Children And Women First At NFI

At last week's annual Film Policy meeting in Tromsö, Nina Refseth, (photo) head of the Norwegian Film Institute said that her priorities for 2009 would be to stimulate the production of children and youth film and women representation in key film positions.

2008 will be remembered as a record year for Norwegian films with a 22.5% domestic market share and two local titles among the five top grossing films: Max Manus and Kautokeino Rebellion. However among the 24 films released, only two were children and youth films: SOS, Summer of Suspense and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond supported Kurt Turns Evil. Those two titles didn't make it in the Top 20 whereas in 2007, four children and youth films were in the 20 biggest grosser and accounted for 33% of all audiences.

This year, four films for children will be released. The franchise film Olsenbanden jr og det sorte gullet (The Junior Olsen Gang and the Black Gold) produced by Nordisk Film will open on January 30, but Norwegian kids will have to wait until the end of 2009 to see the 3D animation Pelle politibil går i vannet (Neofilm), and the two literary adaptations Julenatt i Blåfjell (Storm Rosenberg AS) and Knerten (Paradox Film).

"It's time to bring in new thinking in children's film," said Refseth.

Some of the new measures put forward by the NFI CEO include a greater collaboration with other film and TV partners, and within the Nordic region. One of the NFI feature film consultants will also dedicate a minimum of 70% of its budget to children and youth films.

To restore gender equality in film, NFI consultants have been asked to pay greater attention to first feature films directed by women. The overall objective is to bring the current level of 25% of women in key film positions, closer to the level set by the government for 2010: 40% of both genders in production, directing and scriptwriting.