Nordic Trio To Watch

May el Toukhy, director
Graduate from the National Film School of Denmark.
Background: The 32 year-old el Toukhy was born from a Danish mother and Egyptian father. She discovered her interest for film at the age of 15, when asked to work on a film project at school. She first enrolled at the Danish National School of Theatre, then aged 28, at the National Film School of Denmark. Her theatre training developed in her a passion for working with actors. El Toukhy wants to make films that are focused on characters and relationships. Interested in make-believe, illusions.
Role models: Lars von Trier, Lukas Moodysson
Project pitched: CAIRO
Produced by Claudia Siesbye
Cairo is the story of a young Danish woman raised by a Middle Eastern dad, and a Danish mom. Her father has struggled all his life to integrate her and her restless little brother to become proper Danish citizens, but he has neglected his Muslim heritage. Cairo tells the story of a search for what a family left behind, filling out a void and finding ones identity.

Rúnar Rúnarsson, writer/director
Graduate from the National Film School of Denmark.
Background: The 32 year-old Icelandic born Rúnarsson is new graduate but an ‘old' name on the short film festival circuit with an exceptional record of prestigious international awards. His three short films, part of what he defined as the ‘crossroads' trilogy, have all participated in some of the biggest film festivals in the world. His first short film shot on 35mm, The Last Farm, was Oscar nominated in 2006 for Best Live Action Short Film; his second film Two Birds (2008) went on winning over 50 awards, including the Prix UIP in Edinburgh and the Edda (Icelandic Oscar) for Best Short Film. Anna, the third part of his trilogy and graduation film, was selected for the Directors Fortnight in Cannes 2009.  Rúnarsson is interested in characters at a crossroads of their lives.
Project pitched: VOLCANO
Thor (67) is retiring from his job as a janitor. His two grown-up children, Ari (38) and Telma (43) don't relate to their father at all and avoid unnecessary contact with him. Their children are afraid of Thor and he is afraid of them. Anna (62), Thors' wife, is a loving, caring mother and grandmother. The glue that holds the family together. Behind the cold emotional front Thor is like a volcano, about to burst. Volcano is a coming of age story of a 67 years old man, and how three generations deal with the past, the present and the future.

Kristoffer Kiørboe, director
Graduate from the National Film School of Denmark.
Background: The 30 year-old Kiørboe has a Danish and Hispanic background. At the age of 24, he directed his first documentary film in Argentina, Hjertetoner, about Argentinean folk music. In 2005, he made the short documentary film Torero (2005) about a bullfighter and his father, then the short drama Landskaber (2008). His graduation documentary film Northern Lights (Nordlys) tells of two brothers who go on a journey together in search of the intimacy they no longer possess.
Role models: Theo Angelopoulos, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Terrence Malick.
Project pitched: ANGEL
The documentary film tells of the 16 year-old bullfighter Ángel Jiménez who pursues the dream of becoming the next great Matador. Kiørboe has already been researching and filming for over two years.