Picking up on Berlinale Series Market hits, such as “Lost Boys & Fairies,” and teasing some of the big main competition swings at Series Mania – “Apples Never Fall,” “Rematch,” “So Long, Marianne” – the 2024 London TV Screenings are a powerhouse showcase of some of the biggest TV highlights of 2024, plus the trends shaping TV markets.
To help you cut through the slates, here’s Variety’s picks of 20 shows that will whet buyers’ appetites.
“Apples Never Fall” (NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution)
One highlight for NBCU, hosting the first London TV Screenings showcase on Monday Feb. 26 evening, is “The Day of the Jackal,” starring Eddie Redmayne, produced by “Top Boy” showrunner Ronan Bennett and directed by Brian Kirk (“Game of Thrones”). Highest profile, however – given its cast and now status as the biggest swing in Series Mania main competition – may be Peacock limited series “Apples Never Fall,” with Annette Bening as the...
To help you cut through the slates, here’s Variety’s picks of 20 shows that will whet buyers’ appetites.
“Apples Never Fall” (NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution)
One highlight for NBCU, hosting the first London TV Screenings showcase on Monday Feb. 26 evening, is “The Day of the Jackal,” starring Eddie Redmayne, produced by “Top Boy” showrunner Ronan Bennett and directed by Brian Kirk (“Game of Thrones”). Highest profile, however – given its cast and now status as the biggest swing in Series Mania main competition – may be Peacock limited series “Apples Never Fall,” with Annette Bening as the...
- 2/26/2024
- by John Hopewell and Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Keshet International has acquired worldwide distribution rights for thriller series “Conflict.”
Produced by Backmann & Hoderhoff and XYZ Films, “Conflict” is a six-part political thriller about an enemy force trying to incite a global conflict with a surprise attack.
The series was created and produced by Andrei Alén and Aku Louhimies (“Rebellion”). Louhimies also directs. Keshet International will launch “Conflict” at London Screenings next week, kicking off with a Q&a with Alén and Louhimies at its scripted event on Feb. 28.
“As a military unit of conscripts completes its training on Midsummer’s Eve, an unidentified enemy invades the picturesque Finnish peninsula,” reads the logline “With foreign nationals amongst the 10,000 people now held hostage in the occupied area, the U.S. President and other allies urge Finland’s newly elected President to take decisive action. Faced with the very real threat of a proxy war, President Saaristo must follow her instincts...
Produced by Backmann & Hoderhoff and XYZ Films, “Conflict” is a six-part political thriller about an enemy force trying to incite a global conflict with a surprise attack.
The series was created and produced by Andrei Alén and Aku Louhimies (“Rebellion”). Louhimies also directs. Keshet International will launch “Conflict” at London Screenings next week, kicking off with a Q&a with Alén and Louhimies at its scripted event on Feb. 28.
“As a military unit of conscripts completes its training on Midsummer’s Eve, an unidentified enemy invades the picturesque Finnish peninsula,” reads the logline “With foreign nationals amongst the 10,000 people now held hostage in the occupied area, the U.S. President and other allies urge Finland’s newly elected President to take decisive action. Faced with the very real threat of a proxy war, President Saaristo must follow her instincts...
- 2/20/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Nadia Forde has joined the cast of Conflict, the Finnish political thriller series from Rebellion director Aku Louhimies and XYZ Films.
Forde, who starred in Once Upon a Time in London, will play Claire Belfort, a daughter of a high-profile American family who gets caught up in the conflict.
Louhimies, the Finnish multi-hyphenate, announced Conflict two years ago and the six-part series is now shooting in Helsinki. It will premiere next year in Finnish, Swedish and English.
The story follows an unknown military unit as it invades a peaceful seaside town in Finland. All residents are taken hostage, including Annika Berg, a Finnish army soldier.
In seconds, her military exercise turns into a real crisis, with true casualties. No one knows if this is an isolated incident or the first step towards a global conflict.
Other cast includes Peter Franzén (Vikings), Sara Soulié (The Man Who Died), and Pirkka-Pekka Petelius...
Forde, who starred in Once Upon a Time in London, will play Claire Belfort, a daughter of a high-profile American family who gets caught up in the conflict.
Louhimies, the Finnish multi-hyphenate, announced Conflict two years ago and the six-part series is now shooting in Helsinki. It will premiere next year in Finnish, Swedish and English.
The story follows an unknown military unit as it invades a peaceful seaside town in Finland. All residents are taken hostage, including Annika Berg, a Finnish army soldier.
In seconds, her military exercise turns into a real crisis, with true casualties. No one knows if this is an isolated incident or the first step towards a global conflict.
Other cast includes Peter Franzén (Vikings), Sara Soulié (The Man Who Died), and Pirkka-Pekka Petelius...
- 9/4/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Copenhagen-based REinvent International Sales has closed two significant deals on Omerta 6/12, a Finnish action thriller.
Samuel Goldwyn has picked up U.S. rights on the movie, while Swift Productions has taken France. Deals were previously closed for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland (Splendid) and Spain (A Contracorriende).
The movie premiered locally recently, it will also become a four-episode TV series to be released on C More in 2022.
Directed by Aku Louhimies, the film follows what happens when Finland’s Independence Day celebration on December 6 is crudely interrupted by an attack to the Presidential Residence. A set of distinguished guests are taken as hostages, and Security service officer Max Tanner (Jasper Pääkkönen) is set as the negotiator of the hostage crisis. Soon it becomes clear that the main target behind the terrorist attack is a plan to destabilize the security of Europe.
Starring with Paakkonen (Da 5 Bloods) are Nanna Blondell...
Samuel Goldwyn has picked up U.S. rights on the movie, while Swift Productions has taken France. Deals were previously closed for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland (Splendid) and Spain (A Contracorriende).
The movie premiered locally recently, it will also become a four-episode TV series to be released on C More in 2022.
Directed by Aku Louhimies, the film follows what happens when Finland’s Independence Day celebration on December 6 is crudely interrupted by an attack to the Presidential Residence. A set of distinguished guests are taken as hostages, and Security service officer Max Tanner (Jasper Pääkkönen) is set as the negotiator of the hostage crisis. Soon it becomes clear that the main target behind the terrorist attack is a plan to destabilize the security of Europe.
Starring with Paakkonen (Da 5 Bloods) are Nanna Blondell...
- 2/12/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Take Two Studios, the recently launched Finnish production banner, has enlisted industry veteran Sara Norberg as partner and COO.
The company was created last October by three of Finland’s top media executives, Eero Hietala, Lasse Koskinen and Ilkka Hynninen. Hietala and Hynninen previously co-founded Aito Media, where they produced the series “Almost True” and “Pirjo,” half-hour comedy “Mother-in-Paw” and procedural crime drama “Lakeside Murders.”
Norberg, who has over 20 years in the entertainment industry, previously oversaw Finland’s Helsinki International Film Festival for six years. She’s joining Take Two Studios from Cinematic, a Finnish film and TV banner where she worked as CEO and executive producer. While at the company, she spearheaded the production of Aku Louhimies’s action thriller “Omerta 6/12,” which ranks as Finland’s biggest-budgeted production ever. The movie was released in local cinemas in November, while a spinoff series will premiere on CMore later this year.
The company was created last October by three of Finland’s top media executives, Eero Hietala, Lasse Koskinen and Ilkka Hynninen. Hietala and Hynninen previously co-founded Aito Media, where they produced the series “Almost True” and “Pirjo,” half-hour comedy “Mother-in-Paw” and procedural crime drama “Lakeside Murders.”
Norberg, who has over 20 years in the entertainment industry, previously oversaw Finland’s Helsinki International Film Festival for six years. She’s joining Take Two Studios from Cinematic, a Finnish film and TV banner where she worked as CEO and executive producer. While at the company, she spearheaded the production of Aku Louhimies’s action thriller “Omerta 6/12,” which ranks as Finland’s biggest-budgeted production ever. The movie was released in local cinemas in November, while a spinoff series will premiere on CMore later this year.
- 1/20/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Sf Studios has unveiled the trailer for the action thriller “Omerta 6/12,” one of the biggest-budgeted Finnish films ever.
