Eurimages Lab Project top winner Him by Guro Bruusgaard and Special mention winner Jessica by Ninja Thyberg – both tackling gender issues and representation – were among several buzzed about films that sparkled interest at Haugesund’s four-day Nordic market that closed yesterday.

The exceptionally strong line-up of Eurimages Lab Project Award contenders, and other works in progress, was underscored by several attendees. Annick Mahnert, festival programmer and distributor (Screen Division) said she was “particularly pleased by this year’s tight quality selection,” and planned to follow up on 6-7 titles. Her praise was echoed by Swedish distributor Rose-Marie Strand (Folkets Bio) who welcomed the large array of attractive titles, from kids, youth-oriented, period drama, family drama, comedies, suspense films, animation to music documentary. Strand also cheered the new schedule of works in progress – gathered in one day instead of a day and a half-and “breathing” time-slots for meetings. Going through the entire works in progress line up, sales agent Rickard Olsson of Picture Tree International had positive words about the majority of Works in Progress films, from more traditional well-crafted features to edgy offers.

Regular Nordic film customer for Latin America, Fernandes Claiton of California Filmes, was pleased to view images of the genre film The Tunnel, pre-bought from TrustNordisk after Berlin. He said Nordic suspense movies like The Quake are particularly appealing to Latin American audiences.

Films screening at the market that attracted particular interest were festival selections including Beware of Children by Dag Johan Haugerud, Echo by Rúnar Rúnarsson, and New Nordic Films’ opening film and Nordic Council Film Prize entry A White, White Day.

Despite technical problems, the seminar ‘The Value Chain ‘focusing on the distribution of Queen of Hearts by May el-Toukhy was a good opportunity to hear foreign distributors explain their release strategies and market trends for Nordic films abroad. The session was co-organised by New Nordic Films and Europa Distribution.

FULL LIST OF WORKS IN PROGRESS:

  • a-ha-The Movie (NO) by Thomas Robsahm, produced by Motlys.
    Music documentary about Norwegian pop legendary band a-ha. 
    National release November 2020. Sales: First Hand Films. 
  • Astrup-Catching the Flame (NO) by Pål Øie, produced by Handmade Films in Norwegian Woods. Biopic about Norway’s great late 19th century painter Nikolai Astrup, played by Thure Lindhardt. National release October 4, 2019.
  • Breaking the Surface (SE) by Joachim Hedén, produced by Way Feature Films.
    Tense survival drama about Ida (Moa Gammel) desperately trying to save her half sister Tuva, (Madeleine Martin) stuck underwater after a diving incident.
    National release spring 2020 (Nordisk Film). Sales: TrustNordisk.
  • The Good Traitor (DK) by Christina Rosendahl, produced  by Nimbus Film.
    The drama set in 1939, is based on a true story. Ulrich Thomsen plays Danish ambassador in the US Henrik Kauffman, as he gambles his legacy, his family and the trust of his nation to fight the Nazi occupation. National release set for June 18, 2020 (SF Studios). Sales: SF Studios.
  • Helene (FI) by Antti J. Jokinen, produced by Finland Cinematic, Stella Film.
    Biopic about celebrated Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck and her love affair with a man 15 years younger. Key cast members include Laura Birn, Johannes Holopainen, Krista Kosonen.  
    National release set for 2020 (Nordisk Film).
  • @Chica Chile Norway (NO), directed by newcomer Ingvild Søderlind, produced by Miso Film Norway. Coming of age film targeting 13-16 years old about identity, love and hormones. The film is based on Navarro Skaranger’s debut novel Alle utlendinger har lukka gardiner.
    National release set for early 2020 (SF Studios).
  • Mugge and the Street Party (DK), co-directed by Mikael Wulff and Anders Morgenthaler, produced by Zentropa.
    Mugge’s entire world suddenly falls apart when his mother falls in love with crossfit trainer Pierre, breaking away from him and his father. National release September 26, 2019 (Nordisk Film).
    Sales: TrustNordisk.
  • The Crossing (NO) directed by Johanne Helgeland, produced by Maipo Film.
    WW2 epic family drama about young siblings Gerda and Otto who set on a mission to rescue two Jewish children. National release set for February 2020 (Nordisk Film). Sales: TrustNordisk.
  • Eden (FI) by newcomer Ulla Heikkilä, produced by Tekele.
    The coming-of-age drama is set in a Protestant confirmation summer camp.  The story is told through the eyes of four central characters. The director said it’s “about sex and friendship more than the Bible, but also about pressure to conform.” Cast includes Linnea Skog, Aamu Milonoff.
    National release set for July 2020 (Nordisk Film). 
  • Hope (NO) directed by Maria Sødahl, produced by Motlys. 
    Drama based on the director’s experience when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and her family’s difficulty to deal with the issue. It’s a story of illness which evolves into a love story,” said producer Thomas Robsahm. Stellan Skarsgård and Andrea Bræn Hovig have the title roles.
    National release set for November 22, 2019 (SF Studios). Sales: TrustNordisk.
  • The Tunnel (NO) by Pål Øie, produced by Nordisk Film.
    High-octane suspense thriller about a tank truck which collides in a tunnel , trapping families and tourists. National release set for December 25, 2019 (Nordisk Film).
    World sales handled by TrustNordisk.
  • The Garden (IS) by Ragnar Bragason, produced by Mystery Productions.
    Based on Bragason’s own acclaimed stage play, self-centered and racist Indíana Bjórnsdóttir and Halldóra Geirhardsdóttir. “The film is a tragedy disguised as a comedy”, said Bragason.
    National release set for January 2020 (Sena). 
  • The Attack in Copenhagen (DK), directed by Ole Christian Madsen, produced by Creative Alliance. First feature film about the terrorist attack at Copenhagen’s Krudttønden café and Synagogue in February 14, 2015. Cast members include Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lars Brygmann.
    National release set for March 2020 (SF Studios). Sales:  SF Studios. 
  • Lake of Death (NO) by Nini Bull Robsahm, produced by Motlys. 
    Horror film based on the André Bjerke’s classic 1942 novel. A group of youth reunited in an old cabin in the forest face gruesome events. Shot on 35mm, the film counts Oscar-winning US editor Bob Murawski (The Hurt Locker) and production designer Liv Ask (22 July). National release Halloween, 2019. Sales: TrustNordisk. 

