Kenny Begins which received the biggest grant (SEK8m) towards its SEK32m budget, is a family comedy film based on the Swedish cult-TV series ‘Kenny Starfighter' (1999), with actor Johan Rheborg in the lead. The film is directed by Carl Åstrand and Mats Lindberg for Patrick Ryborn (S/S Fladen). Swedish release through Nordisk Film is set for early 2009.
Niels Arden Oplev's screen adaptation of Stieg Larsson's best seller Män som hatar kvinnor (English title The Girl With the Red Tattoo) was awarded SEK4m. The thriller starring Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace (photo) and Lena Endre is produced by Yellow Bird. Nordisk Film will release the film in the autumn 2009.
The Finnish film Forbidden Fruit by Dome Karukoski (Beauty and the Bastard), produced by Aleksi Bardy (Helsinki filmi) in co-production with Sweden's Anagram Produktion, was awarded SEK 1.5m. The project which starts shooting this Wednesday was also supported by the Finnish Film Foundation and Sandrew Metronome will release domestically in late 2008.
Three documentary films were also supported by the SFI, two of them produced by Per Forsgren (Eden Film). My Heart of Darkness, awarded SEK3.5m, is directed by Staffan Julén (The Prize of the Pole) and Örnjägarens son (The Eagle Hunters Son), awarded nearly SEK 3m, is directed by René Bo Hansen. The third documentary film Blybarnen och Boliden by Lars Edman and William Johanssen (awarded SEK 400,000) is produced Laika Film & TV.
"Whatever film we select as the Palme d'Or winner, we j ury members share the same idea: we want to feel certain that the director is aware of the state of the world he lives in."
President of the 2008 Jury at the press conference in Cannes on May 14.