New Nordic Films in Haugesund unveils full program 

More than 250 international guests, including 53 buyers from 18 countries, have signed up for the Norwegian International Film Festival’s three-day industry event New Nordic Films in Haugesund, which will fête its 30^th anniversary and kickoff with Charlotte Sieling’s drama “Way Home.”

Some of the strongest filmmakers from the region and beyond –  including Erik Poppe, Dag Johan Haugerud, Selma Vilhunen, Zaida Bergroth, Rúnar Rúnarsson – will be screening or pitching their next projects, next to scores of rising talents.

“Our DNA hasn’t changed,” said Line Halvorsen, who joined New Nordic Films four years ago and is serving as acting director, temporarily filling in for Gyda Velvin Myklebust.

“Our core is to gather Nordic filmmakers and industryites interested in Nordic films, to serve as a launching pad for new talents, and to spotlight latest industry trends. Together with our twin event in the Göteborg Nordic Film Market, we are here to support our Nordic industry, and the more attention Nordic pics can get, the better it is for everyone, especially in this tough marketplace,” stressed Halvorsen.

With buyers and financiers moving in early to snap the best talents and projects, New Nordic Films’ Nordic Co-Production Market, one of its three pillars with the Works in Progress and Market Screenings, has flourished in its 19 year-existence, and is now “the most popular” showcase, according to NNF honcho.

Catchy Projects in Development

For the second running year, a record 80-plus projects applied, out of which 22 made the cut. “We could easily have staged two co-production markets, considering the quality of the submissions,” said Halvorsen.

Anticipated features from seasoned filmmakers take in “She Did Not Show Remorse” by Selma Vilhunen (“Stupid Young Heart”,”Four Little Adults”), “The Wednesday Club” by Zaida Bergroth (“Tove”) and “Love Duet,” a bio pic by Suzanne Osten and Janne Widmark in which the legendary feminist Osten scratches the image of cult helmer Ingmar Bergman.

Several projects by first or second timers backed by prominent Nordic outfits will also be showcased, such as “Two People Who Fall in Love” by Daniel Sawka (HBO’s “Icebox”), Halvorsen’s personal coup de coeur, “Also a Life” by Anders Emblem (“Human Position”), “Benedikte & Theo” (working title) by the Tribeca student visionary nominated Aslak Danbolt, and “Halima” by Naima Mohamud (“Fatima”).

As part of the second U.K. Focus at New Nordic Films, four U.K. projects looking for Nordic partners will be pitched by their respective filmmakers and/or producers: the genre-bending “The Fell” by Za Quirke, “Unspeakable” by Corinna Faith, “Let it Come Down” by Anna Fredrikke Bjerke, and “Nothing Holy” by Ashley Horner.

Works in Progress

Within the eclectic 15 works in progress, Halvorsen highlights the quick turnaround production of three titles, pitched last year at the Nordic Co-Production Market: the Swedish horror pic “The Home” by Mattias J.Skoglund, sold by LevelK; the Norwegian Christmas family pic “Stargate” by Ida Sagmo Tvedte, sold by REinvent; and drama “Zarsis-Waves of Silence” by Iranian-born Norwegian newcomer Farzad Samsami.

Other hot projects in post take in Motor Productions’ Danish Stone Age thriller “Stranger” by Mads Hedegaard, sold by REinvent; Zentropa’s “Home Sweet Home” by Frelle Petersen, the third instalment in his trilogy about rural Denmark after “Uncle” and “Forever” and Maipo’s ambition 2D animated family film “The Polar Bear Prince,” sold by TrustNordisk.

As always, to make New Nordic Films a worthwhile trip for sales agents in the busy fall season, most projects at the Copro Market and works in progress are available for world distribution.

Looking at trends, Halvorsen sees a clear thread of family films and coming of ages, breaking away from last year’s horror and sci-fi heavy output.

Regarding gender split behind the camera, 12 out of the 22 co-prod titles are directed by women, against only three in the works in progress. “We’ve made the utmost from what was available, that said many works in progress are female-produced, Halvorsen insists.

Newcomers are also out in force (nine in the co-pro market) and among the Nordic nations, Norway dominates, with six projects in development and another six in post.

Although extremely pleased with her 2024 program, Halvorsen said 30 eye-catching Nordic projects that she actively chased with her team, weren’t available due to their production schedule. “Many great films were shooting this summer, so we can guarantee that after 2024, 2025 will be another very solid year for Nordic cinema”, she said.

For those who missed out on some of this year’s biggest draws, Haugesund’s market screenings will be the place to catch up. Among the 18 completed pics lined up are Sundance’s “Sebastian,” sold by LevelK, the Venice-bound “Love,” sold by M-Appeal (closed market screening), Cannes’ entries “Armand,”“The Girl with the Needle,” and “When the Light Breaks,” sold respectively by Charades, The Match Factory and The Party Film Sales.

For those chasing the next talent straight from film school, the Next Nordic Generation, will present a curated program of 10 graduation films, to be introduced by their filmmakers.