The film is directed by Aku Louhimies with a cast headlined by Finnish star Jasper Pääkkönen (“BlacKkKlansman”) and Swedish actors Nanna Blondell (“Black Widow”) and Sverrir Gudnason (“Borg vs. McEnroe”).
Pääkkönen plays Max Tanner, a Finnish secret service agent operating for the European Union’s special forces. Set during Finland’s Independence Day festivities, when the Presidential Palace is attacked and the heads of state are taken hostage. Tanner is tasked to negotiate the hostage crisis and realizes that the terrorist attack is a plan to destabilize the security of Europe. Blondell plays the Swedish secret service agent Sylvia Madsen, and Gudnason stars as the leader of the Serbian groups, Vasa Jankovic.
“Omerta 6/12” is set for a theatrical release in Finland on Nov. 19, followed by a theatrical release in the Nordics during winter.
The film is directed by Aku Louhimies with a cast headlined by Finnish star Jasper Pääkkönen (“BlacKkKlansman”) and Swedish actors Nanna Blondell (“Black Widow”) and Sverrir Gudnason (“Borg vs. McEnroe”).
Pääkkönen plays Max Tanner, a Finnish secret service agent operating for the European Union’s special forces. Set during Finland’s Independence Day festivities, when the Presidential Palace is attacked and the heads of state are taken hostage. Tanner is tasked to negotiate the hostage crisis and realizes that the terrorist attack is a plan to destabilize the security of Europe. Blondell plays the Swedish secret service agent Sylvia Madsen, and Gudnason stars as the leader of the Serbian groups, Vasa Jankovic.
“Omerta 6/12” is set for a theatrical release in Finland on Nov. 19, followed by a theatrical release in the Nordics during winter.
- 9/23/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Seasoned Finnish writer-director-producer Aku Louhimies is plotting multi-season TV drama “Conflict,” a near-future political action thriller that turns on a Finland threatened by an unknown military force.
Comparing the project to high-profile Norwegian TV show “Occupied,” the director said he had the idea for “Conflict” after his war epic “Unknown Soldier,” Finland’s record-breaking movie with over 1 million ticket sales. “I started thinking what if Finland was suddenly threatened by foreign forces. How would we react and how would that affect geopolitics in the Nordic region?” reflected Louhimies, who contemplates building the project as a major international TV drama.
The project is co-penned by actor Andrei Alén, novelist and officer in reserve Helena Immonen, and long-time writing partner Jari Olavi Rantala.
Set on Midsummer’s Eve, the story follows an unknown military unit, as it invades a peaceful sea-side town in Finland. All residents are taken hostage, and civilians, used...
Comparing the project to high-profile Norwegian TV show “Occupied,” the director said he had the idea for “Conflict” after his war epic “Unknown Soldier,” Finland’s record-breaking movie with over 1 million ticket sales. “I started thinking what if Finland was suddenly threatened by foreign forces. How would we react and how would that affect geopolitics in the Nordic region?” reflected Louhimies, who contemplates building the project as a major international TV drama.
The project is co-penned by actor Andrei Alén, novelist and officer in reserve Helena Immonen, and long-time writing partner Jari Olavi Rantala.
Set on Midsummer’s Eve, the story follows an unknown military unit, as it invades a peaceful sea-side town in Finland. All residents are taken hostage, and civilians, used...
- 8/23/2021
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Finland’s Aurora Studios has launched a private equity fund aimed at film and TV content, kicking off with “Bubble,” a movie directed by Aleksi Salmenperä (“Giant”).
“Bubble” will star Minna Haapkylä, Tommi Korpela, Anna-Maija Tuokko and Stella Leppikorpi. Haapkylä is also producing the movie at Rabbit Films.
The 5.5 million euros ($6.4 million) private equity scheme, called the Finnish Impact Film Fund, was created by Aurora Studios, which is owned by the publishing group Otava, along with Ari Tolppanen’s financing vehicle Capman, and the investment banker Ari Lahti, founder of Ice Capital.
“Aurora Studios was established to facilitate the work of producers and creators, and to further the completion of domestic, high-quality audiovisual content, so the Finnish Impact Film Fund is an integral part of this strategy,” said Tolppanen.
“With it we can act as even better partners and allies to producers and creators, as well as help talented teams...
“Bubble” will star Minna Haapkylä, Tommi Korpela, Anna-Maija Tuokko and Stella Leppikorpi. Haapkylä is also producing the movie at Rabbit Films.
The 5.5 million euros ($6.4 million) private equity scheme, called the Finnish Impact Film Fund, was created by Aurora Studios, which is owned by the publishing group Otava, along with Ari Tolppanen’s financing vehicle Capman, and the investment banker Ari Lahti, founder of Ice Capital.
“Aurora Studios was established to facilitate the work of producers and creators, and to further the completion of domestic, high-quality audiovisual content, so the Finnish Impact Film Fund is an integral part of this strategy,” said Tolppanen.
“With it we can act as even better partners and allies to producers and creators, as well as help talented teams...
- 3/31/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
REinvent International Sales has closed a raft of deals across its slate of family movies, including “A Christmas Tale,” “Twigson and the Sea Monster” and “Nelly Rapp – Monster Agent.”
“Nelly Rapp – Monster Agent,” directed by Amanda Adolfsson, has been sold to the U.S. and Canada (Janson Media), Russia and Cis (Volga Films), Poland (Vivarto), Japan (New Select) and Estonia (Estin Film).
The movie was selected at this year’s Berlinale in the Generation Kplus competition and previously won two Swedish Guldbagge awards. The film stars promising newcomer Matilda Gross as Nelly, an 11-year old girl who is about to spend the fall vacation with her uncle Hannibal and her beloved dog London. It turns out that Hannibal does not live the quiet life she thought and is in fact a monster agent. The cast includes Johan Rheborg, Björn Gustafsson, Lily Wahlsteen and Marianne Mörck. “Nelly Rapp – Monster Agent” was...
“Nelly Rapp – Monster Agent,” directed by Amanda Adolfsson, has been sold to the U.S. and Canada (Janson Media), Russia and Cis (Volga Films), Poland (Vivarto), Japan (New Select) and Estonia (Estin Film).
The movie was selected at this year’s Berlinale in the Generation Kplus competition and previously won two Swedish Guldbagge awards. The film stars promising newcomer Matilda Gross as Nelly, an 11-year old girl who is about to spend the fall vacation with her uncle Hannibal and her beloved dog London. It turns out that Hannibal does not live the quiet life she thought and is in fact a monster agent. The cast includes Johan Rheborg, Björn Gustafsson, Lily Wahlsteen and Marianne Mörck. “Nelly Rapp – Monster Agent” was...
- 3/9/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Magnolia has acquired U.S. rights to the Swedish horror film “The Other Side,” the debut feature from Oskar Mellander and Tord Danielsson. The movie is represented by REinvent Intl. Sales.
“The Other Side” follows a family of three — Shirin, her partner Fredrik and his 5-year old son — who move into a small-town duplex and begin to hear mysterious noises from a supposedly uninhabited part of the house. Shirin comes to realize that they are haunted by an evil that only she can stop. The cast includes Dilan Gwyn (“Love Me”) and Linus Wahlgren (“Blue Eyes”).
REinvent has also scored sales on the film for Spain (A Contracorriente Films), Poland (Best Film) and Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia (Vertigo Media).
Mellander and Danielsson are well-established TV drama directors, with credits including “The Last Reality Show,” “Vikingshill” and “Nurses.”
“The Other Side” was released in Sweden in October 2020 and ranked as...
“The Other Side” follows a family of three — Shirin, her partner Fredrik and his 5-year old son — who move into a small-town duplex and begin to hear mysterious noises from a supposedly uninhabited part of the house. Shirin comes to realize that they are haunted by an evil that only she can stop. The cast includes Dilan Gwyn (“Love Me”) and Linus Wahlgren (“Blue Eyes”).
REinvent has also scored sales on the film for Spain (A Contracorriente Films), Poland (Best Film) and Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia (Vertigo Media).
