"It's the first time that a small Norwegian film sells so fast," said Willy Johansen, CEO of distribution company CCV A/S in Norway who co-financed the film against distribution rights for Scandinavia, and convinced producer Terje Strømstad (Yellow Bastard Productions) to push it for an international distribution. "The first day of the AFM, Imagination Worldwide closed a deal for Japan which is usually a difficult territory. Basically, all major territories have acquired the film except Italy."
Territories sold include France, Benelux, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, the Baltic countries, Thailand, Brazil, Israel, South Africa and Russia. "We worked hard all summer to prepare the film for its international distribution," continues Johansen who presented the film to US sales agent Pierre David (Imagination). "This kind of success is very rare, but it shows that some B movies can really work outside their home territory."
Johansen who was at the AFM chasing new product for Scandinavia acquired The Visitor, Tom McCarthy's follow up to The Station Agent, the small US independent film The Neighbor with Matthew Modine, as well as around 25 movies from Intermedia for DVD and television.
"I was uncertain about what I would find at the AFM. Focus Features and Capitol Films have big products, but their prices are crazy, from $400,000 upwards, for films that are not even suitable for theatrical distribution in Scandinavia. Their products are too expensive for our market, especially now that the theatrical market across the Nordic region is going down."
Johansen who acquires films for Oro Film (CCV's theatrical label in Norway) said that he will continue to concentrate on European films with a strong commercial potential such as Pan's Labyrinth.