Finnish series creators are ready to laugh – also at themselves.
“While cultures vary, a fish-out-of-water experience is universal,” says writer Beata Harju, behind “Lay Low and Don’t Be Fabulous” about a woman who just can’t let go of her ex. Or of her Finnish roots.
“Finland is the perfect setting for a culture-clash comedy, because our networking events are so silent, you can hear the crunch of a cucumber.”
The show, set to bow in the Focus on Finland showcase at Mipcom, won’t be the only one led by complex female protagonists. In “True North,” three women fight for power after Egyptian refugee, Layla, joins a catering company with a secret.
“Through placing the story in [Spain’s] Marbella, where international jet-setters and social media celebrities live next to refugees and locals struggling to get by, we create a unique story around some of the inequalities of today’s society,...
“While cultures vary, a fish-out-of-water experience is universal,” says writer Beata Harju, behind “Lay Low and Don’t Be Fabulous” about a woman who just can’t let go of her ex. Or of her Finnish roots.
“Finland is the perfect setting for a culture-clash comedy, because our networking events are so silent, you can hear the crunch of a cucumber.”
The show, set to bow in the Focus on Finland showcase at Mipcom, won’t be the only one led by complex female protagonists. In “True North,” three women fight for power after Egyptian refugee, Layla, joins a catering company with a secret.
“Through placing the story in [Spain’s] Marbella, where international jet-setters and social media celebrities live next to refugees and locals struggling to get by, we create a unique story around some of the inequalities of today’s society,...
- 10/12/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Caution! Kaisa El Ramly’s upcoming feature “Gateways & Dreams” has debuted a trailer, so watch out for moving vehicles.
The tragicomic road movie, produced by Helsinki-based Inland Film Company and co-produced by Sweden’s Läsk, focuses on multiple characters stuck in their cars on one summer’s day, as well as one hitchhiker and a very special dog.
Following its screenings at Helsinki Int. Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, it will be released in Finland on Dec. 1. Aurora Studios is handling distribution.
El Ramly is refusing to hit the brakes, however, currently developing TV series “Oat: The Orgasm of All Time” with producer Liora Notoadikusumo and Denmark’s True Content Production.
“It’s about an a cappella group of women trying to enter this prestigious competition with a song composed out of sounds they make when they climax. As you can imagine, it’s full of energy,” she laughs, also revealing another feature in the works,...
The tragicomic road movie, produced by Helsinki-based Inland Film Company and co-produced by Sweden’s Läsk, focuses on multiple characters stuck in their cars on one summer’s day, as well as one hitchhiker and a very special dog.
Following its screenings at Helsinki Int. Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, it will be released in Finland on Dec. 1. Aurora Studios is handling distribution.
El Ramly is refusing to hit the brakes, however, currently developing TV series “Oat: The Orgasm of All Time” with producer Liora Notoadikusumo and Denmark’s True Content Production.
“It’s about an a cappella group of women trying to enter this prestigious competition with a song composed out of sounds they make when they climax. As you can imagine, it’s full of energy,” she laughs, also revealing another feature in the works,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The Finnish Film Affair’s 11th edition runs September 21-23.
The Finnish Film Affair’s 11th edition (September 21-23) will showcase around 30 Nordic films in development or production and four Finnish TV series projects in early development.
Some of the projects being presented are Selma Vilhunen’s Four Little Adults, a polyamory drama now in post; Katja Gauriloff’s second fiction feature Je’vida, the first feature film in the Skolt Sámi language; Teemu Nikki’s fantasy comedy for all ages Snot And Splash; the third instalment in the Niko animations, Niko - Beyond The Northern Lights, by Kari Juusonen...
The Finnish Film Affair’s 11th edition (September 21-23) will showcase around 30 Nordic films in development or production and four Finnish TV series projects in early development.
Some of the projects being presented are Selma Vilhunen’s Four Little Adults, a polyamory drama now in post; Katja Gauriloff’s second fiction feature Je’vida, the first feature film in the Skolt Sámi language; Teemu Nikki’s fantasy comedy for all ages Snot And Splash; the third instalment in the Niko animations, Niko - Beyond The Northern Lights, by Kari Juusonen...
- 9/2/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Hot projects include Runar Runarsson’s Echo, Grimur Hakonarson’s The County and Hlynur Palmason’s A White, White Day.
The three Icelandic films presented at Goteborg’s Works In Progress were some of the most buzzed about by festival programmers and buyers.
Runar Runarsson’s Echo is a stylistic departure for the Volcano and Sparrows director. He paints a portrait of contemporary society by presenting 59 difference scenes, in a mix of fiction and documentary. Jour2Fete handles sales.
The County will mark Grimur Hakonarson’s follow-up to his international hit Rams. The film, previously pitched at Les Arcs’ works in progress,...
The three Icelandic films presented at Goteborg’s Works In Progress were some of the most buzzed about by festival programmers and buyers.