Eurimages Lab Project Award film entries:

  • Inland (SE) by debut director Jon Blåhed, produced by Bd Film.
    A young woman from Stockholm moves to her boyfriend’s home in northern Sweden. She tries to adapt to her new environment despite having split up from the boyfriend. The director said he wants to experiment with the notion of time and seasonal changes. National release: 2020. 
  • HIM (SE), by Guro Bruusgaard, produced by Alternativet.
    The film explores man’s role in contemporary Norway through three different stories. We follow Harald (11), desperate to fit in, Petter (61), a renowned scriptwriter, and Emil (30) unemployed. All experience a social and emotional collapse. National release in 2020. 
  • Jessica (SE) by Ninja Thyberg, produced by Plattform Produktion.
    20 year-old Jessica hopes to become the next big porn star in L.A. When reality takes a different turn, she is forced to choose between men’s rules or solidarity with her girlfriends.
    “The film is a behind-the-scene look at the power structure in the porn industry, shown from the female perspective,” said Thyberg. National release in 2020. Sales: Versatile. 
  • Miss Osaka (DK) by Daniel Dencik, produced by Haslund Dencik Entertainment.
    A young Danish woman kills her past as she invents a new future in Osaka, Japan, taking the identity of a Japanese hostess girl. In the title roles are Victoria Carmen Sonne, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Nagisa Morimoto. National release set for 2020.
  • Nimby (FI) by Teemu Nikki, produced by It’s Alive Films.
    A group of people who can’t tolerate different colours of skin, religion, politics or even language are trapped in a house in the Finnish countryside and have to face their prejudice.
    The cast includes Susanna Pukkila, Antti Reini, Almira Bagriacik.
    National release set for January 2020 (Scanbox). 
  • Sisters (NO) by Silje Salomonsen and Arlid Østin Ommundsen, produced by Chezville.
    Two young siblings have to face their fears when their father falls in a mountain crack while the family goes out on a mountain hike. “Kids movies tend to be super commercialised. We want to do a different film for kids, combining nature, girl power and Nordic tradition, that also leaves room for poetry, a kind of Terence Malik for kids,” said producer Gary Cranner.
    National release is set for 2020.