Three Norwegian films selected for Toronto
Three Norwegian films – two feature debuts, one short – have been selected for the official programme at the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival, considered the most important in North America, which takes place between 6-16 September: writer-directors Tuva Novotny’s Blind Spot (Blindsone), Camilla Strøm Henriksen’s Phoenix (Føniks) in the Discovery Section (for New Talent) and Bobbie Peers’ To Plant a Flag in the short film programme.
Two first features in the Discovery programme and a short will be presented at North America’s most important festival between 6-16 September
Blind Spot
Launched at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund on Monday, 20 August, prior to the Norwegian premiere (24 August), Swedish actress Tuva Novotny first directorial effort follows a mother’s struggle to understand the crisis her daughter is going through, which affects the entire family.
“I wrote the script after observing a dominating conspiracy of silence about the subject of mental suffering, both in the home environment and the public debate. I also felt that most of the discussions were focusing on guilt and cause, instead of acceptance and receptivity,” Novotny explained.
Produced by Elisabeth Kvithylll for Nordisk Film Production, Blind Spot stars Pia Tjelta, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Nora Mathea Øien, Oddgeir Thune, Per Frisch, Teodor Barsnes-Simonsen and Marianne Krogh. ”I am happy that Norway gets international attention for a film with this theme,” she concluded.
Phoenix
Also screened at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, opening the New Nordic Films market on Tuesday, 21 August, Norwegian actress-turned-writer/director Camilla Strøm Henriksen’s Phoenix follows her work on TV series, most recently five episodes of Hotel Cæsar.
Partly based on her own real-life experiences, her feature debut is the story of 14-year-old Jill, who has for a long time been the responbile adult in her small family, caring for her mentally unstable mother and her eight-year-old brother. When the family is struck by tragedy, Jill keeps it a secret.
"I primarily wanted to make a film about those children who, on one hand, have to take on the adult role too early, and, on the other, do not have the needs fulfilled they have as children. I wanted to show it from the children's perspective, without demonising the adults, "says Henriksen.
Scheduled for a 12 October local premiere, the Gudny Hummelvoll production for Hummelfilm has Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin in the lead role a Jill, with Casper Falck-Løvås, Maria Bonnevie, Sverrir Gudnason. ”It is great with such a recognition from Toronto, one of the most important film festivals in the world,” Henriksen added.
To Plant a Flag
Bobbie Peers is ready with his sixth short, To Plant a Flag, after having directed his first TV series (Grønnsakshagen/2014) and his first feature (Dirk Ohm – Illusjonisten som forsvant/The Disappearing Illusionist/2015), the latter awarded at the Norwegian festivals in Haugesund and Trondheim.
The only Norwegian director, who has won a Golden Palm at the Cannes International Film Festival - for his short Sniffer (2006) – Peers joins a NASA team of astronauts sent to Iceland to prepare for the moon landing in 1969. Their hi-tech training mission soon discovers obstacles, when facing an Icelandic sheep farmer.
Scripted by Peers, the 15-minute drama-comedy stars US actors Jason Schwartzman, Jake Johnson and Seth Morris, with Icelandic actor Ingvar E Sigurðsson. With an English-Icelandic dialogue, it was produced by Ruben Thorkildsen, with Fredrik Støbakk, for Ape&Bjørn, with Iceland’s Skuli Fr Malmquist-Zik Zak Filmworks.