Two visually strong Nordic films - the black and white debut of Juho Kuosmanen, The Happiest Day of the Life of Olli Mäki backed by Nordisk Film & TV Fond and Neon Demon by Nicolas Winding Refn are among 49 feature length films selected for the Cannes Film Festival.

Finnish director Kuosmanen makes his debut at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, six years after winning the first prize at Cinéfondation with The Painting Sellers. The same year - 2010 - he attended Nordic Talents in Copenhagen and we selected him as a Nordic Talent to Watch (see news story - click here).

Shot in 16mm  in black and white by cinematographer J-P Passi, The Happiest Day... is inspired by true events. It tells the story of Olli Mäki (Jarkko Lahti) who has a chance to become world champion in feather weight boxing. Everything is prepared for his fame and fortune. All he has to do is lose weight and concentrate. But there is a problem – he has fallen in love.

The film was produced by Aamu Filmcompany in co-production with Sweden’s Tre Vänner and Germany’s One Two Films. B-Plan will release it in Finland on September 2 and 41 Shadows has Danish distribution rights. World sales are handled by Les Films du Losange.

Petri Kemppinen, Head of Nordisk Film & TV Fond said: “It is great to have backed such a talent and even nicer to know that after Cannes the film will be available to Nordic audiences as well."

With Neon Demon, Danish genre specialist Nicolas Winding Refn comes back for the third time in official competition after Only God Forgives (2013) and Drive, winner of Best Director (2011). His new English language drama focuses on aspiring model Jesse (Elle Fanning) who moves to Los Angeles. Her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has. Other star actors include Jena Malone and Keanu Reeves. The film is produced by Lene Børglum (Space Rocket Nation). The film will open in Denmark on June 9, via Scanbox that holds Scandinavian rights.

Wild Bunch and Gaumont that share world sales have already concluded numerous deals with territories including Germany (Koch Media), the UK (Icon), Italy (IIF), Benelux (Cineart). Amazon Studios is planning a US theatrical release this summer. 

Sweden is also strongly represented in official section with two short films selected among 10 entries. As many as 5008 international short films were submitted.
Simon Vahne’s Fight on a Swedish Beach was produced by Plattform Produktion, and the Swedish/Colombian film Madre by Simón Mesa Soto was produced by Momento as part of the ‘Break the Silence’ initiative to combat sexual abuse of children.

The 69th Cannes Film Festival runs May 11-22. The main sidebars Critics’ Week will announce its selection on Monday and the Directors Fortnight on Tuesday.