Finland unveiled six upcoming shows at Mipcom, with thrillers continuing to be relevant but Nordic Noir taking a back seat.
The showcase, organized by Audiovisual Producers Finland – Apfi partnering up with Yle, Finnish Film Foundation, Elisa Viihde and Film in Finland, spotlighted a thriller about a data leak, “cosy” crime series and even animation inspired by unboxing videos.
Aurora Studios is developing “Sunset Grove” with Elisa Viihde, described as a “feel-good crime story.” The shoot will start in September next year.
Through eight episodes, made in co-production with Fire Monkey, it will follow three elderly ladies from different backgrounds as they settle in a retirement home “where growing old is the least of your problems.”
Soon, they will have to turn into “Sherlocks in support tights,” said producer Severi Koivusalo, and team up to solve a crime.
“I am in my thirties and I don’t usually fantasize about retirement homes.
The showcase, organized by Audiovisual Producers Finland – Apfi partnering up with Yle, Finnish Film Foundation, Elisa Viihde and Film in Finland, spotlighted a thriller about a data leak, “cosy” crime series and even animation inspired by unboxing videos.
Aurora Studios is developing “Sunset Grove” with Elisa Viihde, described as a “feel-good crime story.” The shoot will start in September next year.
Through eight episodes, made in co-production with Fire Monkey, it will follow three elderly ladies from different backgrounds as they settle in a retirement home “where growing old is the least of your problems.”
Soon, they will have to turn into “Sherlocks in support tights,” said producer Severi Koivusalo, and team up to solve a crime.
“I am in my thirties and I don’t usually fantasize about retirement homes.
- 10/20/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The 10th anniversary edition will take place as a hybrid event.
The Finnish Film Affair (Ffa) will celebrate its 10th anniversary edition with a hybrid industry event that will showcase 24 Finnish projects and four from the other Nordics.
Some 50% of the selected projects are directed by women or non-binary people.
Running in Helsinki from September 22-24, the Ffa will present projects in development including Family Time, the first feature of Tia Kouvo to be produced by Aamu Film Company, whose credits include Compartment No. 6. The drama, which has been part of Torino Film Lab, is an exploration of family life,...
The Finnish Film Affair (Ffa) will celebrate its 10th anniversary edition with a hybrid industry event that will showcase 24 Finnish projects and four from the other Nordics.
Some 50% of the selected projects are directed by women or non-binary people.
Running in Helsinki from September 22-24, the Ffa will present projects in development including Family Time, the first feature of Tia Kouvo to be produced by Aamu Film Company, whose credits include Compartment No. 6. The drama, which has been part of Torino Film Lab, is an exploration of family life,...
- 9/2/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
After the BBC’s “Deep Blue,” “Earth” and Terence Malick’s “Voyage of Time,” Berlin-based Sophisticated Films is partnering Finland’s Mrp Matila Röhr Productions on their mythological natural history feature “Tale of the Sleeping Giants.” Sophisticated Films’ managing director Sophokles Tasioulis will serve as associate producer, in charge of marketing and sales outside Finland.
“Tale of the Sleeping Giant” is the third standalone nature movie produced by Mpr Matila Röhr Productions after “Tale of a Forest” (2013) and “Tale of a Lake” (2016), the biggest Finnish documentary ever with 188,000 ticket sales.
Shot over three years in Lapland’s wilderness, from the Arctic Circle to the Arctic Ocean, Marko Röhr’s “Tale of the Sleeping Giants” is based on screenwriter Antti Tuuri’s vision of fells as sleeping giants. “It’s pure drama, which is why we’ve received support from the Finnish Film Foundation’s drama -not documentary-department,” noted Röhr.
The...
“Tale of the Sleeping Giant” is the third standalone nature movie produced by Mpr Matila Röhr Productions after “Tale of a Forest” (2013) and “Tale of a Lake” (2016), the biggest Finnish documentary ever with 188,000 ticket sales.
