TrustNordisk, REinvent, LevelK report brisk activity on Nordic content in Berlin

The European Film Market (EFM) held parallel to the Berlinale, enjoyed a constant flow of foot traffic between February 16-22, after two years of online editions.

A total of 11,500 accredited professionals from 132 countries were on hand to discuss films and series, including 1,302 buyers. Attendees numbers were therefore slightly up compared to the 2020's 11,423 numbers. Industry delegates from most territories made the trip to the first major film market of the year, although China was noticeably absent.

“We had an insanely crazy Berlin and many deals still in negotiation,” said LevelK’s CEO Tine Klint.
“It’s been extremely busy all along, both on the film and series side,” added REinvent’s Sales and Marketing Director Helene Aurø.

“After Covid, the energy is back, there was much more activity at the EFM, which reflects the mood in the business as the theatrical markets are slowly improving, especially in Europe,” TrustNordisk’ CEO Susan Wendt told nordicfilmandtvnews.com.

“That said, you could see that the indie film sector is still uncertain and people are more cautious financially, as companies brought less representatives and stayed for a shorter period,” she noticed.

This year’s better integration of the film and series market in Berlin, to match trends in the market was welcomed positively by professionals, as underlined by EFM director Dennis Ruth. “The decision to group all the market happenings together with the Berlinale Series Market and the market screenings at Potsdamer Platz, and to provide the industry with an efficient infrastructure, was extremely well-received by our market participants”, he said

Wendt who coordinated the world premiere of the Zentropa series Agent at the Berlinale Series competition and related market screenings, said the move of the entire series’ programme to Potsdamer Platz benefitted Agent’s exposure. “There were good numbers at the market screenings and a good buzz also from the series’ presentation as part of the Danish Series Showcase”, she said.

The veteran sales agent also observed that “having both a film and series competition as launching pads are very important in today’s over-crowded content market. “An A-festival platform benefits everyone working on films and series,” Wendt insisted.

Discussing deal-making trends, she said that for TrustNordisk’ quality talent-driven films and series, “global streamers often want the local market included, which for Nordic content is often problematic as for the financing you have local distributors on board. But they [global streamers] are more flexible today. There is a good combination now of players.”

Wendt also admitted that arthouse features without big names attached, that would sell at the EFM five years ago, were now much slower to find homes abroad. “It’s not just a question for MGs, but finding the place in the market and weighing up P&A costs against potential earnings. On top of that, many distributors are still dealing with a post-Covid bottleneck at the box office”, she said.

Malene Choi’s The Quiet Migration which world premiered at the Panorama for instance was still being negotiated. “It’s a film that people appreciate but don’t run after and buy. We have done a few deals, but some distributors are waiting for additional festival selections.“ At press time, TrustNordisk had a slew of deals in the making, but not ready to announce yet.

Meanwhile the other two major Nordic-based sales companies LevelK and REinvent International Sales listed for us their various deals closed during the EFM.

Levelk reported strong business in particular on the Danish comedy hit Fathers & Mothers, the Göteborg Swedish opener Exodus and Bille August’s fine period drama The Kiss which opened February 23 in Denmark.

• Fathers & Mothers by Paprika Steen was just sold to mindjazz Pictures for Germany and Austria, on top of earlier deals announced including Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg (Paradiso Filmed Entertainment), Spain (Alfa Pictures), Australia, New Zealand (Palace Enterprises), Hungary (Vertigo Media), and Estonia (Estin Film).
• The Kiss was sold to Latin America (Encripta), the Czech Republic (Film Europe), Spain (Filmin), Poland (Canal+), Greece, Cyprus (Rosebud21), Portugal (Films4You), Estonia (Estin Film) and Qatar (Apafex).
• Exodus by Abbe Hassan was sold to Indonesia (PT. Falcon), Eastern Europe (HBO Europe), Slovenia (RTV Slovenia) and to the Creative Media supported VODCOLAB partners: Bulgaria (7Arts), Benelux (Cinemien - ABC Theatrical Distribution), Greece (Cinobo), Denmark (Grand Hjemmebio), Norway (Vega Hjemmekino), Sweden (Triart Film) and Lithuania (Zmones Cinema) with more deals being negotiated.

LevelK was also on the verge of closing deals on theGeneration Kplus Norwegian title Dancing Queen by Aurora Gossé, and on the recent Finnish pick up Four Little Adults by Selma Vilhunen.

REinvent International Sales announced exclusively to us a new sale to Italy (Imago Company) on the Swedish family film Nelly Rapp-the Secret of the Black Forest directed by Johan Rosell.

Several deals were announced during the EFM to the trade publications Variety and Screendaily.

• the Swedish sci-fi UFO Sweden was sold to France (Wildbunch), Italy (Plaion), Poland (Vivarto), Baltics (Estin Film) on top of earlier sales to Germany (Telepool), Spain (A Contracorriente Films) and Hungary (Vertigo).
  

Titles part of REinvent’s ‘Chills label were Chills-Dark Windows were hot proposals.

• Dark Windows by Alex Herron was sold to the MENA region (ENL / Empire Network) and Latin America (Gussi).
• Leave also by Herron was sold to Italy (Plaion), Germany (Splendid) and Latin America (Gussi), on top of earlier sales to Latin America (Gussi), Falcon Films (MENA) and Hungary (Vertigo).
• Shadow Island by Johan Storm was sold to Poland (Media4Fun).

Further sales included:

• Lukas Moodysson’s highly anticipated Together 99 (sequel to his 2000 hit) pre-sold to Benelux (September Films).
• the psycho thriller The Angel Maker by Esben Tønnesen and Julie R. Øogaard, sold to Italy (Plaion) and Germany-Austria-Switzerland (Splendid).
  

Among series, the Norwegian romcom Out of Touch part of the Berlinale Series Market Selects, was sold to Holland (NPB) while Sleep Around was sold to Germany’s RTL for its RTL Passion label.

Aurø also stressed high interest on REinvent’s upcoming event series Oxen (TV2 Denmark) and Evil (TV4), as well as on the Norwegian period dramas based on reality Quisling-The Final Days by Erik Poppe and The Riot by Nils Gaup.