On the Nordic front, the development and distribution deal between SF Studios and Finland’s new production outfit Cinematic is an extension of the partners’ collaboration on Jokinen’s double film and TV series Omerta 6/12 and Omerta 7/12 due to start filming in the fall.

Cinematic’s two new feature projects are based on celebrated IPs.  

• When the Doves Disappeared to be produced by Jokinen, will be his second screen version of a Sofi Oksanen best-selling novel, after Purge, which he directed in 2012.   Adapted again for the screen by Marko Leino (Purge, Helene), When the Doves Disappeared is a story of occupation, resistance, and collaboration in Estonia during and after World War II when the boundaries and power structures of Europe changed dramatically. Oksanen traces those changes through the lives of one Estonian family. 
  
  The Nordic Council Literary Prize winner Oksanen said: “One theme in the novel circles around the production of fake news and sadly, that theme is very much a contemporary theme. Therefore, I'm happy to see that the story will find new audiences.”  The director for the film will be announced later this year.  
• Comet in Moominland currently in production, is a remake of the 1992 animated film by Hiroshi Saito, adapted from the celebrated Finnish author/illustrator Tove Jansson. The new version created for 4K cinema standards, is co-produced by Kindernet Entertainment’s Tim Livson (son of Dennis Livson, who produced the 1992 classic), with Jokinen and Cinematic CEO Sara Norberg. The film will be released in the fall to coincide with Tove Jansson’s 75^th anniversary of Moomins. C More/MTV has acquired Finnish streaming and TV rights. 

Meanwhile SF Studios’ new English language project Don’t Move will be directed by rising Swedish director Alain Darborg , based on his original idea. The survival thriller will be his third project with the Scandinavia powerhouse after Viaplay’s crime drama Alex and Netflix’s first original Swedish film Red Dot. 

Don’t Move centres on medical student Ali who volunteers for the night shift at a Californian zoo. After a rescue mission goes awry, she finds herself trapped in the anaconda enclosure. 

SF Studios’s SVP International Production Fredrik Wikström Nicastro said: “Part of SF Studios’ international remit is to work with emerging and established Scandinavian talent, and give them the opportunity to work on bigger international projects, so working with the hot new Swedish director Alain Darborg on Don’t Move, an edgy, smart genre movie, is a perfect example of that.” The film is due to start shooting late 2020. 

SF Studio’s push into English language fare will be consolidated with the hiring of two new senior executives based at the company’s London outpost: Sudie Smyth, VP Production UK & International has worked most recently as completion guarantor on films such as Wild Rose and Teen Spirit. Earlier she was Head of Production at Pinewood Pictures. Indy Datta, VP Legal and Business Affairs UK & International is an experienced entertainment lawyer. He has joined SF Studios from Buccaneer Media, where he worked on TV series such as Hans Rosenfeldt’s Marcella. Both will report to Wikström Nicastro.   

Upcoming SF Studios English language film Horizon Line directed by Mikael Marcimain stars Allison Williams and Alexander Dreymon. SF Studios will release it in the Nordics and STX Entertainment in the US and the UK, with STX International handling sales.

At Berlin’s European Film Market-Scandinavian Stand, SF Studios’ Nordic films and TV drama slate is represented by REInvent Studios.

Two major Danish feature films available for pre-sales: Charlotte Sieling's Margrete-Queen of the North starring Trine Dyrholm and Bille August's The Pact, were also introduced at yesterday's press meeting in Berlin. Both are produced by SF Studios Danish production arm.