NOK 83 million from the Norwegian Film Institute sets seven new features rolling
Support for Vibeke Idsøe’s World War 2 epic and Nils Gaup’s Christmas Carol, adding three television series
A support package of NOK 83 million ($14.2 million) from the Norwegian Film Institute has sparked off seven new productions – a total volume of NOK 230 million ($39.5 million), including features by Vibeke Idsøe, Nils Gaup, Erik Skjoldbjærg, Sara Johnsen, Arild Andresen, Mikkel B Sandemose and Dag Johan Haugerud.
Idsøe will helm Theresienstadt Requiem, a NOK 65 million ($11.1 million) World War II epic following Czech composer-conductor Raphael Schächter’s efforts to stage Verdi’s Requiem in the Nazi concentration camp. John M. Jacobsen and Sveinung Golimo (Max Manus, The Troll Hunter/Trolljegeren) will produce for Filmkameratene in coproduction with Peter Aalbæk Jensen and Marie Gade Denessen for Zentropa Denmark.
Gaup will have a go at Sverre Brandt’s 1924 play, Journey to the Christmas Star (Reisen til julestjernen), from a script by Kamilla Krogsveen. Launched in time for Christmas 2012, the film will be produced by Sigurd Mikal Karoliussen and Jan Eirik Langøen for Moskus Film, in collaboration with Storm Rosenberg AS.
”A conspiracy thriller from the beginning of the Norwegian oil rush,” is how Erik Skjoldbjærg (Insomnia,, Prozac Naation, Nokas) describes Pioneer (Pioner), scripted by Hans Gunnarsson, Cathinka Nicolaysen and Kathrine Valen Zeiner. Christian Fredrik Martin will produce for Friland Produksjon.
After cashing in five Amandas – Norway’s national film prize – Sara Johnson will direct All That Matters Is Past (Det viktigste er forbi), a love-crime story about the fatal reunion of two former lovers written by herself, which Turid Øversveen will realise for 4½ Fiksjon.
Kristoffer Joner will star in The Orheim Company (Kompani Orheim), the third part of the Jarle Klepp-triology based on Tore Renberg’s popular novels, following The Man Who Loved Yngve/Mannen som elsket Yngve, I Travel Alone/Jeg reiser alene). Yngve Sæther and Sigve Endresen will produce for Motlys.
After his Cold Prey III (Fritt vilt III) debut, Mikkel B. Sandemose finds frightening adventure in the year 833 which an archeologist decides to dig out 1000 years later. Martin Sundland and Are Heidenstrøm will back his efforts for Fantefilm.
A first feature written and directed by Dag Johan Haugerud, Help (Hjelp) is described as a tragicomedy about human differences, following three people forced to make choices they do not want to make. Yngve Sæther will stage the production for Motlys.
The Norwegian Film Institute has also chipped in NOK 15.5 million ($2.7 million) for three television series, including Per Olav Sørensen’s Halvbroren (Monster Film) based on the novel by Lars Saabye Christensen; Tommy Wirkola ao’s Hellfjord (Tappeluft Pictures); and Rubicon’s Lilyhammer (Rubicon TV).
Source: Norwegian Film Institute