Mellander and Danielsson are well-established TV drama directors, with credits including “The Last Reality Show,” “Vikingshill” and “Nurses.”
“The Other Side” was released in Sweden in October 2020 and ranked as...
- 3/2/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Sf Studios has released the first teaser trailer for the anticipated action thriller “Omerta 6/12” which just wrapped shooting. The big-budget film is directed by Aku Louhimies and stars Finnish actor Jasper Pääkkönen and Swedish actors Nanna Blondell (“Red Dot”) and Sverrir Gudnason (“Borg vs. McEnroe”).
“Omertà 6/12″ is expected to premiere in theaters in Nov. and is being represented in international markets by REinvent International Sales. Sf Studios will distribute the film in the Nordics.
Based on llkka Remes’s bestselling novel “6/12,” the film follows Max Tanner, a Finnish secret service agent operating for European Union’s special forces. Jari Olavi Rantala wrote the adaptation based on the screenplay by Antti J. Jokinen and Mika Karttunen.
The teaser trailer takes the viewers right in the middle of Finland’s Independence Day. Festivities take a tragic turn when the Presidential Palace is attacked, and the heads of state are taken hostage.
“Omertà 6/12″ is expected to premiere in theaters in Nov. and is being represented in international markets by REinvent International Sales. Sf Studios will distribute the film in the Nordics.
Based on llkka Remes’s bestselling novel “6/12,” the film follows Max Tanner, a Finnish secret service agent operating for European Union’s special forces. Jari Olavi Rantala wrote the adaptation based on the screenplay by Antti J. Jokinen and Mika Karttunen.
The teaser trailer takes the viewers right in the middle of Finland’s Independence Day. Festivities take a tragic turn when the Presidential Palace is attacked, and the heads of state are taken hostage.
- 2/23/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The hybrid event will run September 23-25 in Helsinki.
The Finnish Film Affair has unveiled the lineup for its hybrid event, which will run September 23-25 in Helsinki as well as online.
Some 300 industry professionals are expected to attend, with some in-person and 150 online.
New talents and female voices are prominent in this year’s programme, with debut features comprising one-third of the lineup. Across the selection, at least 58% of projects have at least one non-male director.
Nearly 50 films in development, production or post-production will be on offer. Some highlights in development include Lapland War from Unknown Soldier director Aku Louhimies,...
The Finnish Film Affair has unveiled the lineup for its hybrid event, which will run September 23-25 in Helsinki as well as online.
Some 300 industry professionals are expected to attend, with some in-person and 150 online.
New talents and female voices are prominent in this year’s programme, with debut features comprising one-third of the lineup. Across the selection, at least 58% of projects have at least one non-male director.
Nearly 50 films in development, production or post-production will be on offer. Some highlights in development include Lapland War from Unknown Soldier director Aku Louhimies,...
- 9/11/2020
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Emmanuelle Guilbart and Laurent Boissel’s up-and-coming Paris-based company About Premium Content is joining forces with Finish production company Mogul Movies to develop “Isolated,” a high-concept fantasy thriller series set in a remote island.
“Isolated” unfolds in a peaceful island plagued by a strange phenomenon which cuts the power and prevents the inhabitants from leaving. Meanwhile, a survivor of the Ms Estonia, a passenger ship that sank more than 24 years ago, washes ashore. Faced with those extraordinary events, the islanders quickly descend into paranoia and start fighting to gain control of local resources.
The 8-part series, now is development, is based on an original idea by Markos Annala, Lassi Vierikko and Petja Lähde, who co-wrote “Fingerpori,” a comedy about a fictional town and its uncommon people. Jari Olavi Rantala, a popular Finnish screenwriter who won the Jussi prize for “Frozen Land” in 2005 and is a frequent collaborator of director Aku Louhimies,...
“Isolated” unfolds in a peaceful island plagued by a strange phenomenon which cuts the power and prevents the inhabitants from leaving. Meanwhile, a survivor of the Ms Estonia, a passenger ship that sank more than 24 years ago, washes ashore. Faced with those extraordinary events, the islanders quickly descend into paranoia and start fighting to gain control of local resources.
The 8-part series, now is development, is based on an original idea by Markos Annala, Lassi Vierikko and Petja Lähde, who co-wrote “Fingerpori,” a comedy about a fictional town and its uncommon people. Jari Olavi Rantala, a popular Finnish screenwriter who won the Jussi prize for “Frozen Land” in 2005 and is a frequent collaborator of director Aku Louhimies,...
- 4/9/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Nine million tickets sold for more than €100m.
Source: Beta Cinema
Unknown Soldier
According to preliminary data from the Finnish Film Foundation, Finnish cinemas sold more than nine million tickets in 2017; the first time the nine million mark has been broken since 1983.
The nine million visitors brought in a record-breaking €100m in ticket sales. Cinema admissions increased around 3.4% from the previous year and the total box office grew by nearly 9%.
Domestic films sold a total of 2.4m tickets in Finland in 2017 giving them a market share of around 27% of all admissions. Finnish films have now crossed the two million domestic admissions mark for the past six years in a row. 2017 is also the fourth year in which the domestic market share of admissions has been over 25%.
The most popular film of 2017 in Finnish cinemas was Aku Louhimies’s Unknown Soldier which has posted an enormous 920,000 admissions so far. For comparison,...
Source: Beta Cinema
Unknown Soldier
According to preliminary data from the Finnish Film Foundation, Finnish cinemas sold more than nine million tickets in 2017; the first time the nine million mark has been broken since 1983.
The nine million visitors brought in a record-breaking €100m in ticket sales. Cinema admissions increased around 3.4% from the previous year and the total box office grew by nearly 9%.
Domestic films sold a total of 2.4m tickets in Finland in 2017 giving them a market share of around 27% of all admissions. Finnish films have now crossed the two million domestic admissions mark for the past six years in a row. 2017 is also the fourth year in which the domestic market share of admissions has been over 25%.
The most popular film of 2017 in Finnish cinemas was Aku Louhimies’s Unknown Soldier which has posted an enormous 920,000 admissions so far. For comparison,...
- 1/2/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Screen Daily Test
Nine million tickets sold for more than €100m.
Source: Beta Cinema
Unknown Soldier
According to preliminary data from the Finnish Film Foundation, Finnish cinemas sold more than nine million tickets in 2017; the first time the nine million mark has been broken since 1983.
The nine million visitors brought in a record-breaking €100m in ticket sales. Cinema admissions increased around 3.4% from the previous year and the total box office grew by nearly 9%.
Domestic films sold a total of 2.4m tickets in Finland in 2017 giving them a market share of around 27% of all admissions. Finnish films have now crossed the two million domestic admissions mark for the past six years in a row. 2017 is also the fourth year in which the domestic market share of admissions has been over 25%.
The most popular film of 2017 in Finnish cinemas was Aku Louhimies’s Unknown Soldier which has posted an enormous 920,000 admissions so far. For comparison, the second most popular...
Source: Beta Cinema
Unknown Soldier
According to preliminary data from the Finnish Film Foundation, Finnish cinemas sold more than nine million tickets in 2017; the first time the nine million mark has been broken since 1983.
The nine million visitors brought in a record-breaking €100m in ticket sales. Cinema admissions increased around 3.4% from the previous year and the total box office grew by nearly 9%.
Domestic films sold a total of 2.4m tickets in Finland in 2017 giving them a market share of around 27% of all admissions. Finnish films have now crossed the two million domestic admissions mark for the past six years in a row. 2017 is also the fourth year in which the domestic market share of admissions has been over 25%.
The most popular film of 2017 in Finnish cinemas was Aku Louhimies’s Unknown Soldier which has posted an enormous 920,000 admissions so far. For comparison, the second most popular...
- 1/2/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- ScreenDaily
Projects participated in the Nordic festival’s works in progress event.
Ruben Ostlund got buyers and festival programmers hopping with excitement in Goteborg as he presented the first footage from his forthcoming fifth feature The Square during the festival’s work in progress pitches.
Ostlund screened about seven minutes from one scene of the new film, during which a controversial performance artist (played by Terry Notary) makes guests at a black-tie art gala very uncomfortable. “You know I love awkward situations,” the director said.
