Ruben Östlund, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, among Fund recipients
19 NOVEMBER 2019
Nordisk Film & TV Fond has granted support to five feature films and one TV series in its October round of support.
Feature films
Triangle of Sadness Grant: NOK 3.5 million Recipient: Plattform Production
Producer: Erik Hemmendorff Writer/director: Ruben Östlund Domestic distribution: SF Studios World sales: The Coproduction Office Expected premiere: 2021
Story: The contemporary satire takes off in the glamorous world of fashion, continues on a luxury yacht and ends on a desert island, where hierarchies are turned upside down.
Östlund’s first English language film is produced by Plattform Production, in co-production with Philippe Bober’s Essential Film Production in Germany and Société Parisienne de Production in France, Film i Väst, SVT, Arte/ZDF, with support from the Swedish Film Institute.
The Dragon Girl (Dragejenta) Grant: NOK 2.5 million Recipient: Storm Film, Norway
Producer: Frederick P.N. Howard, Lars A. Hellebust Writers: Lars Gudmestad, Harald Rosenløw Eeg Director: Katarina Launing Domestic distribution: Nordisk Film Expected premiere: fall 2020 Story: The adventure family film tells the story of Gina (10) who lives by the motto ‘never be seen-never get to know anybody!’ When she meets a small dragon – a real one - she soon discovers that a fire-breathing dragon is not the easiest friend to have.
The film directed by Launing (Battle), is based on an original story from seasoned writing duo Gudmestad (Zombielars, Captain Sabertooth and the Treasure of Lama Rama) and Eeg (Valley of Knights-Mira’s Magical Christmas, The Wave). Filming is set to start in January 2020. The film is co-produced by the Czech Republic’s Evolution Film and Dutch company Volya Films, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute.
Riders of Justice(Retfærdighedens ryttere) Grant: 2.5 million
Recipient: Zentropa Producer: Sisse Graum Jørgensen
Writer/director: Anders Thomas Jensen Domestic distribution: Nordisk Film
Full details will be announced soon.
Kill the Poet (Drepum skáldid) Grant: NOK 1.8 million Recipient: Spellbound Production, Iceland Producer: Gudrun Edda Thorhannesdóttir Writer: Jón Óttar Ragnarsson Director: Fridrik Thor Fridriksson Domestic distribution: Sena
Story: Iceland's greatest - and poorest - young poet and a female painter from one of Reykjavík's wealthiest families begins an epic, star-crossed love affair during World War II, at a time when artists were being blacklisted by Communist witch-hunts. The film takes place between Reykjavík and New York. The film is based on the true ‘Romeo and Juliet’ love story between Icelandic great poet Steinn Steinarr [1908-1958] and painter Louisa Matthíasdóttir.
After a 10-year gap from feature film directing, Iceland’s grand master Fridriksson will return behind the camera for this dream project that combines his love for Icelandic abstract expressionism and passion for Steinn Steinarr poetry.
Ninjababy
(Fallteknikk) Grant: NOK 500,000 Recipient: Motlys Producer: Yngve Sæther
Writer: Johan Fasting
Director: Yngvild Sve Flikke
Key cast: Kristine Thorp, Arthur Berning, Nader Khademi Domestic distribution: Arthaus World sales: TrustNordisk Expected premiere: September 2020
Story: The quirky dramedy which mixes live-action and animation, is based on Inga H. Sætre’s graphic novel Falltknikk (The Art of Falling). It’s the story of Rakel (23), who finds out she’s six months pregnant after a one-night stand. Her boyfriend (who’s not the father) is ok with her having a baby, but Rakel is not ready for motherhood and thinks of adoption as a way out. That’s when Ninjababy, an animated character who insists on making Rakel’s everyday life a living hell, turns up. Inga H Sætre will handle the animation, in collaboration with Oscar-winning Mikrofilm (The Danish Poet).
TV series
Cargo (Rahti) Format: 8x55’ Grant: NOK 1.8 million
Recipient: Fremantle Finland Producer: Kirsi Hatara
Writers: Matti Kunnunen (head-writer), Tarja Kylmä, Johanna Hartikainen, Veikko Aaltonen
Director: Matti Kinnunen Commissioning broadcaster: Yle Global distribution: Fremantle Expected premiere: fall 2021 Story: Cargo is a social thriller that tells about international human trafficking. In a world ruled by greed, violence and abuse, there’s also hope, dreams and unyielding struggles for survival. The series was pre-sold to NRK, SVT, RÚV, DR, and received co-financing from Business Finland.
Distribution Support
NOK 130,000 to Camera Film, Denmark, for the release of the Norwegian documentary The Men’s Room
NOK75,000 to Myndform, Iceland for the release of the Danish animated film Up & Away
Dubbing support
NOK 100,000 to Myndform, Iceland for the dubbing of the Danish animated film Up & Away
NOK 350,000 to Scanbox for the dubbing of the Norwegian animated film Ella Bella Bingo