Haugesund: Last night the New Nordic Films Co-production Market Best Pitch award was handed out to the Norwegian animated project Amundsen & Nobile with the  Eurimages Lab Project award going to Iceland’s The Wind Blew On.

The 2D animated project Amundsen & Nobile will be directed by first-timer Kajsa Næss for experienced producers Lise Fearnley and Tonje Skar Reiersen (Mikrofilm) Oscar-winners with the short animated film The Danish Poet. The story of two noblemen and a lapdog on a mission to discover the North Pole is freely inspired by real explorers Roald Amundsen, Umberto Nobile and his fox terrier Titina. The €5.3m film is set to go into production in 2017.

Amundsen & Nobile was one of 26 projects in development pitched at the Co-production Market, including seven Nordic Genre Boost projects. Established genre specialist and buyer Annick Mahnert of Screen Division said about the 2016 slate: “This year's Nordic Genre Boost line-up (CLICK HERE) proved once more that Nordic filmmakers understand and master the genre. Each project is original in its own way but most importantly, all draw elements from their respective cultures. I think it's these cultural elements that make their films unique. I sincerely can't wait to see the finished films."

Works in progress
Twenty works in progress were pitched during the two day market and the winner of the new €50,000 Eurimages Lab Project award went to The Wind Blew On, debut feature of Icelandic-born Katrín Ólafsdóttir. The director described her film as an apocalyptic western with a ‘Little Prince’-inspired child as central character. The film is produced by International/Incoherence.

Works in Progress projects that created a buzz among buyers include Darkland produced by Denmark’s Profile Pictures, the futuristic film Aniara produced by Meta Film Stockholm and the Norwegian film Lake Over Fire by promising director Jørn Utkilen, produced by Norway’s Ape & Bjørn.

The two animated features In the Forest of Hucky Bucky by Norway’s celebrated animator Rasmus A Sivertsen and Richard the Stork by Germany’s Toby Genkel (both pre-sold to several territories) were warmly received in Haugesund. 

Haugesunds' Norwegian International Film Festival full list of awards

  • Ray of Sunshine to Magnus by Benjamin Ree, Norway (Norsk Dilm Distribusjon) 
  • Audience award to Perfect Strangers, Italy (Fidalgo) 
  • Andreas Award to Agnus Dei, France (Tour de Force) 
  • Norwegian Film Critics award to Toni Erdman, Germany (Arthaus) 
  • Fipresci award to The Day will Come, Denmark 
  • Next Generation award to I’ll Try Again, Sweden 
  • Best Pitch Project to Amundsen & Nobile, Norway 
  • Eurimages Lab Award to The Wind Blew On, Iceland.