Fantefilm has evolved since 1997 from commercials to small budget genre films such as Cold Prey, Ragnarok, to epic disaster films The Wave, The Quake, adding along the way successful family franchises (Merry Christmas Mr Andersen, Forgotten Christmas).

Many of the local blockbusters were penned by seasoned writers Harald Rosenløw Eeg (The King’s Choice, The Wave) and Lars Gudmestad (Headhunters, Next Summer, Cold Prey 3), in-house writers since 2017.

Nordisk Film has long been associated to the company through an existing distribution deal for the Nordics and international sales - via TrustNordisk, a collaboration which will continue with the renewal of an output deal. Nordisk Film’s minority stake in Fantefilm is therefore a natural extension to their existing partnership. 

“Throughout the years, Nordisk Film has been an important part of us reaching our ambitious goals” explains Martin Sundland, producer and partner in Fantefilm. “Together we have crossed boundaries no one thought possible and together we will now journey onwards towards new, great productions. Joining forces with Nordisk Film and having Nordisk Film onboard as a minority owner means that we can further strengthen Fantefilm’s unique position of delivering first class, high-quality national and international appealing films and TV series. At the same time, Fantefilm will maintain its independence, DNA and ways of doing business. “

Kenneth Wiberg, president of Nordisk Film Distribution and vice-president of Nordisk Film added: “We have the ambition of being the leading creative powerhouse in the Nordics and this acquisition is another very important step in that journey.”

Nordisk Film has existing stakes in Norway’s Maipo Film, Denmark’s Zentropa Film, Drive Studios, Finland’s Solar Films, Sweden’s Stella Nova Film, with Avanti Film as subsidiary in Sweden, on top of distribution deals with companies including Sweden’s B-Reel Films (BRF) and Sweetwater Production. 

Fantefilm’s current slate includes The North Sea, new disaster film by The Quake director John Andreas Andersen, and the thriller Safe House by Margreth Olin.

The WW2 drama Betrayed (Den største forbrytelsen) starring Jakob Oftebro and Nikolai Cleve Broch was due to open domestically October 23, but the release has been delayed due to the Covid-19.

Sundland told nordicfilmandtvnews.com: “As everyone else, Fantefilm is strongly affected by the dramatic situation our country and the world is currently in. All our productions are affected by the Covid-19 situation on various levels. As everyone else, we are focusing on adapting to the situation and finding reliable solutions to keep up the progress on some of our films. Nevertheless, at this time I find it difficult to be specific on what these solutions entail. Together with the rest of the industry, we hope that the government will step up and provide a good financial aid package for the film industry.”

Kenneth Wiberg on Fantefilm and distribution under Covid-19 
How do you see the collaboration with Fantefilm evolve in the future?
KW: We are looking into extending the output of commercial movies and children franchises that work on a national, Nordic and international level. We’re looking into the possibility of making TV series with them as well. Fantefilm is a strong brand next to our other Norwegian partner company Maipo. Although we are stake-holders, we want our partner companies to develop on their own and create the best Nordic content for the Nordic region, with worldwide appeal.  

How is Nordisk Film Distribution impacted by Covid 19?
KW: As one of the biggest distribution companies in the Nordics, we are very hard hit.  We are in a position where normally we release movies every week in Scandinavia but now cinemas are closed. That has a huge impact on us and the producers that we’re working with.

We’re doing our best to try to plan our releases for when cinemas will open again.

We’re constantly monitoring how the US majors are moving their blockbusters to optimise the possibilities for our major local movies. It’s a puzzle, but essential for us to do the best for local movies. 

You’d rather wait for a space on theatrical than launch a film straight on VOD in these exceptional circumstances?
KW: Yes. We are of course big supporters of cinemas and the theatrical window. It makes sense for our content and talents. We have a true theatrical line up. But what is great is to see the uptake of home entertainment. We can see that many platforms are opening up to EST [Electronic Sell Thru], not only TVOD or premium solutions. This is very encouraging. Once we’ll be on the side other of Covid-19, hopefully we’ll have a strong theatrical market and an even stronger home entertainment market than before.