be directed by Erik Poppe.