The Icelandic thrillers The Oath by Baltasar Kormákur (pictured) and Alma by Kristín Jóhannesdóttir starring French star Emmanuelle Riva, the animation film Dyrene i Hakkebakken by Rasmus A Sivertsen and the documentaries Bugs and Ouaga Girls were just awarded production support by Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

The Oath directed and produced by Kormákur for RVK Studios was granted NOK1.8 million. The drama thriller in the Icelandic language has started filming in Reykjavik, with Kormákur and Hera Hilmar (Life in a Fishbowl) in the title roles. The story penned by the director with Ólafur Egill Egilsson tells of a respectable surgeon who makes a life-changing decision to try to save his drug-addicted eldest daughter, under the influence of her drug dealing boyfriend (Gísli Örn Garðarsson). 

RVK Studios’Agnes Johansen is executive producer, together with Film 4’s David Kosse in the UK. Germany’s ZDF is co-financing the €3.3M (NOK31.6M) project supported as well by the Icelandic Film Centre. Delivery date is set for the fall/early winter 2016.

Alma produced by Gudrún Edda Thórhannesdóttir for Duo Productions was granted NOK 1 million. Legendary director Kristin Jóhannesdóttir (As in Heaven) makes her comeback with the drama about a woman imprisoned in a forensic psychiatric unit for murdering her lover, an act she has no recollection of. After seven years behind bars, Alma escapes when her lover is found alive and decides to kill him for real. In the title role is newcomer Snæfriður Ingvarsdóttir (daughter of Ingvar E. Sigurðsson) who stars against Emmanuelle Riva (Amour), Hilmar Snær Guðnason and Kristbjörg Kjeld. 

The €1.3 million project is co-produced by Iceland’s Pegasus Pictures, with France’s Arsam Film International, Sweden’s Little Big Productions, the UK’s Berserk Films, in collaboration with US producer Jim Stark. Sena handles domestic distribution and Movieboosters has Scandinavian rights. Delivery date is set for early 2017.

Dyrene i Hakkebakkeskogen (The Forest of Huckybucky) based on Thorbørn Egner’s classic animal tale published in Norway in 1953 was granted NOK 2.3 million towards its NOK 41.3M (€4.3M) budget. The Norwegian stop motion animation film directed by the experienced Sivertsen (Louis & Nolan-The Big Cheese Race) will be Qvisten Animation’s first project as majority producer. Ove Heiborg is producing together with Kristiansand Dyrepark and Torbjørn Egner AS. SF Film is handling Scandinavian distribution and international sales. Filming just started this week and the premiere is set for December 25, 2016.

The Danish documentary Bugs produced by Sigrid Dyekjær for Danish Documentary was granted NOK550.000. Andreas Johnsen (Ai Wei Wei-The Fake Case) follows Ben & Josh, two charismatic young chefs from René Redzepi’s experimental Nordic Food Lab, as they investigate the eats and tastes of insects around the world, said to be the future of food. Autlook Film Sales handles world distribution.

The Swedish documentary Ouaga Girls produced by David Herdies for Sweden’s Momento Film was granted NOK400.000. Director Theresa Traore Dahlberg has filmed a group of young girls from the countryside of Burkina Faso who meet in Ouagadougou to become car mechanics. Co-production partners include Denmark’s Adomeit Film and France’s Les Films du balibari. Delivery date is set for the summer/early fall 2016.

Written by Annika Pham