NFI Backs Major European Co-productions

The Norwegian Film Institute has just awarded a total of NOK39.3m (€4.8m) to three major projects including Kon-Tiki by the directing duo of Max Manus Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, (photo), produced by Nordisk Film Production AS, with UK production mogul Jeremy Thomas.

Kon-Tiki's big budget (NOK83 million/€10.2m) will match the size of the adventure and achievement made in 1947 by Norway's legendary ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl. With five fellow scientists, he used a wooden raft (named Kon-Tiki) to make a 101-day journey from South America to the Polynesian Islands. Heyerdahl had been planning to bring the project to the silver screen for many years with the producer of The Last Emperor Jeremy Thomas, but then died in 2002. Thomas will act as co-producer on the feature film to be shot in Norwegian and in English. Petter Skavlan (Sophie's World) is writing the film adaptation. Aage Aaberge is producing with Lone Korslund for Nordisk Film. Filming will start in June and delivery date is set for autumn 2011. Hanway Film will handle world sales. The NFI awarded NOKK 18.5m (€2.2m) in production support and Nordisk Film & TV Fond granted development support.

Hodejegerne (‘Headhunters') is an action thriller set in the highflyer world of headhunters. The film directed by Morten Tyldum (Buddy) is based on the eponymous novel by Jo Nesbø. Friland Film was awarded NOK10.5m (€1.2m) from the NFI towards the film's NOK 16.1m (€3.2m) budget. Sweden's Yellow Bird is co-producing. Filming is scheduled to start in August and Nordisk Film will handle Scandinavian distribution.

Knerten i knipe is the third instalment of the film series based on the Knerten (Twigson) character from Anne Cath Vestly's popular children's books. The first film was one of Norway's biggest local hits in 2009 and screened at the last Generation section at the Berlinale. The second film Knerten gifter seg will open this autumn. This third film will start filming on May 3, with Arild Østin Ommundsen behind the camera. Paradox is producing the NOK20.7m project and Scanbox is the local distributor.