Special Focus on the UK at New Nordic Films in Haugesund
In 2023 and 2024, New Nordic Films has a special focus on co-productions with the United Kingdom. The aim is to boost co-production possibilities and collaborations between the UK and the Nordic countries.
From August 20th-23rd 2024, New Nordic Films, in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI), will host a delegation from the UK film industry to participate in a Focus on the UK-programme of activities. This will include discussion panels, networking events, and a recent case study on co-production between the UK and the Nordics.
Line Halvorsen, Programme Director for New Nordic Films said:
"We are incredibly proud and happy to have a special Focus on the UK in collaboration with BFI, and in that way facilitates co-productions between our creative film industries for the future."
The following four UK projects and their producers are selected to participate at the Nordic Co-production Market in Haugesund in 2024:
Folk
written and directed by Corinna Faith, produced by Tristan Goligher from The Bureau, co-produced by Air Street Films, Rob Watson (UK)
Nothing Holy
written by Stewart Wright, directed by Ashley Horner, produced by Keith Bell from Pinball Films, co-produced by Rein Film (Norway)
The Fell
directed by Zu Quirke, produced by Oliver Kassman from Escape Plan, co-produced by Brad Zimmerman and David Michôd, Yoki Inc. (UK)
Let It Come Down
written and directed by Anna Fredrikke Bjerke, produced by Isabella Speaight and Molly Murphy from Backscatter Production
The following UK projects attended and pitched in 2023:
Gunnar’s Daughter, written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz and produced by Angeli Marie Macfarlane from Script Cube
Haven directed by Adam Berg, and produced by Christopher Granier-Deferre from Poisson Rouges Pictures
The DJ directed by Jørn Utkilen, and produced by Carolynne Sinclair Kidd from Hopscotch Films
Who Goes There directed by Astrid Thorvaldsen, and produced by Helen Gladders from Gingerbread Pictures and Oskar Pimlott from Pulse Films
Denitsa Yordanova, Head of the UK Global Screen Fund and International Funds at the BFI said: “We are looking forward to the second UK Focus at Haugesund’s Nordic Co-Production Market, sparking co-production conversations for the participating UK producer/director teams in meeting potential Nordic partners. 2024 has already seen some wonderful UK/Nordic collaborations bear fruit, with the UK-Finland-Belgium co-production Sebastian (supported by the BFI with National Lottery funding) making its debut in competition at Sundance and The Damned, which we have been able to support through our UK Global Screen Fund, premiering at Tribeca.”
The UK Focus will also include a panel session ‘How to Co-produce with the UK’ where producer Kamilla Hodøl will present “Roadmap to Co-Producing with the UK”, an overview of dos and don’ts in co-production, commissioned by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and New Nordic Films. Attendees will also hear a case study of UK-Finland co-production SEBASTIAN from producer James Watson and writer/director Mikko Makela, as well as insights from other producers with experience in co-production between the UK and the Nordics.
The UK in official selection
September Says, directed by Ariane Labed
There is also a strong UK presence in the main festival programme. Ariane Labed’s feature debut September Says will screen in UK Focus following it’s world premiere in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is a co-production between Ireland, the UK and Germany and is backed by BBC Film and the UK Global Screen Fund. Also screening in UK Focus is documentary Grand Theft Hamlet, the debut feature for writer-directors Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane. Grand Theft Hamlet premiered at South by South West Festival where it won the Grand Jury Award. The film is backed by the BFI Doc Society Fund.
September Says [UK Focus]
Ireland | UK | Germany
Dir. Ariane Labed | Wris. Daisy Johnson, Ariane Labed
Grand Theft Hamlet [UK Focus]
UK
Wri-dirs. Sam Crane, Pinny Grylls
Lee [Main Programme]
USA | UK
Dir. Ellen Kuras | Wris. Liz Hannah, Marion Hume, John Collee
Wilding [Human Nature]
UK
Dir. David Allen, Isabella Tree
Widow Cliqout [Main Programme]
USA | France | UK
Dir.Thomas Napper | Wris. Erin Dignam, Christopher Monger, Erin Dignam, Tila J. Mazzeo