Goteborg’s audience of industry experts commented that they were impressed by the confidence of the unnerving scene, which showed Ostlund working on a bigger scale even than his last hit, Force Majeure.
At a festival session later for the public, Ostlund previewed a second clip from the film, in which a museum director (Claes Bang) delivers a self-centered video apology to a boy he had accused of being a thief.
Another high-profile...
Ruben Ostlund got buyers and festival programmers hopping with excitement in Goteborg as he presented the first footage from his forthcoming fifth feature The Square during the festival’s work in progress pitches.
Ostlund screened about seven minutes from one scene of the new film, during which a controversial performance artist (played by Terry Notary) makes guests at a black-tie art gala very uncomfortable. “You know I love awkward situations,” the director said.
Goteborg’s audience of industry experts commented that they were impressed by the confidence of the unnerving scene, which showed Ostlund working on a bigger scale even than his last hit, Force Majeure.
At a festival session later for the public, Ostlund previewed a second clip from the film, in which a museum director (Claes Bang) delivers a self-centered video apology to a boy he had accused of being a thief.
Another high-profile...
- 2/6/2017
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
A total of 18 work in progress projects will participate in this year’s Nordic Film Market.Scroll down for full line up
The works in progress titles set to take part in this year’s Nordic Film Market (Feb 2-5) at the Goteborg Film Festival (Jan 27 – Feb 6) have been revealed.
Among them is Borg vs McEnroe, Jans Metz’s tennis biopic starring Shia Labeouf as John McEnroe and rising Swedish talent Sverrir Gudnason as his rival Bjorn Borg.
Sf International is handling international sales and has already tied up multiple deals including Curzon Artificial Eye for the UK and Nordisk Film for Scandinavia.
Also featuring as a work in progress is The Square, the latest feature from director Ruben Östlund, whose credits include Bafta-nominated avalanche comedy-drama Force Majeure.
The Swedish filmmaker’s English-language debut stars Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West in the story of an artist who installs an unusual exhibition in a public square. The Coproduction...
The works in progress titles set to take part in this year’s Nordic Film Market (Feb 2-5) at the Goteborg Film Festival (Jan 27 – Feb 6) have been revealed.
Among them is Borg vs McEnroe, Jans Metz’s tennis biopic starring Shia Labeouf as John McEnroe and rising Swedish talent Sverrir Gudnason as his rival Bjorn Borg.
Sf International is handling international sales and has already tied up multiple deals including Curzon Artificial Eye for the UK and Nordisk Film for Scandinavia.
Also featuring as a work in progress is The Square, the latest feature from director Ruben Östlund, whose credits include Bafta-nominated avalanche comedy-drama Force Majeure.
The Swedish filmmaker’s English-language debut stars Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West in the story of an artist who installs an unusual exhibition in a public square. The Coproduction...
- 1/26/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Talk at the event was dominated by the looming introduction of the Finnish tax incentive; Beta boards The Unknown Soldier.
The works-in-progress jury at this year’s Finnish Film Affair (Sept 20-22) has split the $3,300 (€3000) Best Pitch prize between two films, Dome Karukoski’s Tom Of Finland, about the gay artist Touko Laaksonen, and documentary Post Punk Disorder, co-directors Jukka Kärkkäinen and J-p Passi’s sequel to their 2012 SXSW audience award winner The Punk Syndrome.
The event was dominated by discussions on two forthcoming landmarks - the films comprising part of the Finland 100 celebrations, marking the centenary since Finland declared itself independent, and the proposed film incentive, due to be rubber-stamped by parliament in December, which will deliver a 20-25% cash rebate to films in production in Finland.
The rebate would apply to productions with a budget of more than $2.2m (€2m) euros. The current average budget in Finland is close to $1.7m (€1.5m). It will apply...
The works-in-progress jury at this year’s Finnish Film Affair (Sept 20-22) has split the $3,300 (€3000) Best Pitch prize between two films, Dome Karukoski’s Tom Of Finland, about the gay artist Touko Laaksonen, and documentary Post Punk Disorder, co-directors Jukka Kärkkäinen and J-p Passi’s sequel to their 2012 SXSW audience award winner The Punk Syndrome.
The event was dominated by discussions on two forthcoming landmarks - the films comprising part of the Finland 100 celebrations, marking the centenary since Finland declared itself independent, and the proposed film incentive, due to be rubber-stamped by parliament in December, which will deliver a 20-25% cash rebate to films in production in Finland.
The rebate would apply to productions with a budget of more than $2.2m (€2m) euros. The current average budget in Finland is close to $1.7m (€1.5m). It will apply...
- 9/23/2016
- ScreenDaily
A total of 21 projects are set to be presented at the event, which last year showcased Cannes hit The Happiest Day In The Life of Olli Mäki.
The fifth edition of the Finnish Film Affair runs from September 20 -22. The programme will showcase 40 Finnish titles, screening 24 recent releases and presenting a further 21 films as works in progress, 11 of which are currently in production while 10 are in development.
Expectation is high as it was at the Finnish Film Affair works in progress presentations in 2015 that sales agents and buyers got their first look at Aamu Film Compnay´s The Happiest Day In The Life of Olli Mäki, directed by Juho Kuosmanen, which won the Un Certain Regard best film prize at this year´s Cannes Film Festival.
A jury will select a Best Pitch from the eleven Works in Progress projects. The following projects will be vying for the prize awarded by a jury comprising Sergei Rakhlin, chair...
The fifth edition of the Finnish Film Affair runs from September 20 -22. The programme will showcase 40 Finnish titles, screening 24 recent releases and presenting a further 21 films as works in progress, 11 of which are currently in production while 10 are in development.
Expectation is high as it was at the Finnish Film Affair works in progress presentations in 2015 that sales agents and buyers got their first look at Aamu Film Compnay´s The Happiest Day In The Life of Olli Mäki, directed by Juho Kuosmanen, which won the Un Certain Regard best film prize at this year´s Cannes Film Festival.
A jury will select a Best Pitch from the eleven Works in Progress projects. The following projects will be vying for the prize awarded by a jury comprising Sergei Rakhlin, chair...
- 9/19/2016
- ScreenDaily
Projects backed by Nordic funding bodies range from the next disaster film by the writers of The Wave to a documentary reconstructing the Utoya massacre.
The Norwegian Film Institute’s latest funding round includes $1.82m (Nok 15m) to Kon-Tiki co-director Espen Sandberg’s new film Roald Amundsen, a biopic of the titular Arctic explorer.
The $9m (Nok 75m) production is produced by Espen Horn and Kristian Sinkerud for Motion Blur Films.
The Nfi also awarded $1.7m (Nok 13.9m) to John Andreas Andersen’s The Quake (Skjelvet), written by The Wave writers Harald Rosenløw Eeg and John Kåre Raake.
The film is inspired by a 1904 earthquake in Oslo. Martin Sundland and Are Heidenstrøm of Fantefilm Fiction (also behind The Wave) produce the $6.3m (Nok 52.1m) production.
Andersen makes his solo directorial debut after working as a cinematographer on films such as The Snowman and Headhunters.
Sweden
In Sweden, the Swedish Film Institute has backed 23 projects in its latest...
The Norwegian Film Institute’s latest funding round includes $1.82m (Nok 15m) to Kon-Tiki co-director Espen Sandberg’s new film Roald Amundsen, a biopic of the titular Arctic explorer.
The $9m (Nok 75m) production is produced by Espen Horn and Kristian Sinkerud for Motion Blur Films.
The Nfi also awarded $1.7m (Nok 13.9m) to John Andreas Andersen’s The Quake (Skjelvet), written by The Wave writers Harald Rosenløw Eeg and John Kåre Raake.
The film is inspired by a 1904 earthquake in Oslo. Martin Sundland and Are Heidenstrøm of Fantefilm Fiction (also behind The Wave) produce the $6.3m (Nok 52.1m) production.
Andersen makes his solo directorial debut after working as a cinematographer on films such as The Snowman and Headhunters.
Sweden
In Sweden, the Swedish Film Institute has backed 23 projects in its latest...
- 9/16/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Finland event has announced its films, Work In Progress projects and international guests for this year.