Runar Runarsson’s Echo is a stylistic departure for the Volcano and Sparrows director. He paints a portrait of contemporary society by presenting 59 difference scenes, in a mix of fiction and documentary. Jour2Fete handles sales.
The County will mark Grimur Hakonarson’s follow-up to his international hit Rams. The film, previously pitched at Les Arcs’ works in progress,...
- 2/4/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Produced by Hummelfilm, ‘Borg vs McEnroe’ star Sverrir Gudnason is amongst the cast.
Haugesund’s industry programme New Nordic Films will kick off with a screening of Camilla Strøm Henriksen’s Norwegian family drama Phoenix (Foniks), which was pitched as a work in progress at the event last year.
Gudny Hummelvoll produces for Hummelfilm, with a cast that features Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin, Casper Falck-Løvås, Maria Bonnevie and Sverrir Gudnason (Borg vs McEnroe).
New Nordic Films has also today confirmed the projects for Scandinavian Debut Pitch:
A Foot In The Grave (En amputasjon), dir Simon Tillaas (Nor) Daddy’s Girl, dir...
Haugesund’s industry programme New Nordic Films will kick off with a screening of Camilla Strøm Henriksen’s Norwegian family drama Phoenix (Foniks), which was pitched as a work in progress at the event last year.
Gudny Hummelvoll produces for Hummelfilm, with a cast that features Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin, Casper Falck-Løvås, Maria Bonnevie and Sverrir Gudnason (Borg vs McEnroe).
New Nordic Films has also today confirmed the projects for Scandinavian Debut Pitch:
A Foot In The Grave (En amputasjon), dir Simon Tillaas (Nor) Daddy’s Girl, dir...
- 7/27/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
The Baltic Event Coproduction Market Awards at the 20th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
The Baltic Event Coproduction Market, taking place since 2005, is the largest coproduction platform in the region of Northern and Central Europe. With a complete overview of the year’s audiovisual production in the region and a range of programs open for feature film projects, Baltic Event is the key production platform to be at in November.
For its 15th edition, Baltic Event selected 14 projects from its traditional roster of new EU territories, Scandinavia and Russia, as well as a project from Georgia in collaboration with Eave and 2 projects from this year’s focus country, Luxembourg. The Baltic Event Coproduction Market presented these 17 projects from November 22 to 24, 2016 to international coproducers and buyers at more than 500 one-to-one meetings during the 20th jubilee edition of the Black Nights Film Festival.
The Baltic Event team was satisfied by the exceptionally...
The Baltic Event Coproduction Market, taking place since 2005, is the largest coproduction platform in the region of Northern and Central Europe. With a complete overview of the year’s audiovisual production in the region and a range of programs open for feature film projects, Baltic Event is the key production platform to be at in November.
For its 15th edition, Baltic Event selected 14 projects from its traditional roster of new EU territories, Scandinavia and Russia, as well as a project from Georgia in collaboration with Eave and 2 projects from this year’s focus country, Luxembourg. The Baltic Event Coproduction Market presented these 17 projects from November 22 to 24, 2016 to international coproducers and buyers at more than 500 one-to-one meetings during the 20th jubilee edition of the Black Nights Film Festival.
The Baltic Event team was satisfied by the exceptionally...
- 11/26/2016
- by Tara Karajica
- Sydney's Buzz
Nordisk Film & TV Fond has unveiled the list of Nordic graduation students and their projects running for the $30,000 (NOK250,000) pitch prize and $6,000 (Nok 50,000) special mention prize at Nordic Talents (Aug 31-Sept 2).
Petri Kemppinen, Nordisk Film & TV Fond CEO, said: “This year we have many projects targeting children and young audiences, and several comedies. The competition to get in was tougher as for the first time we asked applicants to submit a development plan for their project. I think this was helpful for both the students and the selection group. It is also interesting to note the 60/40 female representation in the submissions and selection.”
In addition to the pitching sessions, Nordic Talents will screen the graduation films of all selected film students.
This year’s Nordic Talents jury comprises Norwegian director/writer Sara Johnsen, Danish animation director/comics artist Anders Morgenthaler, Swedish producer Lars Blomgren of Filmlance, Finnish writer/producer Petja Peltomaa of Yellow Film & TV and Kristina...
Petri Kemppinen, Nordisk Film & TV Fond CEO, said: “This year we have many projects targeting children and young audiences, and several comedies. The competition to get in was tougher as for the first time we asked applicants to submit a development plan for their project. I think this was helpful for both the students and the selection group. It is also interesting to note the 60/40 female representation in the submissions and selection.”
In addition to the pitching sessions, Nordic Talents will screen the graduation films of all selected film students.
This year’s Nordic Talents jury comprises Norwegian director/writer Sara Johnsen, Danish animation director/comics artist Anders Morgenthaler, Swedish producer Lars Blomgren of Filmlance, Finnish writer/producer Petja Peltomaa of Yellow Film & TV and Kristina...
- 6/24/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
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