Shot over three years in Lapland’s wilderness, from the Arctic Circle to the Arctic Ocean, Marko Röhr’s “Tale of the Sleeping Giants” is based on screenwriter Antti Tuuri’s vision of fells as sleeping giants. “It’s pure drama, which is why we’ve received support from the Finnish Film Foundation’s drama -not documentary-department,” noted Röhr.
The...
- 2/8/2021
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Indian streaming major Disney+ Hotstar has put the wheels in motion on major new project Special Ops Universe, a multi-series spin-off format of its recent espionage thriller Special Ops. Created by Neeraj Pandey, the project will span numerous incarnations, including Special Ops season 1.5: The Himmat Story, which will tell the back story of Kay Kay Menon’s character Himmat Singh. Like Special Ops, the show will be shot across multiple international locations. “Within weeks of its launch, Special Ops emerged as one of the biggest shows of 2020,” said Sunil Rayan, President of Disney+ Hotstar. “We’re excited to venture in this nonlinear format of storytelling that brings alive an entire universe; where stories and different characters can simultaneously co-exist. The scale at which this is being conceived is enormous and speaks of our passion for creating world-class entertainment for our audiences.”
Leading Nordic distributor Nordisk Film has signed a...
Leading Nordic distributor Nordisk Film has signed a...
- 1/22/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Nordisk Film has signed a development and distribution deal with Mrp Matila Röhr Productions, a leading Finnish production company launched 30 years ago by Marko Röhr and Ilkka Matila, two veteran industry players in Finland.
Under the deal, Nordisk Film will have exclusive distribution rights for the Nordic territories to Mrp’s upcoming features, kicking off with “Hamsters,” a drama-comedy produced directed by Markku Pölönen, Klaus Härö’s “Never Alone,” and the animated title “Malcolm Rocks.”
The pact also gives Nordisk Film the rights to Mrp’s library of 43 titles for the Scandinavian territories.
“Hamsters,” which is currently in pre-production, is based on Veikko Huovinen’s book. “Never Alone,” meanwhile, is based on the true story of a man who fought to help Jewish refugee seekers in 1942. ‘It is the story of an unusual friendship and political power based on the memoirs of the journalist Maarit Tyrkkö,’ said Matila, who is producing the film.
Under the deal, Nordisk Film will have exclusive distribution rights for the Nordic territories to Mrp’s upcoming features, kicking off with “Hamsters,” a drama-comedy produced directed by Markku Pölönen, Klaus Härö’s “Never Alone,” and the animated title “Malcolm Rocks.”
The pact also gives Nordisk Film the rights to Mrp’s library of 43 titles for the Scandinavian territories.
“Hamsters,” which is currently in pre-production, is based on Veikko Huovinen’s book. “Never Alone,” meanwhile, is based on the true story of a man who fought to help Jewish refugee seekers in 1942. ‘It is the story of an unusual friendship and political power based on the memoirs of the journalist Maarit Tyrkkö,’ said Matila, who is producing the film.
- 1/22/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Topic, the Us streaming service of First Look Media, has acquired a pair of high-profile Nordic series, “Peacemaker” and “Sex” for North America. Both premium series are represented in international markets by Copenhagen-based REInvent Studios, the outfit launched by Rikke Ennis, the former CEO of TrustNordisk.
“Sex,” which had its international at the Berlinale Series, was directed by Amalie Næsby Fick, written by Clara Mendes and produced by Marta Mleczek at Profile Pictures. Skewing young adults, “Sex” is a six-part series revolving around Cathrine, a 22 year-old woman who works as a youth counselor at a sex information call center and lives with her boyfriend for four years.
“Peacemaker,” meanwhile, is an internationally-driven political drama headlined by a strong female protagonist played by Irina Björklund (“Bordertown”). Set across Turkey, Syria and Spain, the 10-part series is centers on Ann-Mari, a peacemaker who struggles to defuse an escalating conflict between the Kurds...
