MUBI Puts Nordic Films Up On The World Map

PRESS RELEASE, CANNES - Monday 21 May 2012.
Online film platform MUBI which is home to nearly 5 million film fans worldwide, is partnering with Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the agency which funds and promotes film and television production from the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, to launch a dedicated cinema of Scandinavian film to its audiences worldwide.

Scandi Sensations launched by MUBI and Nordisk Film & TV Fond in Cannes today, aims to celebrate and promote the availability of Scandinavian films to MUBI audiences worldwide. From this summer, film fans who have already been able to see and enjoy new and classic Scandinavia film titles on MUBI such as Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg's award-winning Festen, Lars Von Trier's Antichrist, Ingmar BerGman's Wild Strawberries, Aki Kaurismaki's Leningrad Cowboys Go America, Tomas Alfredson's Let The Right One In and Baltasar‘s Jar City, will be able to make new and exciting Nordic cinema discoveries.

Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg, in competition at Cannes with Jagten/The Hunt, attended the launch of the Scandi Sensations project hosted by MUBI and Nordisk.

In launching the partnership, Efe Cakarel, Founder and CEO of MUBI, says "We're huge fans of Nordic cinema at MUBI. Filmmakers such as Thomas Vinterberg have made such an impact on contemporary cinema, changing the way that we perceive film - we continue to be inspired by their talent and creativity in bringing innovative filmmaking to film lovers around the world."

MUBI is already in discussion with several rights holders regarding the new content, with Rikke Ennis, CEO at TrustNordisk confirming its commitment to the campaign: "We are very proud to be part of this Scandinavian initiative. I admire MUBI for their vision and expansive strategy. We look forward to introducing the best of our films on the MUBI platform," continues Cakarel. The curation process is expected to proceed over the following 4-6 weeks.

Hanne Palmquist, CEO of Nordisk Film & TV Fond, says, "I am extremely pleased that Nordisk Film & TV Fond and MUBI will be working together on Scandi Sensations. We want as many people as possible throughout the world to be able to see some of the very best Nordic titles and MUBI is the perfect partner for that mission."

MUBI carries around 1,000 carefully selected titles in each of the 177 countries around the world including award winning films, festival gems and classics, as well as the chance for film fans to get involved in passionate forums, exchanging views and opinions.

Just as Thomas Vinterberg created a cinema revolution in the mid-1990s by founding the Dogme film movement with Lars Von Trier, Kristian Levring and Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, so MUBI too is moving into new territory with filmmaking.

Earlier this week MUBI screened ASHES, the 20 minute short film made by director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, whose extraordinary vision as a filmmaker was rewarded the 2010 Cannes' Palme d'Or award. Not only is Ashes made by a remarkable filmmaker, in a revolutionary way on the Lomokino camera, but it also marks MUBI's first step into film production.

"This has been an exciting week for MUBI," says Cakarel, "because we continue to break new ground. Last year we were here as the online partner of the 50th anniversary of the Critics' Week and this year we have come back committed to bringing exciting world cinema to audiences but also as a production partner for the first time."