Docs And Kids Titles Receive Funding

Siv Sleeps Astray received the largest grant of NOK1.3 million. Produced by Sweden’s Petter Lindblad (Snowcloud Films AB), the adventure film is directed by Catti Edfeldt (Arn the Knight Templar) in collaboration with Lena Hanno Clyne who also wrote the script based on Pija Lindenbaum’s eponymous book. Taking inspiration from Matilda and The Borrowers, the film centres of a seven year-old girl who has a sleep over at her new friend Cerisia and has a strange adventure involving two funny badgers in red boots. Siv Sleeps Astray is co-produced by Sweden’s Gilda Film and Saperi Film, Holland’s Viking Film, with co-financing from SVT and Filmpool Nord. Filming is set to start on April 22. SF will handle domestic and world distribution.

The Danish series for kids Lili (8x3.5 minutes) produced by Marie Bro (Dansk Tegnefilm ApS) was awarded NOK240,000. It’s the story of Lili who is too small for many things, but has a will of iron and nothing can stop her. The series co-produced by Ladybird Films in the UK is backed by the DFI, TV2 Denmark, SVT, YLE, NRK and RUV. Animation work started on March 2^nd. Delivery is set for November 2015.

The Danish documentary Between Two Worlds by the acclaimed Janus Metz (Armadillo) was granted NOK 600,000. The project comes on the shoulders of Metz’s previous films Love on Delivery and Ticket to Paradise. Filmed over a decade it explores the ties between a Danish fishing community and a Thai village, brought together through marriage migration. Producer Lise Lense-Møller (Magic Hour Films) supervises the overall production of a four-part TV series and a feature film. Metz Film, and Upfront Films are co-producing with co-financing from the DFI, DR and SVT. Delivery for the TV series is set for spring 2016.

The Norwegian documentary Rebels! By Kari Anne Moe (Bravehearts) was granted NOK450,000. One in six people aged 18-24 in the EU drop out before completing high school. In Norway those figures are one in three. The director focuses on four youths in a group of 22 high school drop outs and explores their hopes and dreams. Gudmundur Gunnarsson produces for Fuglene.

Two other documentaries – Chapter 11 and Varicella - are part of the Nordic ‘Ultra Sports Kids’ series about kids and sports. Chapter 11 directed by Ania Winiarska for Story AB, focuses on a South African township girl, junior champion in BMX. The project was granted NOK100.000. Varicella by Victor Kossalovsky portrays two sisters passionate about dancing. The project produced by Anita Rehoff Larsen (Sant & Usant) was granted 200,000.