In its October round of support Nordisk Film & TV Fond has awarded NOK 11,525,000 in production support to four films, one TV series and two documentaries. The largest single grants of NOK 2.4 million were granted to the Icelandic animated film Ploey -You never Fly Alone and the Norwegian thriller series Valkyrien.
The 8x45’ series Valkyrien produced by Tordenfilm for NRK is co-created by Thomas Seeberg Torjussen (Norwegian Cosy) and Erik Richter Strand (Occupied) who also directs. Set in contemporary Oslo, in the shadows of the welfare state, the series focuses on a physician who runs an illegal clinic while secretly treating his dying wife. The main character is played by Sven Nordin (Lilyhammer). The high concept series attracted a lot of interest at the last Berlinale where it was first pitched and picked-up by the international distribution company APC (About Premium Content). Valkyrien will be delivered end of 2016.
The €7.3 m animated feature project Ploey -You Never Fly Alone by the creators of Legends of Valhalla-Thor, is produced by Hilmar Sigurdsson for Iceland’s GunHil with Belgium’s Cyborn Animation Studios.
Árni Ólafur Ásgeirsson (Brim) is directing with Gunnar Karlsson based on a script by Fridrik Erlingsson. Production will go in full force at the end of the year between Reykjavik and Antwerp. The ambitious animated film will open in Iceland at Christmas 2017 and will then fly off to the 30+ territories that have pre-bought rights from Arri World Sales such as Russia, China and Middle East.
The Norwegian family adventure film Askeladden-i dovregubbens hall (The Ash Lad: in the Hall of the Mountain King) directed by Mikkel Sandemose (Ragnarok) was granted NOK 2.2 million towards its budget of around NOK 57 million/€6.2 million. Synnøve Hørsdal and Åshild Ramborg are producing for Maipo Film, in co-production with Ireland’s Subotica and the Czech Republic’s Sirena Film.
Based on Asbjørnsen and Moe’s 19th century folk tales about Askeladden (‘Ash Lad’), the film will be a ‘distinctively Norwegian blend of Lord of the Rings and Shrek’, with humour and spectacular special effects according to the producers. It’s the story of a poor farmer, 17 year-old Espen ‘Ash Lad’ who embarks on a dangerous quest with his brothers to save the princess from a vile troll known as the Mountain King in order to collect a reward and save his family’s farm from ruin.
World renowned Karl Juliusson (The Hurt Locker, Breaking the Waves) is attached as production designer.
Nordisk Film has Scandinavian rights and Trust Nordisk handles international sales.
The Danish psychological thriller Du Forsvinder (You Disappear) produced by Louise Vesth for Zentropa was granted NOK 1.9 million. The project based on Christian Jungersen’s eponymous best-selling novel is directed by Peter Schønau Fog.
Nikolaj Lie Kaas plays Frederick, a respected school principal who is arrested for fraud. But as it turns out, for the past three years he has had a brain tumour that has changed his personality. His wife Mia (Trine Dyrholm) – tries to get him acquitted with the help of a lawyer (Michael Nyqvist). The DKK 26 million (€3.4 million) project that started filming late September will be released by Nordisk Film early 2017. TrustNordisk handles world sales.
The Danish film Mesteren produced by Lars Bredo Rahbek for Nimbus Film was granted NOK 1.8 million.
The experienced TV drama director Charlotte Sieling (Forbrydelsen, Bron, Borgen) is writer/director.
Casper the main character shows up unexpectedly at Darling Studio to confront his father who left before he was born. The road to reconciliation is harsh as Simon does not want to be a father and Casper has various plans for his father.
The DKK 21m/€2.8m project goes into production in December. Nimbus Film Denmark is co-producing with Hummel & Nimbus in Oslo and Sirena Film in the Czech Republic., with support from the Danish Film Institute and DR. SF Film handles Scandinavian rights and SF international sales.
The Norwegian documentary biopic Magnus about Norway’s chess champion Magnus Carlsen, was granted NOK 700,000. The filmmaker Benjamin Ree has followed the young prodigy over a ten year period and reveals the true story behind the chess genius. The film produced by Sigurd Mikal Karoliussen for Moskus Film is in the final stage of editing. The premiere is set for next autumn, just before the Chess World Championship in the US. TrustNordisk handles world sales.
The Danish documentary If I Can Dance It’s Not My Revolution produced by Miriam Nørgaard for Fridthjof Film was granted NOK 125,000. Andreas Dalsgaard and Obaidah Zytoon have filmed a group of Syrian friends – former activists during the Revolution - who reunite to reflect on the past. The film currently in production will be delivered in May 2016.