Nina Knag’s Don't Call Me Mama to World Premiere in the Crystal Globe Competition at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

The 59. Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has announced the lineup for its prestigious Crystal Globe Competition, and Nina Knag’s psychological thriller Don't Call Me Mama is among the 12 invited titles. The film will have its world premiere at the renowned festival.
 
“I’m so happy and deeply honored that my debut feature film will have its world premiere at one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious A-list film festivals. It’s an incredible recognition - and a dream start for the film. Don’t Call Me Mama is a passion project that means the world to me, and I’m immensely proud of what we’ve created. I’m especially grateful to the brave and brilliant actors who joined me on this journey and brought the story to life with such honesty and heart. I can’t wait to finally share the film with the world.”, says director and screenwriter Nina Knag.

Norwegian actress Pia Tjelta leads the cast of Nina Knag’s feature debut

Don't Call Me Mama stars Pia Tjelta (Made in Oslo/2022; Blind Spot/2018; State of Happiness/2018) alongside Kristoffer Joner (War Sailor/2022; The Quake/2018), Tarek Zayat (Shorta/2020) and Kathrine Thorborg Johansen (Power Play/2024; Ragnarok/2023).

Successful Norwegian Talent Program

“We are proud that Don't Call Me Mama has participated in our talent program Neo, which aims to cultivate strong storytelling voices and artistic courage”, says Kjersti Mo, CEO of the Norwegian Film Institute. Former titles in the Neo Program are Armand (Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel), Loveable (Lilja Ingolfsdottir), Biru Unjarga (Egil Pedersen), and Uncle Jens (Brwa Vahabpour).

About Don't Call Me Mama

Eva, a popular high school teacher and wife to the town’s mayor, faces the ultimate test when she falls in love with a young asylum seeker, sparking a forbidden relationship with shattering consequences. The film explores nuances of nativity and exploitation, power and powerlessness, and what appears to be a simple tale of forbidden love evolves into a thought-provoking moral study on cynicism and selfishness masked by generosity. The script is written by Nina Knag and Kathrine Valen Zeiner (Made in Oslo, 2022; Wisting, 2019).

Production Grants

Don’t Call Me Mamais produced by The Global Ensemble Drama, with producers Eleonore Anselme and Ingrid Skagestad, in collaboration with Screen Story, with co-producers Anders Hereid and Gunhild Oddsen.Don’t Call Me Mama has received NOK 7.500.000 in development and production support from the Norwegian Film Institute's Neo Talent Program. The film has also received support from Zefyr Media Fund, and Oslo Film Fund. Scanbox Entertainment will distribute the film in the Nordic countries. International sales is handled by REinvent.