Sales agents of Nordic films were in an up mood as the EFM (European Film Market) kicked off - (see our story CLICK HERE ) and post EFM, REinvent International’s Helene Aurø confirmed the positive market responses.

“We have had back-to-back meetings all week as if we had been present and a number of films have been picked up in different territories. Meetings started the week before Berlin and we can see that they will continue next week as well. As we have been promoting some high-end films from SF Studios - Margrete-Queen of the North, The Emigrants, Omerta 6/12, The Pact and our series Snow Angels and Outlier, we did have high expectations, but with the present situation we never know. Our promo screening and market screenings went well with a good attendance.”

Here is a summary of the main deals announced during this week’s EFM by the main trade publications Variety, Screendaily and directly by the sales agents.

TrustNordisk

• Riders of Justice by Anders Thomas Jensen (DK) was just sold to Canada (Mongrel Media), Spain (La Aventura), Italy (Koch Media Italy), China (Virtual Cinema), Greece/Cyprus (Rosebud) and Korea (Watcha). More than 30 territories have now acquired the Zentropa production including the US (Magnet Releasing).
  
• A Taste of Hunger by Christoffer Boe (DK) was sold to France (Kinovista), Poland (Hagi Film), on top of more than 30 territories closed earlier including the US (Magnolia), Germany (Koch Films).
• Betrayed by Eirik Svensson (NO) was sold to the US (Samuel Goldwyn Films), the UK/Ireland (Signature Entertainment) and Brazil (Synapse Distribution), on top of earlier deals with a dozen territories including France (Mediawan).
• Speak No Evil by Christian Tafdrup (DK) was pre-sold to Benelux (September Film), Hungary (ADS Service) and New Zealand (The Reset Collective).
• The North Sea by John Andreas Andersen (NO) was pre-sold to German, Austria, Switzerland (Koch Films), France (Mediawan), Benelux (Just Licensing), Italy (Minerva Pictures Group), Spain (Mediaset), Russia and the Baltics (VLG.FILM), and Latin America (California Filmes).
  

REinvent International Sales

• Omerta 6/12 by Aku Louhimies (FI) starring Jasper Pääkkönen, Nanna Blondell and Sverrir Gudnason was pre-sold to Spain (A Contracorriente).
• Margrete - Queen of the North by Charlotte Sieling (DK) starring Trine Dyrholm was pre-sold to Spain (Artmood), on top of Germany (Splendid).
  
• The Emigrants by Erik Poppe (SE) starring Lisa Carlehed, Gustaf Skarsgård, Sofia Helin was pre-sold to Hungary (Vertigo Media) and Former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom Film).
• The Pact by Bille August (DK) was pre-sold to Former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom Film).
• The Other Side by Oskar Melander and Tord Danielsson (SE) was sold to the US (Magnolia Pictures), on top of Spain (A Contracorriente Films), Poland (Best Film), Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia (Vertigo Media). Earlier deals were closed with a dozen territories such as Italy (Bim), France (FIP), C.I.S (Exponenta), and German-speaking countries (Splendid).
• the Berlinale Series Snow Angels (SE/DK) was sold to Germany (ARD Degeto) and three other series were picked up by Korea’s home Choice (the Nordisk Film & TV Fond prize-nominated Happily Never After (IS), Danish short formats Cold Hawaii and Sex.

LevelK

• the animated film Checkered Ninja 2 by Anders Matthesen and Thorbjørn Christoffersen (DK) was pre-sold to Koba Films for France, Splendid for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Cinemaran for Spain and Colombia.

MK2

• The Worst Person in the World by Joachim Trier (NO) was pre-sold to France (Memento), Benelux (Cineart), Russia (Russian World Vision), Poland (M2 Films), Former Yugoslavia (Mega Com Film) and The Baltics (Kino Pavasaris).

Versatile

• Pleasure by debut director Ninja Thyberg (SE), was sold to France (The Jokers), Germany and Austria (Weltkino), Spain (Karma Films), Switzerland (Xenix), Canada (MK2 Mile End), Poland (Mayfly), South Korea (KTH) and Taiwan (Moviecloud). Earlier deals was sealed with A24 for the US and Mubi for the UK, Italy and Turkey.
  

Constellation Film

• The Twin by Taneli Mustonen (FI) which won Best Pitch at the last Finnish Film Affair was pre-sold to VOD genre specialist Shudder for the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Films that were supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond include A Taste of Hunger, Betrayed, Checkered Ninja 2, Margrete-Queen of the North, Pleasure, Riders of Justice, The Emigrants, The Pact, The North Sea, The Worst Person in the World.

List of awards given out during the Berlinale

European Co-Production Market

• The Eurimages Co-Production Development Award worth €20,000 to the project The Oblivion Theory by Annemarie Jacir (France/Germany).
• The VFF Talent Highlight Award worth €10,000 Euros to the project Tropical Gothic by Isabel Sandoval (US)
• The ARTE Kino International Award worth €6,000 to the project Who Killed Narciso by Marcelo Martinessi (Paraguay).
• The Best Pitch from Co-Pro Series event went to Hungary’s Balaton Brigade by creators Gábor Krigler, Balázs Lengyel and Balázs Lovas, to be directed by Ildikó Enyedi (On Body and Soul).

Generation

• Grand Prix-Best Film Kplus to Summer Blur by Han Shuai (People’s Republic of China)
• Special Mention to A School in Cerro Hueso by Betania Cappato (Argentina)
• Grand Prix 14plus to The Fam by Fred Bailiff (Switzerland)
• Special Mention to Cryptozoo by Dash Shaw (US)
• Golden Bear Best Short Film to My Uncle Tudor by Olga Lucovnicova (Belgium/Portugal/Hungary)
• Silber Bear Jury Prize (Short Film) to Day is Done by Zhang Dalei (People’s Republic of China)

Berlin Short Film Candidate European Film Awards

• Easter Eggs by Nicolas Keppens (Belgium/France/Netherlands)