The line-up of films and international guests has been revealed for this year’s Finnish Film Affair.
There will be 24 completed films and 21 Work In Progress projects presented at the event, which acts as a showcase for new Finnish films.
Screenings of completed films include drama Little Wing [pictured], the debut feature from Oscar-nominated short film-maker Selma Vilhunen which recently premiered at Tiff, Antti J. Jokinen’s Flowers Of Evil, which premiered at Shanghai International Film Festival, winning Best Director, and Taneli Mustonen’s upcoming horror Lake Bodom.
You can see the full list of projects here.
Film-makers presenting Work In Progress projects include Aku Louhimies (Rebellion), Dome Karukoski (The Home Of Dark Butterflies) and Aj Annila (Jade Warrior). Directors Jukka Kärkkäinen and J-p Passi will also present a sequel to their SXSW Audience Award-winning documentary Punk Syndrome, titled Post-Punk...
The line-up of films and international guests has been revealed for this year’s Finnish Film Affair.
There will be 24 completed films and 21 Work In Progress projects presented at the event, which acts as a showcase for new Finnish films.
Screenings of completed films include drama Little Wing [pictured], the debut feature from Oscar-nominated short film-maker Selma Vilhunen which recently premiered at Tiff, Antti J. Jokinen’s Flowers Of Evil, which premiered at Shanghai International Film Festival, winning Best Director, and Taneli Mustonen’s upcoming horror Lake Bodom.
You can see the full list of projects here.
Film-makers presenting Work In Progress projects include Aku Louhimies (Rebellion), Dome Karukoski (The Home Of Dark Butterflies) and Aj Annila (Jade Warrior). Directors Jukka Kärkkäinen and J-p Passi will also present a sequel to their SXSW Audience Award-winning documentary Punk Syndrome, titled Post-Punk...
- 9/15/2016
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Finnish production from Frozen Land director will feature 14,000 extras.
Finnish director Aku Louhimies will start shooting his new epic The Unknown Soldier (Tuntematon Sotilas) on June 6, with 80 filming days scheduled.
Sf Film Finland has the theatrical launch slated for October 2017, timed to the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence.
The World War 2 historical-drama tells the story of a platoon of ordinary Finnish soldiers in the battlefield between Finland and the Soviet Union.
The script is adapted from Väinö Linna’s bestselling 1954 novel, and its uncensored version from 2000.
The book, translated into 23 languages, has been filmed twice before as 1955 and 1985 hits.
“The story of The Unknown Soldier is very universal. It’s a gripping portrayal of how a tragedy changes us all,” said Louhimies.
Eero Aho (Tears Of April, 8-Ball) will play Corporal Rokka, Jussi Vatanen (Lapland Odyssey) will play Second Lieutenant Koskela, and Aku Hirviniemi (Finland’s Saturday Night Live) will play Corporal Hietanen.
The production...
Finnish director Aku Louhimies will start shooting his new epic The Unknown Soldier (Tuntematon Sotilas) on June 6, with 80 filming days scheduled.
Sf Film Finland has the theatrical launch slated for October 2017, timed to the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence.
The World War 2 historical-drama tells the story of a platoon of ordinary Finnish soldiers in the battlefield between Finland and the Soviet Union.
The script is adapted from Väinö Linna’s bestselling 1954 novel, and its uncensored version from 2000.
The book, translated into 23 languages, has been filmed twice before as 1955 and 1985 hits.
“The story of The Unknown Soldier is very universal. It’s a gripping portrayal of how a tragedy changes us all,” said Louhimies.
Eero Aho (Tears Of April, 8-Ball) will play Corporal Rokka, Jussi Vatanen (Lapland Odyssey) will play Second Lieutenant Koskela, and Aku Hirviniemi (Finland’s Saturday Night Live) will play Corporal Hietanen.
The production...
- 4/18/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Legende and Parts & Labor scripts among development projects at Mia market.
Projects from producer Alain Goldman and directors Hana Makhmalbaf and Sally Potter are among scripts being presented in Rome as part of the Mia’s New Cinema Network (Ncn) and Make It With Italy co-production strands.
In the Ncn strand, La Vie En Rose producer Goldman of Paris-based Legende is in development on English-language Us-set drama Mustang from actress and writer-director Laure de Clermont-Tonnere (Girafada), director of well-received shorts Rabbit and Atlantic Avenue.
Mustang charts the story of an inmate serving an 11-year prison sentence who is given the chance to participate in an unusual therapy programme.
Legende, currently in pre-production on buzzed-about thriller Hhhh, is also supporting Romanian drama 237 Years from first-time filmmaker Iona Mischie.
Paris-based Incognito Films is in development on English-language drama Mobile Homes while English-language fracking romance 50 Miles From Boomtown teams Swiss outfit Turnus Film with Love Is Strange producers Parts & Labor...
Projects from producer Alain Goldman and directors Hana Makhmalbaf and Sally Potter are among scripts being presented in Rome as part of the Mia’s New Cinema Network (Ncn) and Make It With Italy co-production strands.
In the Ncn strand, La Vie En Rose producer Goldman of Paris-based Legende is in development on English-language Us-set drama Mustang from actress and writer-director Laure de Clermont-Tonnere (Girafada), director of well-received shorts Rabbit and Atlantic Avenue.
Mustang charts the story of an inmate serving an 11-year prison sentence who is given the chance to participate in an unusual therapy programme.
Legende, currently in pre-production on buzzed-about thriller Hhhh, is also supporting Romanian drama 237 Years from first-time filmmaker Iona Mischie.
Paris-based Incognito Films is in development on English-language drama Mobile Homes while English-language fracking romance 50 Miles From Boomtown teams Swiss outfit Turnus Film with Love Is Strange producers Parts & Labor...
- 10/18/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Naomie Harris and "The Hobbit" star Richard Armitage are set to star in the action-drama "Clearance," which will be the English-language debut of Finnish director Aku Louhimies, from a script penned by Richard Campling and Svet Rouskov. International film sales company Umedia International, is taking the project to the Cannes Market this month, where it will be shopped. Produced by Ryan Haidarian, Andrew D Corkin, Jesse Fryckman, and David Murdoch, "Clearance follows "a hardened mine clearance expert (Armitage) and his pregnant partner (Harris) who are both kidnapped in South Sudan and must navigate a vast minefield during...
- 5/13/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Ex-m-15 Spook Richard Armitage and current MI6 agent Naomie Harris are joining forces for Clearance, an East African-set action-drama that will call on their field skills.The story has Armitage’s salty mine clearer and his pregnant wife (Harris) being kidnapped in South Sudan. The pair manage to make their escape, only to find themselves forced to navigate a deadly minefield. Presumably this will be without access to all the usual tools of the trade, unless the kidnappers have happily left them lying around. Which would be incompetent kidnapping.UMedia is shopping the movie around the Cannes film market. “We don’t see many scripts as strong as Clearance: a smart action film, set against an interesting, topical background,” says Peter Rogers, head of the film group. "It’s a tense, thrilling and emotionally hard-hitting story that we think audiences will love.”Behind the camera is Finnish director Aku Louhimies whose Tolstoy adaptation,...
- 5/13/2015
- EmpireOnline
Exclusive: Umedia boards rights to action-drama set to shoot in South Africa.
The Hobbit star Richard Armitage and Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom actress Naomie Harris are to star in action-drama Clearance, from producers Ryan Haidarian (Vehicle 19), Andrew D Corkin (We Are What We Are), Jesse Fryckman (Sauna), and David Murdoch (1 Star).
The English-language debut of Finnish director Aku Louhimies (Frozen Land), which is being sold in Cannes by Umedia International, tells the story of a hardened mine clearance expert (Armitage) and his pregnant partner (Harris) who are kidnapped in South Sudan and must navigate a vast minefield during their escape.
The script comes from Richard Campling and Svet Rouskov (The Colony), with shoot scheduled for South Africa in November 2015.
Umedia has world rights excluding South Africa and Scandinavia. Forefront Media, Uncorked Productions, Solar Films, and Sinner Films produce.
