Theresienstadt Requiem, the new ambitious NOK65m WW2 drama produced by John M. Jacobsen (photo, Max Manus) and the NRK TV series The Half Brother based on Lars Saabye Christensen's award-winning novel is among ten new film and TV projects that received a total of NOK98 million production support from the Norwegian Film Institute.
Filmkameratene's NOK65million project Theresienstadt Requiem will focus on the true story of Czech conductor Raphael Schächter who staged several times Verdi's Requiem in the Czech ghetto of Theresienstadt from 1943-1944. The story will be told from the point of view of a 12-year old Danish boy. Vibeke Idsøe (The Body Troopers) will direct.
The NOK60 million TV series The Half Brother is a family saga spanning across four generations. The 8x45'series by Per Olav Sørensen is produced by Monster Film, with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Two other NRK TV dramas were supported: the comedy series Lilyhammer starring Soprano star Steven van Zandt and Hellfjord, the first foray into television by spoof horror specialist Tommy Wirkola.
Among the other key projects that received NFI support are Sara Johnsen's new film Det viktigste er forbi. The crime mystery/romantic film produced by 4½ will start filming this autumn. Nils Gaup will direct the Christmas family film Reisen til julestjernen late 2011-early 2012 for Moskus Film AS and Storm Rosenberg AS. The project based on a celebrated Norwegian play from 1924, will be Walt Disney Company Nordic's first Norwegian theatrical release. Nokas director Erik Skjoldbjærg will start this summer the conspiracy thriller Pioner from an original idea by Swedish writer Hans Gunnarson (Arn). Friland Film is producing. After the critically-acclaimed kids movie Liverpool Goalie, Arild Andresen will direct for Motlys Kompany Orheim, the third screen adaptation of Tore Renberg's novels about Jarne Klepp.
For the full list of projects, check: http://www.nfi.no/