Three strong voices in Norwegian cinema - Jannicke Systad Jacobsen (Turn Me On, Goddammit), Jens Lien (Sons of Norway) and Gunnar Vikene (Vegas) have been awarded NOK200,000 each from the Norwegian Film Institute's VIP grant intended to develop and strengthen Norwegian directors' artistic skills.
Supervised by Eva Færevaag, (pictured) the VIP (Vekst I Projekt) support initiative was set up in 2009 to provide established directors time and room for experimentation in form and content with their upcoming projects. Six VIP grants worth NOK200.000 each are given out annually.

A trained documentary filmmaker, Systad Jacobsen reached international fame with her feature film debut Turn Me On, Goddammit, Best Screenplay-Narrative Award winner at the Tribeca Film Festival 2011 in New York. "The VIP grant gives me a golden opportunity to immerse myself in the various filmmaking aspects of my new project, both on a theoretical and philosophical level and on a more practical level with regards craftsmanship, parallel to script development," said the 36 year-old director.

Lien has won over 30 international awards with The Bothersome Man and his latest film Sons of Norway had its world premiere in Toronto.

As for Vikene, he directed three films since 2002 including the youth drama Vegas for which he won an Amanda for Best Screenplay in 2010.
 
So far, the 2011 VIP grants have been awarded to Anne Sewitsky, Arild Frölich, Eva Sørhaug and Ole Giæver. Last year, the six recipients were Alsaug Holm, Petter Næss, Hanne Myren, Joachim Trier, Maria Sødahl and Hans Petter Moland and in 2009they were Sara Johnsen, Margreth Olin, Marius Holst, Erik Richter Strand and Erik Skjoldjærg.

Færevaag said the NFI VIP support is the only initiative in the Nordic region targeting not newcomers but established filmmakers who want to develop their skills.