Armitage is currently filming on the third series of Bryan Fuller’s NBC TV series Hannibal while...
The Hobbit star Richard Armitage and Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom actress Naomie Harris are to star in action-drama Clearance, from producers Ryan Haidarian (Vehicle 19), Andrew D Corkin (We Are What We Are), Jesse Fryckman (Sauna), and David Murdoch (1 Star).
The English-language debut of Finnish director Aku Louhimies (Frozen Land), which is being sold in Cannes by Umedia International, tells the story of a hardened mine clearance expert (Armitage) and his pregnant partner (Harris) who are kidnapped in South Sudan and must navigate a vast minefield during their escape.
The script comes from Richard Campling and Svet Rouskov (The Colony), with shoot scheduled for South Africa in November 2015.
Umedia has world rights excluding South Africa and Scandinavia. Forefront Media, Uncorked Productions, Solar Films, and Sinner Films produce.
Armitage is currently filming on the third series of Bryan Fuller’s NBC TV series Hannibal while...
- 5/13/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Umedia boards rights to action-drama set to shoot in South Africa.
The Hobbit star Richard Armitage and Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom actress Naomi Harris are to star in action-drama Clearance, from producers Ryan Haidarian (Vehicle 19), Andrew D Corkin (We Are What We Are), Jesse Fryckman (Sauna), and David Murdoch (1 Star).
The English-language debut of Finnish director Aku Louhimies (Frozen Land), which is being sold in Cannes by Umedia International, tells the story of a hardened mine clearance expert (Armitage) and his pregnant partner (Harris) who are kidnapped in South Sudan and must navigate a vast minefield during their escape.
The script comes from Richard Campling and Svet Rouskov (The Colony), with shoot scheduled for South Africa in November 2015.
Umedia has world rights excluding South Africa and Scandinavia. Forefront Media, Uncorked Productions, Solar Films, and Sinner Films produce.
Armitage is currently filming on the third series of Bryan Fuller’s NBC TV series Hannibal while...
The Hobbit star Richard Armitage and Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom actress Naomi Harris are to star in action-drama Clearance, from producers Ryan Haidarian (Vehicle 19), Andrew D Corkin (We Are What We Are), Jesse Fryckman (Sauna), and David Murdoch (1 Star).
The English-language debut of Finnish director Aku Louhimies (Frozen Land), which is being sold in Cannes by Umedia International, tells the story of a hardened mine clearance expert (Armitage) and his pregnant partner (Harris) who are kidnapped in South Sudan and must navigate a vast minefield during their escape.
The script comes from Richard Campling and Svet Rouskov (The Colony), with shoot scheduled for South Africa in November 2015.
Umedia has world rights excluding South Africa and Scandinavia. Forefront Media, Uncorked Productions, Solar Films, and Sinner Films produce.
Armitage is currently filming on the third series of Bryan Fuller’s NBC TV series Hannibal while...
- 5/13/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
New Riga Meetings platform welcomes projects including two projects by Finnish film-maker Aku Louhimies.
Janis Nords’ second feature Mother I Love You and Juris Kursietis’ debut Modris were the big winners at the ¨Great Christopher¨ (¨Lielais Kristaps¨) National Film Competition held during the first edition of the Riga International Film Festival (December 2-12).
Nords, who graduated in film directing from the UK’s Nfts, received the top honour of best film as well as the trophy for best feature film director and best actress (for Vita Varpina’s performance as the single mother trying to make ends meet).
On presenting the direction prize to Nords, the competition jury’s chairman, veteran film director Janis Streics, said that he saw “a bright future ahead for Latvian cinema” on the strength of the line-up for this edition of the national film awards.
Mother I Love You, which is handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales, premiered at the...
Janis Nords’ second feature Mother I Love You and Juris Kursietis’ debut Modris were the big winners at the ¨Great Christopher¨ (¨Lielais Kristaps¨) National Film Competition held during the first edition of the Riga International Film Festival (December 2-12).
Nords, who graduated in film directing from the UK’s Nfts, received the top honour of best film as well as the trophy for best feature film director and best actress (for Vita Varpina’s performance as the single mother trying to make ends meet).
On presenting the direction prize to Nords, the competition jury’s chairman, veteran film director Janis Streics, said that he saw “a bright future ahead for Latvian cinema” on the strength of the line-up for this edition of the national film awards.
Mother I Love You, which is handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales, premiered at the...
- 12/12/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Kevorkian, Shoval, Haq, Fiennes, Sigurðsson, Nikonova and Runarsson heading to Les Arcs European Film Festival with upcoming projects.Scroll down for full list of projects
The UK’s Johnny Kevorkian and Sophie Fiennes, Israeli Tom Shoval, Norwegian Iram Haq and Russia’s Angelina Nikonova will be among the filmmakers presenting their upcoming projects at the Les Arcs Co-Production Village this year.
The event, running Dec 13-16 within the Les Arcs European Film Festival (Dec 13-20), will present 25 projects in development and a further 10 Works-in-Progress.
“I thinks it’s a good sign that filmmakers whose projects we presented in development are now coming back to show their films in Work-in-Progress, which is the case for Sparrow and Rams,” said Les Arcs industry head Vanja Kaludjercic.
“Conversely, we’ve got directors who presented in Works-in Progress, such as Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson, who came with Paris of the North last year, who is back with his new project The Tree...
The UK’s Johnny Kevorkian and Sophie Fiennes, Israeli Tom Shoval, Norwegian Iram Haq and Russia’s Angelina Nikonova will be among the filmmakers presenting their upcoming projects at the Les Arcs Co-Production Village this year.
The event, running Dec 13-16 within the Les Arcs European Film Festival (Dec 13-20), will present 25 projects in development and a further 10 Works-in-Progress.
“I thinks it’s a good sign that filmmakers whose projects we presented in development are now coming back to show their films in Work-in-Progress, which is the case for Sparrow and Rams,” said Les Arcs industry head Vanja Kaludjercic.
“Conversely, we’ve got directors who presented in Works-in Progress, such as Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson, who came with Paris of the North last year, who is back with his new project The Tree...
- 11/24/2014
- ScreenDaily
New projects from Pakalnina, Louhimies and Kilmi at Tallinn market.
New films from Laila Pakalnina (Dawn), Aku Louhimies (True) and Jaak Kilmi (Heroes from the East) are among 12 projects from 11 countries selected for this year’s Baltic Event co-production market which will be held in Tallinn from November 27-29.
Local Estonian film-maker Kilmi will be at the Baltic Event for the second year in a row after presenting another feature project, The Hoppers, which won the Screen International Best Pitch Award last year.
As the Baltic Event’s organisers point out, the 2013 line-up has a large number of feature debutants – six in total – ranging from Romania’s Botond-Csaba Püsök (Miracle in Cluj) through Ukraine’s Marysia Nikitiuk (When The Trees Are Falling) to Finland’s Jussi Hiltunen (Law of the Land).
In addition, Julietta Sichel, the former programme director of Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, is coming to Tallinn with her company 8Heads Production and Stanislav Babic of Croatia...
New films from Laila Pakalnina (Dawn), Aku Louhimies (True) and Jaak Kilmi (Heroes from the East) are among 12 projects from 11 countries selected for this year’s Baltic Event co-production market which will be held in Tallinn from November 27-29.
Local Estonian film-maker Kilmi will be at the Baltic Event for the second year in a row after presenting another feature project, The Hoppers, which won the Screen International Best Pitch Award last year.
As the Baltic Event’s organisers point out, the 2013 line-up has a large number of feature debutants – six in total – ranging from Romania’s Botond-Csaba Püsök (Miracle in Cluj) through Ukraine’s Marysia Nikitiuk (When The Trees Are Falling) to Finland’s Jussi Hiltunen (Law of the Land).
In addition, Julietta Sichel, the former programme director of Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, is coming to Tallinn with her company 8Heads Production and Stanislav Babic of Croatia...
- 11/12/2013
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Finnish Film Affair event illustrating diversity of the current crop of features from the country.
The Finnish Film Affair, the industry strand of the 26th Helsinki International Film Festival, has returned for a second year and is highlighting the diversity of features emerging from the country.
