Last & First Men directed by the late Oscar nominated Icelandic composer Jóhannsson (Sicario), was initially a touring multimedia project narrated by Tilda Swinton, that screened in concert halls to accompany the artist’s live orchestral score. Based on the book Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon, the visionary elegy blending documentary filmmaking and sci-fi, explores zones of decay and ruin where great tragedies have occurred.

Jóhannsson’s visual and musical odyssey was filmed by Norwegian cinematographer Sturla Brandth Grøvlen (RAMS, Before the Frost) who shares the production credit with Jóhannsson and ZikZak Filmwork’s co-founder Thor S. Sigurjónsson.

Meanwhile the Danish short format Sex directed by Amalie Næsby Fick (The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear) is one of eight international series set to screen at the Berlin Zoo Palast from February 24-27.

The 6x12’ web show is based on a script by Clara Mendes, a student at the National Film School of Denmark set to graduate in 2021. It explores how to navigate the balance between the security of love and the chaos of desire when you are in your 20s. In the leading roles are Asta August (The New Nurses) and Jonathan Bergholdt.

The series was produced by Profile Pictures with support from the Danish Film Institute. It will premiere on TV2 Play February 6. REInvent Studios handles world distribution.

Two other Nordic series have been selected for Berlin’s exclusive pitch event Co-Pro Series:

• the Icelandic show Signals (9x45’) produced by Sagafilm for Channel 2, won the Best Pitch award at the recent London Drama Summit. The series follows police officer Magnea as she investigates a series of terrorist acts and cyber-attacks. At the same time, her girlfriend and journalist Salka is digging into the same story but in a different way. Both cannot compare their information nor discuss the case. Signals is directed by Óskar Jónasson (Remote Control), who co-wrote it with Margrét Örnófsdóttir (Flatey Enigma), Johann Aevar Grímsson (Stella Blómkvist), and poet/lyricist Sjón (Lamb). -
• the Norwegian sci-fi series Dome 16 (Kuppel 16) is written by ZombieLars creator Thomas Seeberg Torjussen. Tordenfilm is producing for NRK Super.

Finally the Norwegian feature project Let the River Flow directed by Ole Giæver for Mer Film will be pitched at Berlin’s 17^th Co-production Market (February 22-26).

The full programme of the 70^th Berlinale is yet to be announced.