SF Studios expand into $20m English lingo films

SF Studios’ vision for the future was outlined during a press point in Cannes by the company’s CEO Michael Porseryd and other key executives, who highlighted past achievements and future goals.

“With Disney’s acquisition of Fox which used to deliver more than 12 movies a year, we see a gap in the market for English-language films in the $20m range; we want to seize this opportunity to be a bigger international player, using Scandi IP and talent", said Porseryd.

Fredrik Wikstöm Nicastro, SF Studios’ senior VP International Production cited SF Studios’ achievements in the 1920s when the venerable house was producing silent films across the globe, including France, the US and South America before refocusing on Scandinavia in the talkies. He said 
SF Studios’ goal is also to help boost the international careers of top talents like Alicia Vikander or director Daniel Espinosa, but provide a home for them to do English language films from Scandinavia. “If they go to Hollywood, that doesn’t benefit us,” stressed the head of international production. 

Wikstöm Nicastro said he would like to emulate the success stories of the Swedish music business or other major European production houses like Working Title or Studiocanal.  “My dream is that in 5-10 years, we will not only export projects and talents but initiate, attract projects and turn the Nordic region into a creative powerhouse,” he told nordicfilmandtvnews.com. For him, associating other Nordic producers to his vision is also a priority. “We want to be partners to Nordic producers who might have an idea, a project, an IP with international potential, but need a solid infrastructure to realise their ambition”, he added.

Horizon Line, SF Studios first English language film wrapped six weeks ago after filming in Mauritius, Ireland and at the UK’s Pinewood Studios.

Wikstöm Nicastro said STX International has closed worldwide sales on the film following its launch at Berlin’s European Film Market. Top European indie distributors that have acquired it include Metropolitan Filmexport in France, Lucky Red in Italy and Constantin Films in Germany. STX Films in the US which produces alongside SF Studios, plans a 2,000+ US release early 2020 with the international rollout set to follow right after, said Wikström Nicastro. 

Michael Marcimain’s action thriller scripted by Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken stars Allison Williams (Girls) and Alexander Dreymon (The Last Kingdom). The film tells of two old flames that find themselves in the same single-engine plane flying over the Indian Ocean to a mutual friend’s destination wedding. When the pilot suffers a heart attack, they must find a way to survive.

Speaking on the phone to nordicfilmandtvnews.com, top Swedish director Marcimain (Call Girl, Gentlemen, Liberty) said filming the VFX-driven film was a learning curve. “I’ve done mostly character-and political-driven projects. This action-thriller has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and gave me a chance to shoot on green screen and use actors in a different ways. Filming in Pinewood Studios and using their water tank for the first time and learning how to make stunts was really thrilling," said the director. 

Other upcoming English-language projects include Baltasar Kormákur’s I am Victor based on a novel by Jo Nesbø, and a US remake of the Swedish hit A Man Called Ove starring Tom Hanks who co-produces with his wife Rita Wilson. “Rita feels passionate about this project; we speak to her every week,” said Wikström Nicastro. Filming is expected to start in 2020.

During the press meeting in Cannes, SF Studios also presented the upcoming major Nordic production, Charlotte Sieling’s Margrete, Queen of the North produced by SF Studios Production Denmark. Managing Director Lars Bredo Rahbek said he looks forward to bringing to life this truly Nordic story. “By the end of Cannes, we hope to have raised at least 70% of the financing of the €8m film,” he said.  Seasoned director Sieling (Homeland, The Bridge) who was on hand, said she wants to bring a modern twist to the story of Queen Margrete I of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, using the modern conflict of a woman in power having to cope with motherhood. 

SF Studios’ Head of Production Sweden Annika Sucksdorff announced that the Scandinavian group has just picked up rights for Alex Schulman’s best-selling novel ‘Bränn alla mina brev’ published last year. An epic love story focusing on two years, 1932 and 1988, is revealed through letters and diaries, but also its tragic consequences.

SF Studios also announced that on the distribution side the group has signed a deal to represent Sony’s titles in the Nordics starting June 1^st. The Scandi group already handles Warner Bros and MGM films.

SF Studios has two films in official competition in Cannes: Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life which received 4 stars from reviewers at L.A.Times and French magazine Positif, Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (via Sony) as well as the Directors Fortnight's entry Dogs Don’t Wear Pants by Finnish director J.P. Valkeapää.