“In the past Finnish directors would tell local stories to local audiences; now they try to find their place in international cinema,” said Sara Norberg, executive director of Hiff and Ffa.
“The Finnish Film Affair will illustrate this ‘movement’ and the current diversity of Finnish films.”
The three-day event, which wraps tomorrow, includes 250 film professionals, comprising sales agents, buyers, festival programmers and press. This figure includes 60 international representatives – up from 35 at last year’s inaugural event.
The programme includes 30 Finnish films, both recent and upcoming releases. It also features the presentation of 16 works-in-progress, of which eight will be pitched by the filmmakers, at the Finnish Film Foundation’s Kino K-13.
Attending...
The Finnish Film Affair, the industry strand of the 26th Helsinki International Film Festival, has returned for a second year and is highlighting the diversity of features emerging from the country.
“In the past Finnish directors would tell local stories to local audiences; now they try to find their place in international cinema,” said Sara Norberg, executive director of Hiff and Ffa.
“The Finnish Film Affair will illustrate this ‘movement’ and the current diversity of Finnish films.”
The three-day event, which wraps tomorrow, includes 250 film professionals, comprising sales agents, buyers, festival programmers and press. This figure includes 60 international representatives – up from 35 at last year’s inaugural event.
The programme includes 30 Finnish films, both recent and upcoming releases. It also features the presentation of 16 works-in-progress, of which eight will be pitched by the filmmakers, at the Finnish Film Foundation’s Kino K-13.
Attending...
- 9/25/2013
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
European Film Academy reveals titles of the films on this year’s selection list.Scroll down for full list
The European Film Academy and Efa Productions have announced the titles of the 46 films on this year’s selection list - the list of films recommended for a nomination for the European Film Awards 2013.
A total of 32 European countries are represented. In the 20 countries with the most Efa Members, these members have voted one national film directly into the selection list. To complete the list, a selection committee consisting of Efa Board Members and invited experts have included further films.
In the coming weeks, the 2,900 Efa members will vote for the nominations in the categories European Film, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenwriter. The nominations will then be announced on Nov 9 at the Seville European Film Festival in Spain.
A seven-member jury will decide on the awards recipients in the categories European Cinematographer, Editor, Production...
The European Film Academy and Efa Productions have announced the titles of the 46 films on this year’s selection list - the list of films recommended for a nomination for the European Film Awards 2013.
A total of 32 European countries are represented. In the 20 countries with the most Efa Members, these members have voted one national film directly into the selection list. To complete the list, a selection committee consisting of Efa Board Members and invited experts have included further films.
In the coming weeks, the 2,900 Efa members will vote for the nominations in the categories European Film, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenwriter. The nominations will then be announced on Nov 9 at the Seville European Film Festival in Spain.
A seven-member jury will decide on the awards recipients in the categories European Cinematographer, Editor, Production...
- 9/9/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The second edition of the Finnish Film Affair, scheduled for Sept 24-26 in Helsinki, will again showcase hot local titles and works in progress.
This year’s event boasts an expanded guest list of sales agents, buyers and festival programmers, including representatives from Zdf/Arte, Celluloid Dreams, Wild Bunch, Hanway, Tribeca, Palm Springs, Rotterdam and Locarno. About 200 industry experts will attend.
“The first edition introduced the Finnish Film Affair to international decision makers,” said Sara Norberg, executive director of the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, which launched the event. “We’re very proud that the success of last year’s works-in-progress and the positive buzz around the event has attracted even more interest from the international industry.”
The new films to be screened include Toronto-bound titles Concrete Night by Pirjo Honkasalo and Heart of Lion by Dome Karukoski, in addition to other festival selections such as Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart by Mika Ronkainen and Alcan Highway by Aleksi...
This year’s event boasts an expanded guest list of sales agents, buyers and festival programmers, including representatives from Zdf/Arte, Celluloid Dreams, Wild Bunch, Hanway, Tribeca, Palm Springs, Rotterdam and Locarno. About 200 industry experts will attend.
“The first edition introduced the Finnish Film Affair to international decision makers,” said Sara Norberg, executive director of the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, which launched the event. “We’re very proud that the success of last year’s works-in-progress and the positive buzz around the event has attracted even more interest from the international industry.”
The new films to be screened include Toronto-bound titles Concrete Night by Pirjo Honkasalo and Heart of Lion by Dome Karukoski, in addition to other festival selections such as Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart by Mika Ronkainen and Alcan Highway by Aleksi...
- 8/21/2013
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Things promise to get rather dark in upcoming Finnish crime drama 8 Ball. A multi faceted affairdirected by Aku Louhimies and backed by Blind Spot Pictures (Iron Sky), 8 Ball looks to be a more encompassing view of the narcotic underground than normal, one that includes not only gangsters and guns but also addicts and their families in a package that promises to be edgy and provocative in a way we haven't seen out of the region since the Pusher films and Ole Christian Madsen's Angels In Fast Motion (Nordkraft). Jessica Grabowsky, Eero Aho, Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, and Mikko Leppilampi star.We ran the first teaser for this one back in October but now a full trailer has arrived. Take a look below....
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 12/24/2012
- Screen Anarchy
European Film Promotion has announced the 10 young European actors selected as the 2013 Shooting Stars at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival, running February 7-17. A jury of international industry professionals chose the talent, which includes Mikkel Boe Følsgaard from Danish Oscar entry "A Royal Affair," Laura Birn from Finnish Oscar entry "Purge," and Saskia Rosendahl from Cate Shortland's "Lore." Full list below. Denmark: Mikkel Boe Følsgaard Nominated by Danish Film Institute Selected Films: A Royal Affair (En kongelig affære) by Nikolaj Arcel (Denmark 2012) The Keeper of the Lost Causes (Kvinden I Buret) by Mikkel Nørgaard (Denmark 2013) Finland: Laura Birn Nominated by Finnish Film Foundation Selected Films: Purge (Puhdistus) by Antti Jokinen (Finland 2012) Naked Harbour (Vuosaari) by Aku Louhimies (Finland 2012) August Fools (Mieletön Elokuu) by Taru...
- 12/15/2012
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
Finland has, in many ways, felt a bit like the socially outcast step child in the current wave of Nordic crime films. Which makes sense, in a way, given that Finland is the one non-Scandinavian country in the region and quite distinct culturally - Finnish as a language is actually much closer to Estonian and Hungarian - but they're giving the genre their own distinct spin with upcoming drug thriller 8 Ball.Directed by Aku Louhimies and backed by Blind Spot Pictures (Iron Sky), 8 Ball looks to be a more encompassing view of the narcotic underground than normal, one that includes not only gangsters and guns but also addicts and their families in a package that promises to be edgy and provocative in a way...
- 10/26/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Montreal’s Festival Du Nouveau Cinema (10.10 – 10.21) announced their line-up today for their 41st edition and among the smorgasbord of subtitle offerings dating back to this year’s Rotterdam, Berlin, Cannes, Locarno, Venice and Tiff editions, we’re knee-deep in avant-garde world cinema from the established auteurs Assayas, Vinterberg, Ozon, Sang-Soo, Joao Pedro Rodriguez, Larrain, Loach, Reygadas, Ghobadi, Mungiu and Miguel Gomes. Heavy on offerings from Quebec and France, the fest also manages to offer a stellar snapshot of the up-and-comers from all corners of the globe. Among the notable titles in the (Competition category) International Selection we’ve got Pablo Berger’s Blancanieves, Ursula Meier’s Sister, Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky’s Francine (which received its theatrical release earlier this month) and Rodrigo Plá’s La Demora. Loaded in Cannes items, the Special Presentations is the fest’s A-list selections (see filmmakers named above) and the one pic...
