In its October round of production support Nordisk Film & TV Fond has allocated a total of NOK 9.4m to two feature films, two TV series and two documentaries.

Feature films include:

  •  Ted-Show Me Love produced by Cecilia Forsberg-Becker and Lena Rehnberg for Stella Nova Film (Sweden) was granted NOK 2.5m. Hannes Holm (A Man Called Ove) directs the biopic about pop artist Ted Gärdestad who had an exceptional breakthrough in the early 70s. Peter Birro (Waltz for Monica) has written the script and Adam Pålsson will play the iconic Swedish singer/songwriter. Top crew members include The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared’s Oscar nominated make-up artists Eva von Bahr and Love Larson, and cinematographer Göran Hallberg.

    Hannes Holm said: “This is a project filled with love and music. But to understand the value of love, one must also address the painful sides in Ted’s life. With these elements, together with the immortal music, I think we can create a story that touches many people.” The film is co-produced by Film Väst, in association with Nordisk Film, TV4. Shooting starts next February with a delivery date set for late 2017. TrustNordisk will handle sales. 
  • The Guardian Angel directed and produced by Arto Halonen for Art Films (Finland) was granted NOK2.3m. The latest feature film by the director of Princess is a psychological suspense drama about a man who uses hypnosis to turn another man into a robber and a murderer. A young police investigator is sent into a world of psychological manipulation. Further details about the project will be announced soon. 

TV series:

  • Bonusfamiljen (The Bonus Family) Season 2 (10x45’) produced by Frida Asp for FLX (Sweden) was granted NOK2.4m. FLX co-founder Felix Herngren is showrunner. Inspired by Herngren’s own experience, the comedy drama centres on a recomposed family and the complications that go with it. Key cast include Erik Johansson, Vera Vitali, Petra Mede and Frank Dorsin. Herngren directs, together with Emma Bucht and Martin Persson. Filming started in September and continues until February 2017. Season 1 is still to air on SVT in 2017, as well as on NRK, YLE, RUV and DR. 
  • Rita & the Crocodile (26x5’) produced by Marie Bro for Tegnefilm (Denmark) was granted NOK1.1m. Award-winning animation specialist Siri Melchior (Lili) directs the pre-school animated series. Rita is 4 years old, very determined and used to getting things her way. She has a very hungry friend, Crocodile, who lives in the bathtub. When crocodile is around, Rita can go wherever she wants-into the forest, on vacation, to the mountain out fishing. The pilot for the series received the Jury award at the Annecy Film Festival 2015. The series is pre-sold to Canal+, RBB, NRD, MDR, DR, SVT, NRK, YLE and Czech TV. Theatrical distributors include Folkets Bio (Sweden) and Gebeka (France) and Nordisk Film has VOD rights. France’s Dandeloo handles international sales. 

Documentaries: 

  • Prison Sisters produced by Maryam Ebrahimi for Nima Film (Sweden) was granted NOK400,000. The film by Nima Sarvestani is a follow up to his 2012 award-winning No Burqas Behind Bars, shot in an Afghan prison for women. Here Sarvestani follows two of the main characters, Sara and Najibegh, after their release from prison. Sara escapes to Sweden to find a brighter future, while Najjibeh is forced to stay in the Taliban nest.

    The 90’ feature version will premiere at the upcoming IDFA international film festival’s Master section. Folkets Bio will handle distribution in Sweden and Deckert Distribution world sales. 
  • Lost Warriors produced by Helle Faber for Made in Copenhagen (Denmark) was granted NOK700,000. Directors Nasib Farah and Søren Steen Jespersen have filmed young Somali men who grew up in the West and ended up as lost Al Shabab warriors. The film follows their central dilemma: should they return to their Western country and face imprisonment and likely deportation, or stay in Somalia to build a new life, while staying under the constant threat of being killed by Al-Shabab? Lost Warriors is produced in association with DR. Broadcasters that have pre-bought it include SVT, NRK, Yle, RUV, TVO, Czech TV. DR Sales handles world sales. The theatrical release is set for 2017.