“Sex,” which had its international at the Berlinale Series, was directed by Amalie Næsby Fick, written by Clara Mendes and produced by Marta Mleczek at Profile Pictures. Skewing young adults, “Sex” is a six-part series revolving around Cathrine, a 22 year-old woman who works as a youth counselor at a sex information call center and lives with her boyfriend for four years.
“Peacemaker,” meanwhile, is an internationally-driven political drama headlined by a strong female protagonist played by Irina Björklund (“Bordertown”). Set across Turkey, Syria and Spain, the 10-part series is centers on Ann-Mari, a peacemaker who struggles to defuse an escalating conflict between the Kurds...
- 6/16/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
GÖTEBORG, Sweden: “All the Sins”’ Finnish co-writers and creators Mika Ronkainen and Merja Aakko, winners of last year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize for outstanding Nordic screenplay, are developing for Mrk Matila Röhr Productions an adoption drama set between Finland and Guatemala.
Based on a true story, the six-part series “Act of Telling” (a working title) will examine child adoption through the story of a young Finnish couple and their Guatemala-born son. The respectable father has harbored a secret for seven years -a crime he committed when he travelled alone for the adoption. When a journalist friend starts to ask questions about the son’s biological parents, the mystery threatens to come to light.
Producer Ilkka Matilä said that Finnish public broadcaster Yle has ordered the concept from the writing duo. He’s now looking for a “potential co-production partner who could facilitate the Guatemala shoot.”
In early development,...
Based on a true story, the six-part series “Act of Telling” (a working title) will examine child adoption through the story of a young Finnish couple and their Guatemala-born son. The respectable father has harbored a secret for seven years -a crime he committed when he travelled alone for the adoption. When a journalist friend starts to ask questions about the son’s biological parents, the mystery threatens to come to light.
Producer Ilkka Matilä said that Finnish public broadcaster Yle has ordered the concept from the writing duo. He’s now looking for a “potential co-production partner who could facilitate the Guatemala shoot.”
In early development,...
- 1/25/2020
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
The 25th New Nordic Films, unspooling Aug. 20-23 parallel to the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, will kick off with the critically-lauded “A White, White Day” by Hlynur Pálmason. The Icelandic drama which world premiered at Cannes’ Critics’ Week, is among 19 films set to screen, of which 13 are world market premieres such as Jesper W. Nielsen’s thriller “The Exception,” Venice Critics Week’s pick “Psychosia,”, Venice Days’ entry “Beware of Children”, Jens Jonsson’s “The Spy” and Jesper Ganslandt’s “438 Days”.
The hot Works in Progress session has 20 titles to be pitched to more than 300 attendees. Gauging this year’s crop, New Nordic Films’ managing director Gyda Velvin Myklebust underlines the large number of local films, genre-driven and reality-based stories, as well as the healthy gender balance -half the films are female directed. “There are many new female talents to watch out for,” says Myklebust, citing the...
The hot Works in Progress session has 20 titles to be pitched to more than 300 attendees. Gauging this year’s crop, New Nordic Films’ managing director Gyda Velvin Myklebust underlines the large number of local films, genre-driven and reality-based stories, as well as the healthy gender balance -half the films are female directed. “There are many new female talents to watch out for,” says Myklebust, citing the...
- 8/13/2019
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
You would be spoiled for ways to describe Finland’s natural bounty — a breathtaking tapestry of Arctic tundra, glacial fields, boreal forests, gin-clear lakes, and dramatic coastline offering easy access to the world’s largest archipelago. The landscape is as wild and untouched as anywhere on the planet; the air is relatively pollution-free, making the sunlight in Finland crisp and clear, with a magical “blue period” lingering over the long dawns and dusks. At the height of summer, the midnight sun shines for 24 hours, though winter days are short.
Finland offers one of the world’s most snow-secure environments, with the Finnish Lapland Film Commission boasting of 200 days of snow cover a year. There is a solid and extensive road network throughout the country, and even remote regions are well-connected by plane. Lapland has five airports, with direct flights from London, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt and Zurich. Finnair will introduce a...
