Since the launch in 2012 of Martin Lund’s The Almost Man, double winner at Karlovy Vary, Ape&Björn has established its name as a small indie outfit with flair for new talents, working across film and TV drama. 

Producer Ruben Thorkildsen who runs the company with Martin Lund said: “In feature film, we focus on projects with budgets ranging from NOK15-25m (€1.5-€2.5m). This is a sustainable model that allows us to have an upside if the film is a hit. Our main goal is to engage with audiences through great stories from visionary auteurs."

"On the TV side, we’re experiencing with different formats. So far, we’ve worked on short form [Lund’s successful Match and The Games produced for NRK] but in the near future we will expand into long-runners with an ambitious premium TV show from Home Ground concept director Arild Andresen,” told Thorkildsen to nordicfilmandtvnews.com. 

Ape&Björn’s immediate slate includes Lund’s film Psychobitch and Jannicke Systad Jacobsen’s The Domestique set to open in 2019, the co-production The Sunlit Night by David Wnendt (Wetlands), selected for Sundance’s Premieres section, the feature project Armand by upcoming director Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, pitched at Les Arcs Co-Production Market, and the comedy series Women & Wine by Liv Karin Dahlstrøm (Helium, Match). 

Inspired by Skam and Fucking Åmål, Psychobitch was just picked up by French sales agent Indie Sales.  The film is about teenagers’ pressure to succeed and an impossible love in the world of “Generation Perfect.” Marius (Jonas Tidemann), a middle school student, is tormented by the very thought of not being a success. When his teacher teams him up with Frida (Elli Müller Osborne), the outsider of the class, their study sessions become the catalyst for a turbulent relationship. Yet in his fights with Frida, Marius also experiences something exciting, challenging and completely new.

“We’re touring the country visiting 17 cities and previewing the film to young audiences. The response has been great,” notes Thorkildsen.

Psychobitch opens nationwide January 11, 2019 through Norsk Filmdustribusjon.

Partly shot in the Lofoten archipelago, The Sunlit Night, is a coming of age film by rising German director David Wnendt, co-produced by Germany’s Detail Film with Ape&Björn. The film follows American painter Frances (Jenny Slate) who forms an unlikely bond with Yasha (Alex Sharp), whilst the pair are in the Arctic Circle. Gillian Anderson co-stars alongside Zach Galifianakis, Fridtjof Såheim and Trond Høvik.  Top sales company Mister Smith Entertainment will represent the film at Sundance. 

The Domestique (Hjelperytteren) is the latest feature by Jannicke Systad Jacobsen, winner of Best Screenplay at Tribeca 2011 for Turn Me On, Goddamit. The dark comedy is a behind the scenes of a doping scandal in the cycling industry, inspired by a press conference held by a cyclist who served as domestique [a rider who works for the benefit of the team leader] for Lance Armstrong” explains Thorkildsen. 

Silje Salomonsen (Now It’s Dark) plays former cyclist Kim Karlsen (39) who is live on TV, holding a press conference to admit her extensive use of doping during her career. Rather than accepting the consequences of her actions, Kim sticks to her guns and refuses to alter her mind-set. Her approach doesn’t go well and it will be her annus horribilis. Co-stars include Espen Klouman Høner (Mammon, The Saboteurs), Kjersti Tveterås (The Lion Woman) and Agnes Kittelsen (Happy, Happy).

The film produced through the Norwegian Film Institute’s Nye Veier (‘New Ways’) scheme is currently in post-production.  Norsk Filmdistribusjon will release it in the fall 2019.  

Armand is the directorial debut of award-winning short filmmaker Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, grandson of Ingmar Bergman and Liv Ullmann. At a parent-teacher meeting, famous actress single mom Elisabeth is confronted with the accusation that her 6-year-old son has assaulted his best friend. The boys´mothers clash in a frantic battle to be believed. The project is set to go into production early 2020. 

Finally the comedy series Women & Wine (Kvinner & Cava (8x29’) commissioned by NRK, is set to start production in April 2019. Liv Karin Dahlstrøm (Helium, Match), is concept director and shares the writing credit with Thorkild Schrumpf.

Just like with Lund’s series Match, the TV show is an extension of a successful short film by the same creative team. “We use shorts a bit like TV pilots, to test the potential of a series,” says Thorkildsen. The comedy focuses on Merethe (47) who tries to deal with the empty nest syndrome and new life opportunities.