On the seminar front, two sessions will be dedicated to this year’s main theme, ‘The Future is Now.’ ‘AI as a filmmaking tool’ will be discussed by Microsoft’s Christopher Frenning, as well as filmmaker Jan Christian Frugård and production designer Kristine Wilhelmen who have incorporated AI in their daily work. “We want people to feel involved, not intimated by AI,” said Halvorsen.

VR technology and its assets for storytellers and producers will be explored by Arnt Christian Scheele, commercial director of the leading animation studio Qvisten.

Elsewhere, regular New Nordic Films’ collaborator Europa Distribution will invite participants to a case study on Aki Kaurismäki’s award-winning “Fallen Leaves.”

All screenings and industry events will be staged at the revamped EDDA film centre and its seven screening halls.

Nordic Co-Production Market Lineup

“A Week in Paradise” (Katia Winter, Gimme a Break, Sweden)

“Also a Life” (Anders Emblem, Stær Film, Norway)

“Benedikte & Theo” (Aslak Danbolt, Paradox, Norway)

“The Blindsight” (Ruslan Batutskvi, Brave Productions, Ukraine)

“Burn Oslo Burn” (Gustav Johansson, New Land/Filmlance, Sweden)

“The Fell” (Zu Quirke, Escape Plan, UK)

“Five Days at the Sea” (Ivana Skrabalo, Pet dana na moru, Croatia/Macedonia/Serbia)

“Forza Oslo” (Mats Bjerknes, Storm Films, Norway)

“Halima” (Naima Mohamud, It’s Alive Films, Finland)

“Himalaya My Heart” (Sunil Munshi, Way Creative, Sweden)

“Let it Come Down” (Anna Fredrikke Bjerke, Backscatter Productions, UK)

“Love Duet” (Suzanne Osten, Janne Widmark, Vilda Bomben, Sweden)

“Máttáháráká” (Suvi West, Tekele/Nordisk Film, Finland)

“Nothing Holy” (Ashley Horner, Pinball Films, UK)

“Planet” (Fredrik S. Hana, Chezville, Norway)

“Polaris” (Christian Andersen, produced by Hanna Rosland, Denmark)

“Roach Coach” (Ilze Jacobsen, Bivrost, Norway/Latvia)

“Sanna” (Liv Karin Dahlstrøm, Nordisk Film, Norway)

“She Did Not Show Remorse” (Selma Vilhunen, Dionysos Films, Finland)

“Two People Who Fall in Love” (Daniel Sawka, Anagram Sweden)

“The Wednesday Club” (Zaida Bergroth, Lucy Loves Drama, Finland)

“Unspeakable” (Corinna Faith, The Bureau, UK)

Works in Progress Lineup

“Confessions of a Swedish Man” (Hampus Linder, Nordic Factory Film, Sweden)

“Crossing Lines” (Jahfar Muataz, produced by Misam Avaz, Denmark)

“Defiance” (Visa Koiso-Kanttila, Rabbit Films, Finland)

“Earth Song” (Erol Mintaș, Sons et Lumiere, Finland)

“Everything Must Go (Arild Østin Ommundsen, Chezville, Norway)

“Home Sweet Home” (Frelle Petersen, Zentropa, Denmark)

“Raptures” (Jon Blåhed, Iris Film, Sweden/Finland)

“Stargate” (Ida Sagmo Tvedte, Motlys, Norway)

“Stranger” (Mads Hedegaard, Motor, Denmark)

“Summer is Crazy” (Ulla Heikkilä, Tekele Productions, Finland)

“The Badgers (Paul Magnus Lundø, 73 Eyes Film, Norway)

“The Home” (Mattias J.Skoglund, (sic) Film, Sweden)

“The Polar Bear Prince” (Mikkel B Sandemose, Maipo, Norway)

“Three Men and Vilma” (Charlotte Blom, Maipo, Norway)

“Zarzis, Waves of Silence” (Farzad Samsami, Gorilla Film, Norway)

Market screenings lineup

“Armand”, Norway (Charades)

“Birthday Girl”, Denmark (TrustNordisk)

“Butterflies”, Finland (Picture Tree International)

“Explosions in My Heart”, Norway (sales tbc)

“Flocks”, Finland (Aamu Film Company)

“Kevlar Soul”, Sweden (sales tbc)

“Long Good Thursday”, Finland (sales tbc)

“Loveable”, Norway (TrustNordisk)

“Love”, Norway (M-Appeal)

“The Girl with the Needle”, Denmark/Poland/Sweden (The Match Factory)

“The Mountain”, Iceland, Sweden (Greenlighting Studio)

“My Father’s Daughter”, Norway/Sweden/Finland (Pluto Film)

“Quisling”, Norway (REinvent International Sales)

“Sebastian”, UK/Belgium/Finland (LevelK)

“Silent Trilogy”, Finland (Totem Films)

“Trans Memoria”, Sweden/France (Outplay Films)

“Way Home”, Denmark (LevelK)

“When the Light Breaks” (The Party Film Sales)