Finland offers one of the world’s most snow-secure environments, with the Finnish Lapland Film Commission boasting of 200 days of snow cover a year. There is a solid and extensive road network throughout the country, and even remote regions are well-connected by plane. Lapland has five airports, with direct flights from London, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt and Zurich. Finnair will introduce a...
- 11/29/2018
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Heartstone and Norwegian film-makers win big in Lübeck; Austerlitz takes home Golden Dove at Leipzig.
Lübeck’s 58th Nordic Film Days (Nov 2-6) has become the latest successful stop for Icelandic filmmaker Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson’s Heartstone after premiering in the Venice Days in September and picking up three awards at Warsaw Film Festival last month.
Gudmundsson’s debut was awarded the €12,500 Ndr Film Prize by a jury including Swedish actress Inger Nilsson (who played the title role of Pippi Longstocking in the classic children’s films when she was nine years old), Munich-based producer Jörg Bundschuh (The Fencer) and film director Marc Brummund (Sanctuary), for a “feature film of special artistic quality”.
The intensely moving coming of age tale, which takes place over one summer at a remote fishing village in Iceland, is being handled by Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique.
Three nods for Norway
Elsewhere, Norwegian filmmakers took home three awards from the largest Nordic...
Lübeck’s 58th Nordic Film Days (Nov 2-6) has become the latest successful stop for Icelandic filmmaker Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson’s Heartstone after premiering in the Venice Days in September and picking up three awards at Warsaw Film Festival last month.
Gudmundsson’s debut was awarded the €12,500 Ndr Film Prize by a jury including Swedish actress Inger Nilsson (who played the title role of Pippi Longstocking in the classic children’s films when she was nine years old), Munich-based producer Jörg Bundschuh (The Fencer) and film director Marc Brummund (Sanctuary), for a “feature film of special artistic quality”.
The intensely moving coming of age tale, which takes place over one summer at a remote fishing village in Iceland, is being handled by Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique.
Three nods for Norway
Elsewhere, Norwegian filmmakers took home three awards from the largest Nordic...
- 11/7/2016
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Heartstone and Norwegian film-makers win big in Lübeck; Austerlitz takes home Golden Dove at Leipzig.
Lübeck’s 58th Nordic Film Days (Nov 2-6) has become the latest successful stop for Icelandic filmmaker Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson’s Heartstone after premiering in the Venice Days in September and picking up three awards at Warsaw Film Festival last month.
Gudmundsson’s debut was awarded the €12,500 Ndr Film Prize by a jury including Swedish actress Inger Nilsson (who played the title role of Pippi Longstocking in the classic children’s films when she was nine years old), Munich-based producer Jörg Bundschuh (The Fencer) and film director Marc Brummund (Sanctuary), for a “feature film of special artistic quality”.
The intensely moving coming of age tale, which takes place over one summer at a remote fishing village in Iceland, is being handled by Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique.
Three nods for Norway
Elsewhere, Norwegian filmmakers took home three awards from the largest Nordic...
Lübeck’s 58th Nordic Film Days (Nov 2-6) has become the latest successful stop for Icelandic filmmaker Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson’s Heartstone after premiering in the Venice Days in September and picking up three awards at Warsaw Film Festival last month.
Gudmundsson’s debut was awarded the €12,500 Ndr Film Prize by a jury including Swedish actress Inger Nilsson (who played the title role of Pippi Longstocking in the classic children’s films when she was nine years old), Munich-based producer Jörg Bundschuh (The Fencer) and film director Marc Brummund (Sanctuary), for a “feature film of special artistic quality”.
The intensely moving coming of age tale, which takes place over one summer at a remote fishing village in Iceland, is being handled by Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique.
Three nods for Norway
Elsewhere, Norwegian filmmakers took home three awards from the largest Nordic...
- 11/7/2016
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
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