The Heavy Water War (Kampen om tungtvannet) directed by Per Olav Sørensen (The Half Brother) from a script by Petter Rosenlund was awarded NOK 3 million (for a total of 3,350,000 with development support). The plot centres on Germany’s secret nuclear weapon project during WW2 and the allies’ struggle to prevent Hitler from getting his hands on the atomic bomb. The first TV drama from film mogul John M. Jacobsen (Max Manus) is co-produced by Denmark’s Sebasto Film and the UK’s Headline Pictures in collaboration with NRK and SF Film. Filming will start in Prague on October 28 and will move to Norway after Christmas. Casting will be announced in October.
The Team (working title) written by Emmy-award winning duo Peter Thorsboe and Mai Brostrøm was granted NOK 2.5 million. The crime series directed by Kathrine Windfeld (pictured) follows a European joint investigation team as they try to solve a case of related murders on women. Nordisk Film Production is co-producing with Network Movie, Lumiere and Lunanime, Super Films in cooperation with broadcasters ZDF, SVT, DR, ORF and SFR.
Michael Madsen’s documentary Cathedrals of Culture-Halden Prison produced by Denmark’s Final Cut, was awarded NOK 350,000. The project is among six international documentaries in 3D and 2D about the soul of buildings. Madsen is joined by directors Robert Redford, Michael Glawogger, Karim Ainouz, Wim Wenders and James Marsh.
The Swedish documentary Love Me and Let Me Go directed by Polish documentary specialist Jerzy Sladkowski for Ginestra Film was granted NOK 450,000. Producer Antonio Russo Merenda describes it as “a five-sided love triangle spiced with autism, neurosis and life crises in Russian Nizhnjy Novgorod.”
Finally Håvard Bustnes’ Raging Grannies produced by Norway’s Faction Film was granted NOK 400,000. Two US grannies go on the road to meet people and question them on the sustainability of continued economic growth.