Janicke Askevold’s feature debut Solomamma has been invited to the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, where it will have its world premiere in the festival’s international competition. In addition, Paul Magnus Lundø’s new family film The Badgers (Grevlingene) has been invited for a world premiere and will be closing the Locarno Kids section. Joachim Trier’s Cannes winner Sentimental Value will have it’s Swiss Premiere with a Piazza Grande screening.
“Being invited to Locarno is a tremendous recognition of both the film and the theme it highlights”, says Solomamma director Janicke Askevold.
Solomamma tells the story of Edith, a journalist in her 40s, who chose to become a single mother through an anonymous sperm donor, believing she can build a life on her own terms. She is now the happy mother of a five-year-old son. But the emotional weight of parenting alone begins to wear on her, and doubts creep in. When she unexpectedly discovers the donor’s identity—a nearby successful game developer named Niels—curiosity leads her to meet him on the pretext of an interview. What begins as a calculated encounter gradually deepens into a genuine connection, driving Edith to sink deeper into lies and endanger the fragile balance of the life she has built.
“With this film, I want to shed light on the emotional journey of having a child, especially in today’s society where it’s increasingly common to become a parent alone. I hope the film can engage and spark a broader conversation about the fact that a single-parent family is just as valid and full of love as any other. I want to extend a big thank-you to the cast, with the amazing Lisa Loven Kongsli in the lead, to the producers, and the entire talented crew I’ve been lucky enough to work with. And most of all, a heartfelt thanks to all the solo mothers who have shared their stories”, says director Janicke Askevold.
The lead roles are played by Lisa Loven Kongsli and Herbert Nordrum, with a screenplay by Jørgen Færøy Flasnes, Mads Stegger, and Janicke Askevold.
Solomamma has received development and production funding through the Norwegian Film Institute’s debut scheme Neo, totaling NOK 7.5 million. The film is produced by Rebekka Rognøy, Magnus Nygaard Albertsen, Gary Cranner, and Magne Lyngner for Bacon Pictures Oslo in co-production with Dansu Films (Lithuania), Mistrus Media (Latvia), It’s Alive (Finland), and Bacon Pictures CPH (Denmark).
The Norwegian distributor is Ymer Media / Scanbox Entertainment, and the international sales agent is the French company Playtime.
The film is scheduled to premiere in Norwegian cinemas in February 2026.
As Nora unexpectedly finds herself single at the age of 40, she opts for single motherhood with the help of a sperm donor, but the challenges prove more daunting than anticipated. A feeling of inadequacy begins to take hold. When the donor’s identity unexpectedly emerges, Nora, driven by curiosity, seeks him out, unwittingly setting off a chain of events that will impact everyone around her.
Paul Magnus Lundø’s family film The Badgers, which is set to premiere in Norwegian cinemas in September, has also been invited to Locarno, where it will be screened in the Locarno Kids section as the closing film on August 15. Right after, it heads north for its Scandinavian Premiere as the opening film of the Cinemagi section at the International Film Festival in Haugesund, Norway.
“It’s a great honor, on behalf of the cast and crew, to be able to show The Badgers in Locarno,” says director and screenwriter Paul Magnus Lundø.
“The Badgers is a film I’m both proud of and very fond of. I started this project as a love letter to childhood and adventure, and it’s incredibly exciting - and perfect - that Locarno, in the heart of Europe, is the place where the letter is finally opened. I hope the film will bring laughter, joy, and inspiration to both adults and children,” says director Paul M. Lundø.
The Badgers follows the orphan Bernt, played by Nils Elias Lea Olsen, who dreams of becoming a traditional scout just like his late father. But his dream is jeopardized when his hyper-woke foster mother Gerd, played by Caroline Johansen, joins as co-leader of the scout troop and turns everything upside down. The film also stars Kristoffer Joner and Øystein Martinsen in key roles.
The film is produced by David L. Leader for 73 Eyes Film Production AS and will be distributed in Norway by Norsk Filmdistribusjon. It will premiere in Norway on September 19. The film has received development and production funding through the Norwegian Film Institute’s debut scheme Neo, totaling NOK 7.5 million. International Sales is handled by Picture Tree International.
11-year-old Bernie’s dream of winning the coveted Golden Scout Trophy is jeopardized when his radical foster mother tries to reform his troop into a politically correct safe space. Bernie must choose between ambition, friends, and integrity.
Joachim Trier’s new feature film Sentimental Value, which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, has been invited for a Piazza Grande screening in Locarno. The film will be screened on Saturday, August 9, prior to the domestic premiere on September 12.
This year’s Locarno Film Festival is the 78th edition and is therefore one of the world`s longest running and will take place from August 6 to 16. It is known for its adventurous programming, exciting retrospectives and nightly open-air screenings at the The Piazza Grande, with a capacity of 8,000 spectators. It was at Locarno, during a large outdoor screening, that the Norwegian film Headhunters (2011) by Morten Tyldum began its long international journey.
Manager International Relations, Feature Films
