Despite the slim representation of Nordic films in the festival programme and the prospects of a tougher market, set in one of the worst economic context in decades, Nordic sales executives are keeping their spirits up, only a few days before from business kick off at the Scandinavian Terrace, 55 La Croisette. "Although we are in the middle of a worldwide financial crisis, there is always a need for good films, perhaps more than ever before. Therefore we are very optimistic and counting on good sales in Cannes," commented Rikke Ennis, TrustNordisk CEO.
With Lars von Trier's Antichrist in official competition, TrustNordisk's sales team will have no problem getting plenty of foot traffic at its desk. The film is already pre-sold to some 30 territories, but a few sales are still open, including the US. The company will also introduce to selected buyers Tarek Saleh's highly anticipated Swedish animation film for adults Metropia. The Swedish comedy The Swimsuit Issue by Måns Herngren will have a market premiere as well as the US remake of the Danish hit Love at First Hiccup. TrustNordisk will also screen the Danish short film Lars & Peter by Daniel Borgman, running in official competition.
As announced in the previous newsletter, Nonstop Sales headed by Michael Werner, has thickened its line-up with five new pick ups. Magic Silver -still in production- is a Norwegian family adventure co-directed by Roar Uthaug (Cold Prey) and Katarina Launing. The film based on the popular Norwegian TV series Blånisse prinsesse Fjellrose is produced by Jørgen Storm Rosenberg. Leningrad is a WWII drama by Alexander Buravsky starring Mira Sorvino and Gabriel Byrne. Other films screening include the Norwegian film The Storm in My Heart (Jernanger), the Indian thriller The Forest, Finland's Forbidden Fruit and Iceland's Reykjavik Rotterdam.
SF International will be premiering the Swedish drama In Your Veins starring Malin Crepin (New Rising Star L'Oreal/Stockholm Film Festival 2009). Ann-Kristin Westerberg, head of the international department, will also start discussions on three films in production: Detour, a Norwegian horror film by Severin Eskeland, Among Us (Änglavakt) by Johan Brisinger and Starring Maja (Prinsessa) by Teresa Fabik.
Among the non-Nordic sales companies selling Nordic films, Marathon/Zodiak Entertainment will launch at the market the Swedish record breaking Millennium film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The whole cast and crew will be on the Croisette, as part of the film's promotion in France (French release through UGC on May 13).
Bavaria Film International will premiere at the market the Danish thriller Deliver Us from Evil, Delphis Films will premiere the Norwegian family film Orps-The Movie, TF1 International will premiere Arild Frölich's Norwegian hit Fatso and Wide Management will premiere Sweden's Burrowing and Finland's Tears of April.
The Finnish Film Foundation will represent Letters to Father Jacob by Klaus Härö and One Foot Under by Johanna Vuoksenmaa.
"The pandemic threat alert is at level 5 in France, but the risk of raising it to level 6 seems to go away. We are still extremely vigilant and pay careful attention to all information given by the health authorities."
Head of the Marché du Film in Cannes, speaking yesterday to nordiskfilmogtvfond.com about Swine Flu.