The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) has just announced the main programme for its 48th edition unspooling June 28-July 6, 2013 and two Nordic films have been selected: Iceland’s feature film XL by Marteinn Thorsson (pictured) will be vying for the Crystal Globe in the main feature competition section and the Danish director Daniel Dencik will submit Moon Rider in the Documentary competition section.

Marteinn’s breakthrough came in 2004 the feature film One Point O co-written and directed by Jeff Renfroe which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. XL is his third feature film after Stormland, still travelling on the world festival tour. 

XL is the story of womanizer, heavy-drinking parliamentarian Leifur Sigurdarson (played by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) who is forced to go into rehab by his political rival and throws a big party before leaving. The film was produced by Tenderlee Motion Pictures Company and Stór og smá. The last Icelandic film that won a Crystal Globe in Karlovy Vary was Baltasar Kormákur’s Jar City (2007).

Daniel Dencik won the Reel Talent Award at CPH: DOX 2012. His feature debut Moon Rider which follows the struggles of young bike rider Rasmus Quaade to become a professional rider has attended six other festivals since late 2012. LevelK handles world sales.

Two films by Kurdish born Norwegian director Hisham Zaman (Before Snowfalls and Bawke) are screening as part of Karlovy Vary’s tribute to Kurdish cinema.

For further info check: www.kviff.com