Although launched at the worst time possible, in March 2020, during the first wave of Covid-19, Copenhagen-based Scandinavian Film Distribution (SFD) can easily claim ‘mission accomplished’, regarding the range and quality of the films handpicked for its first ever distribution slate and collaborations initiated directly with Nordic producers.

“It’s been challenging to close deals with people that we couldn’t meet face to face, but we did it!” said the company’s CEO Michael Fleischer, former managing director of SF Studios Denmark, who co-founded SFD with Head of Creative and seasoned producer Kim Magnusson and Executive Chairman Christian Bévort, formerly at Metronome Film & TV.

Speaking to nordicfilmandtvnews.com, both Fleischer and Bévort underlined the uniqueness of SFD that have enabled them to carve a space for their company on the traditional Nordic distribution space, despite Covid-19 and the US streaming war just stepping up.

For Bévort, the company’s 100% focus on Nordic films clearly sets them apart from the pan-Nordic competitors SF Studios, Nordisk Film or Scanbox, that also handle major non-Nordic titles through output deals or acquisitions.

Secondly, the company’s business model which relies on its adjoining private fund ‘Scandinavian Film Funds’, allows them to provide both MGs or/and equity investment at an early stage, through direct negotiations with producers on 12-15 films a year. “So far, we have secured €12.5 million private money and expect to reach €15 million, which will be sufficient for the first three years,” said Bévort. “The first stage for our company is to secure cashflow to run the business, but after three years, we want to raise three times that amount to expand even more.“

Bévort said SFD typically invests around €400,000-500,000 in a film, with bigger MGs offered on a case-by-case to event movies, such as the Norwegian WW2 drama War Sailor produced by Mer Film. “It’s a fantastic epic drama, and we know that WW2 movies reach a large audience both in Norway, Denmark, and hopefully Sweden,” said Fleischer, who also stresses the importance of a production company’s pedigree to board a project.

“Besides Mer Film in Norway, we’ve signed a deal with Oslo Pictures on Kristoffer Borgli’s Sick of Myself. Oslo Pictures [behind Joachim Trier’s Cannes selected The Worst Person in the World] is a strong player in Norway; it makes sense to collaborate with them and hopefully build long-term relations,” continues Fleischer, who mentions that other Oslo Pictures films in development are part of SFD.

The third Norwegian pick-up is A Happy Day by Hisham Zaman (Letter to the King, Before Snowfall), produced by Turid Øversveen and Zaman. “Norway has received us very well. It has been a very positive experience,” notes Fleischer.

Regarding neighbouring Sweden, negotiations started slowly, but have now picked up according to the senior distributor who sees the largest Nordic territory as a market with great growth potential. The first Swedish pick-ups are the family film Mini Zlatan and Uncle Darling by Christian Lo and Miss Lyckad by Moa Gammel.

SFD has also acquired the upcoming Finnish title Hit Big by J-P Valkeapää (Dogs Don’t Wear Pants) and is in negotiation in Iceland, although Denmark, Norway and Sweden remain the company’s prime hunting ground, accounting for around 85% of potential ticket sales.

Looking ahead, Fleischer who sees streaming services as customers, rather than competitors, believes the US streaming war and possible escalating prices for local content, might eventually benefit everyone, as long as film institutes can fulfil their role as regulators of the market and gatekeepers of the local film environment.

Scandinavian Film Distribution line-up 2021-2022:

Denmark

  • The Seekers: A Night of Thrills (Forsvundet til Halloween)
    Directed by Philip Th. Pedersen. Produced by Copenhagen Bombay.
    Release: October 7, 2021
  • Landet
    Directed by Annette K. Olesen. Produced by Nimbus Film.
    Release: March 3, 2022
  • Borgsø Dynastiet
    Directed by Christian Lollike. Produced by Tales Inc Copenhagen
    Release: September 22, 2022
  • Superposition
    Directed by Karoline Lyngbye. Produced by Beofilm
    Release: fall 2022
  • Roselill & Stentrolden
    Directed by Karla Holmbäck. Produced by Dansk Tegnefilm
    Release: February 22, 2023

Norway

  • War Sailor (Krigsseileren)
    Directed by Gunnar Vikene. Produced by Mer Film
    Release: October 7, 2022
  • Sick of Myself (Syk Pike)
    Directed by Kristoffer Borgli
    Produced by Oslo Pictures
    Release: fall 2022
  • A Happy Day
    Directed by Hisham Zaman. Produced by Snowfall Cinema
    Release: fall 2022

Sweden

  • Mini-Zlatan and Uncle Darling (Lill-Zlatan och morbror raring)
    Directed by Christian Lo. Produced by Snowcloud Film
    Release: fall 2022
  • Miss Lyckad
    Directed by Moa Gammel. Produced by Flodell Film/Drama Svecia
    Release: spring 2023

Finland

  • Hit Big
    Directed by Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää. Produced by Komeetta
    Release: fall 2022