- 9/25/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
I've only just now caught wind of a one-time-only event that took place in the Port of Tallinn last Thursday, 60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero, via Alison Nastasi at Movies.com: "An international collective of directors… contributed their shorts to the single 35mm film anthology that was screened for an audience one time — as part of Estonia's 2011 European Capital of Culture celebration — and then burned to the ground (along with the screen itself). Why, exactly? The project's website describes it as 'flying in the face of the cynicism of marketing, production, business operators, and the moral majority … dedicated to preserving freedom of thought in cinema.'" The roster of participating directors and artists is pretty impressive:
Brian Yuzna (USA), Michael Glawogger (Austria), Aku Louhimies (Finland), Ken Jacobs (USA), Gustav Deutsch (Austria), Tom Tykwer (Germany), Mark Boswell (USA), Malcolm Le Grice (UK), Aki Kaurismäki (Finland), Bruce McClure (UK), Mika Taanila...
Brian Yuzna (USA), Michael Glawogger (Austria), Aku Louhimies (Finland), Ken Jacobs (USA), Gustav Deutsch (Austria), Tom Tykwer (Germany), Mark Boswell (USA), Malcolm Le Grice (UK), Aki Kaurismäki (Finland), Bruce McClure (UK), Mika Taanila...
- 12/27/2011
- MUBI
Cologne, Germany -- For this first time since its launch in 1997, next year's Shooting Stars event will not include an actor from either Germany, France or Spain.
The Shooting Stars jury on Wednesday announced the 10 young acting talents that will take part in the event, which runs Feb. 13-15 during the Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 11-21, 2010).
And, with the exception of British actor Edward Hogg ("White Lightnin") and Italy's Michele Riondino ("The Past is a Foreign Land") all of the talents come from smaller European countries.
Central and Eastern Europe is well represented, with four Shooting Stars including Poland's Agata Buzek ("Within the Whirlwind"), Czech actor Krystof Hadadek ("Three Seasons in Hell"), Romanian actor Dragos Bucur ("The Way Back) and Croatia's Zrinka Cvitesic, who stars in "Nat putu" the new film from Golden Bear winner Jasmila Zbanic ("Esma's Secret -- Grbavica") which is widely expected to compete in Berlin next year.
The Shooting Stars jury on Wednesday announced the 10 young acting talents that will take part in the event, which runs Feb. 13-15 during the Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 11-21, 2010).
And, with the exception of British actor Edward Hogg ("White Lightnin") and Italy's Michele Riondino ("The Past is a Foreign Land") all of the talents come from smaller European countries.
Central and Eastern Europe is well represented, with four Shooting Stars including Poland's Agata Buzek ("Within the Whirlwind"), Czech actor Krystof Hadadek ("Three Seasons in Hell"), Romanian actor Dragos Bucur ("The Way Back) and Croatia's Zrinka Cvitesic, who stars in "Nat putu" the new film from Golden Bear winner Jasmila Zbanic ("Esma's Secret -- Grbavica") which is widely expected to compete in Berlin next year.
- 12/2/2009
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Which will include Coppola's Tetro which premiers at Cannes for a total of 392 films which includes 31 world premiers and 203 narrative features. Man, Siff always has good stuff, I wish I could go. Any writers in Seattle want to provide coverage for us?
Check out some of the premiers after the break.
World Premieres
Back to the Garden, Flower Power Comes Full Circle, directed by Kevin Tomlinson (USA, 2009)
Dancing Across Borders, directed by Anne H. Bass (USA/Cambodia, 2009)
Facing Ali, directed by Pete McCormack (Canada, 2009)
The Hills Run Red, directed by Dave Parker (USA, 2009)
Icons Among Us, directed by Michael Rivoira, Lars Larson, Peter J. Vogt (USA, 2009)
I’m No Dummy, directed by Bryan W. Simon (USA, 2009)
Pop Star On Ice, directed by David Barba (USA/Canada/Russia/Japan, 2009)
The Spy and the Sparrow, directed by Garrett Bennett (USA, 2009)
talhotblond, directed by Barbara Schroeder (USA, 2008)
The Whole Truth, directed by Colleen Patrick (USA,...
Check out some of the premiers after the break.
World Premieres
Back to the Garden, Flower Power Comes Full Circle, directed by Kevin Tomlinson (USA, 2009)
Dancing Across Borders, directed by Anne H. Bass (USA/Cambodia, 2009)
Facing Ali, directed by Pete McCormack (Canada, 2009)
The Hills Run Red, directed by Dave Parker (USA, 2009)
Icons Among Us, directed by Michael Rivoira, Lars Larson, Peter J. Vogt (USA, 2009)
I’m No Dummy, directed by Bryan W. Simon (USA, 2009)
Pop Star On Ice, directed by David Barba (USA/Canada/Russia/Japan, 2009)
The Spy and the Sparrow, directed by Garrett Bennett (USA, 2009)
talhotblond, directed by Barbara Schroeder (USA, 2008)
The Whole Truth, directed by Colleen Patrick (USA,...
- 5/1/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Paris -- The "Red City" will be ablaze with international cinema when the eighth annual Marrakech International Film Festival kicks off in the Moroccan capital Nov. 14.
Jury president Barry Levinson will open the nine-day festival with his latest film, "What Just Happened?," and the fest will close with anti-poverty collaborative project "8" from filmmakers including Jane Campion, Mira Nair, Gael Garcia Bernal and Wim Wenders.
The Union Jack will be flying high as the festival celebrates 40 years of British cinema with a 40-film retrospective, while a "Flashback" section will honor iconic filmmakers Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and Joseph Losey.
Steve McQueen's "Hunger" and David Rocksavage's "Shadows in the Sun" will screen in the "Coups de Coeur" special favorite features section and Saul Dibbs' "The Duchess" will make a cameo in the out-of-competition section.
Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies," Fred Cavaye's "Anything for Her" and Dan Harris' "The...
Jury president Barry Levinson will open the nine-day festival with his latest film, "What Just Happened?," and the fest will close with anti-poverty collaborative project "8" from filmmakers including Jane Campion, Mira Nair, Gael Garcia Bernal and Wim Wenders.
The Union Jack will be flying high as the festival celebrates 40 years of British cinema with a 40-film retrospective, while a "Flashback" section will honor iconic filmmakers Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and Joseph Losey.
Steve McQueen's "Hunger" and David Rocksavage's "Shadows in the Sun" will screen in the "Coups de Coeur" special favorite features section and Saul Dibbs' "The Duchess" will make a cameo in the out-of-competition section.
Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies," Fred Cavaye's "Anything for Her" and Dan Harris' "The...
- 11/3/2008
- by By Rebecca Leffler
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Ioncinema.com presents: Best of Fests Tromsø International Film Festival When: January 16th to 21st, 2007 Counting Down: updateCountdownClock('January 16, 2007'); Where: Location: Tromsø, NorwayOfficial Website: http://www.tiff.no/What: Tiff is a popular film festival for our audience, and at the same time an important meeting point for Norwegian and international film industry. TIFF07 will be Tromsø's 17th international film festival. Tromsø International Film Festival had in 2006 a total admission of 44 804. This makes Tiff Norway' largest festival.Accredited: No Film Line Up:Opening NightSPANDEXMAN - Bobbie Peers, 2007Winterland - Hisham Zaman, 2006Closing NightONCE In A Lifetime - John Dower, Paul Crowder, 2005Competition ProgramBORDERPOST - Rajko Grlic , 2006Born And Bred - Pablo Trapero , 2006Chronicle Of An Escape - Isreal Adrián Caetano, 2006Colossal Youth - Pedro Costa, 2006Family Ties - Kim Tae-Yong, 2006Glue - Alexis Dos Santos, 2005Gypo - Jan Dunn, 2005Longing - Valeska Grisebach, 2006Lucy - Henner Winckler, 2006Requiem -
- 1/13/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
MOSCOW -- The 27th edition of the Moscow International Film Festival closed Sunday on a note of nationalist self-congratulation when the main prize, the Gold St. George, went to Russian director Alexei Uchitel's Soviet-era drama Kosmos Kak Predchuvstviye (Dreaming of Space). Accepting the prize at a gala closing ceremony at Moscow's Pushkin film theater, Uchitel said, "First of all, I am glad that we (Russia) won," before thanking the festival jury and organizers. He concluded his remarks by saying, "The winner is our cinema". A special jury prize went to Finnish director Aku Louhimies' Rana Maa (Frozen Land) about a young computer hacker anxious to do something socially useful -- a choice greeted with cheers by local journalists.
- 6/26/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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