To shout out loud to UK audiences that ‘Nordic Noir’ is here to stay and continue to build on their DVD brand, UK distributor Arrow Films is launching this weekend in London ‘Nordicana (June 15-16) the first ever UK convention celebrating Scandinavian crime and thriller fiction and film.
Arrow Films’ Head of Marketing Jon Sadler explains Nordicana’s genesis: “we set up our Nordic Noir DVD label in 2011 and wanted to show that we’re here for the long term. To build on the brand, we decided to create live events. One of our most recent experiences was in Edinburgh, last February where we screened the final episode of Borgen Season 2 and actress Sidse Babett Knudsen did an on-stage Q&A. Due to popular demand we added several screenings and they were all sold out. We then decided to create a bigger festival around Nordic crime and partnered the literary network English Pen to create Nordicana, with support from various Scandinavian sponsors and the Danish Embassy in London.”
The two-day event will be hosting screenings of 12 films (including Love is All You Need, King of Devil’s Island, The Hunt and Easy Money) selected episodes of hit series Borgen, Arne Dahl, The Killing, The Bridge, Wallander and Anno 1790. Some of the series top talents, creators, crime writers and commentators from Scandinavia and the UK will be on hand. For instance Borgen’s talents Sidse Babett Knudsen and Lars Knutzon will give Q&As while creator Adam Price will be on stage with Ingolf Gabold (former DR Head of Drama) and other guests to debate ‘Dramatizing Politics. DR’s cult series The Killing will be discussed by actress Marie Askehave and David Hewson, UK author of an eponymous book based on the crime series. The screening of Arne Dahl’s Season One will be followed by a discussion with cast members Malin Arvidsson, Shanti Roney, Matias Varela, Claes Ljungmark and Magnus Samuelsson, hosted by Barry Forshaw, writer of ‘Nordic Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Film & TV’.
To make it a full Nordic sensorial experience, Nordicana will also serve Scandi food & drinks, stage live music from Katarina Gunnerholm, Hanna Jacobsson and Henrik, and sell Nordic noir merchandising, including the iconic Icelandic sweater worn by Sara Lund in The Killing.
Upcoming UK theatrical releases from Arrow Films include Northwest, Pioneer and Bekas and DVD/Blue-rays of Anno 1790 series, Borgen Season 3 and The Bridge Season 2.
For full details of Nordicana, check: www.nordicnoir.tv