Iceland’s Summerlight and then Comes the Night among Les Arcs’ works in progress

The Nordic projects are among 17 top European films selected for the 12^th Les Arcs Industry Village works in progress, to be presented online between January 20-22 to industry participants.

The anticipated Icelandic film Summerlight and then Comes the Night is the second feature by Elfar Adalsteins (End of Sentence), based on the acclaimed eponymous novel by Jón Kalman Stefánsson. 

The director described the film earlier as an ensemble piece, “woven by bittersweet anecdotes of people fighting ordinary everyday battles in an extraordinary community, on the verge of social sustainability.”

Heather Millard, one of the producers with Adalsteins, Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, says shooting of the winter scenes are locked and the project is in advanced editing stage. The film has already attracted strong interest by sales companies following its earlier presentation at the Venice Gap Financing Market.

"At Les Arcs’ WIP, we will show a selection of scenes, a combination of interiors and exteriors, and a mixture of intriguing, light humour and dramatic moments from the film" said Millard who looks forward to hearing the feedback from professionals.

The film was produced by Iceland’s Berserk Films, in co-production with Pegasus Pictures, Belgium’s Polar Bear and Sweden’s Vilda Bomben Film, with support among others from Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Scanbox Entertainment holds Scandinavian rights and Sena Icelandic rights.

Two Swedish projects by debut directors will also be looking for sales agents at les Arcs's pitching event:

• Clara Sola by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén is produced by Hobab (Sweden), Laidak Films (France, Germany), Need Productions (Belgium), Pacifica Grey (Costa Rica), and Resolve Media (USA). The director’s short film Asunder was selected at Telluride 2016 and Entre tu y Milagros which she co-wrote, won Best Short Film at Venice’s Orizzonti 2020.
  
  Shot in the mountain village of Vara Blanca in Costa Rica, the film is a late coming-of-age drama with elements of magical realism, about a woman (36) who takes off on a journey to break free from social and religious convention and becomes the master of her sexuality and newfound powers.

• The Scars of Ali Boulala directed by Max Eriksson is produced by Sisyfos Film Production Ab (Sweden), and Folk Film (Norway). The documentary film follows the world-famous skateboarder Ali Boulala, who struggles to overcome his emotional demons, following a tragic motorcycle accident in which his best friend was killed. Producer Mario Adamson of Sisyfos Film production said he is looking to raise the final 20% of the financing for the film, set to be delivered in February. The film will compete for the €50,000 Eurimages Lab project Award.

For further information, check: www.lesarcs-filmfest.com