Projects by Zu Quirke, Corinna Faith, Anna Fredrikke Bjerke, Ashley Horner Topline Second U.K. Focus at New Nordic Films (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned film enthusiast with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the project “Let it Come Down” sounds incredibly intriguing. The blend of horror, character drama, and folk mythology is a unique proposition that promises to challenge and enthrall audiences alike.

On August 21st, four genre-blending titles from Zu Quirke (“Nocturne”), Corinna Faith (“The Power”), Anna Fredrikke Bjerke (writer of Netflix’s “Midsummer Night”) and Ashley Horner will be showcased to possible Nordic collaborators at the 19th Nordic Co-production Market, which is being held in Haugesund, Norway.

The carefully selected pitch lineup serves as the main attraction for the second U.K. Focus, an event organized by Haugesund’s New Nordic Films, in collaboration with the British Film Institute (BFI).

“Denitsa Yordanova, who heads the UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF), expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming second U.K. Focus at Haugesund’s Nordic Co-Production Market. This event is expected to stimulate co-production discussions between U.K. producer/director teams and potential Nordic partners, as the UKGSF, funded by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and managed by the BFI, is involved.”

Yordanova noted that the Nordics provide a dynamic environment filled with skilled professionals and collaborative production partners who have impressive past projects. Furthermore, she mentioned that this region is an intriguing setting, particularly suitable for dark themes and suspenseful stories.

As a seasoned movie critic, I’ve been fortunate to witness the UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF) support nine collaborative productions between the UK and the Nordic region through its international co-production program. These collaborations have yielded remarkable results, such as the thought-provoking opening documentary for CPH:DOX titled “Life and Other Problems”, which has left a lasting impression on me.

Ever since the UKGSF began in 2021, Yordanova has been vigorously advocating for the Fund’s generous non-repayable grants, which max out at £300,000 ($380,100). These grants are open to projects that have secured 60% of their financing, with a U.K. producer serving as a minority partner.

U.K. film producer Kamilla Kristiane Hodøl, whose thriller “The Damned”, which was selected for Tribeca, received an unprecedented £250,000 ($317,500) from the UKGSF, stated that following Brexit, this Fund serves as a crucial market filler in the U.K., and more importantly, it enabled her company Elation Pictures to maintain the U.K. as an official co-production partner, a feat that would have been challenging without any backing. She added that the Fund is highly compatible with other European funding, making it effortless to collaborate with partners from Iceland, Belgium, and Iceland on other projects.

British film producer Hodøl, originally from Norway, has been invited by New Nordic Films and the Royal Norwegian Embassy to contribute her expertise in a document titled ‘A Guide to Collaborative Production with the U.K.’, which she will present during the panel discussion “Collaborating with the UK: Tips and Pitfalls” at Haugesund.

UK Chills at Co-Pro Pitch

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that I’m part of an exciting collaboration between the U.K. and Nordic countries. Four upcoming U.K. films, carefully chosen by New Nordic Films and the BFI, will be making their debut pitch in Haugesund as part of our concerted effort to foster U.K.-Nordic co-productions. It’s an incredible opportunity for these projects to gain traction on a global stage!

“Line Halvorsen, the program director at New Nordic Films, mentioned that they’ve prioritized projects showing strong creative or financial potential within the Nordics. She highlighted the common genre themes in this year’s lineup and emphasized the reputable backgrounds of the project’s producers.”

As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the esteemed Paris-London production house, The Bureau, known for Netflix’s “The Strays,” Andrew Haigh’s Oscar-nominated “45 Years” featuring Charlotte Rampling, and the critically acclaimed “Supernova” with Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, will be presenting their latest project at this event. This time, it’s “Unspeakable” by the rising star, Faith, who was BAFTA-nominated for her short film “Care.”

“Unspeakable” is Faith’s follow up to her 2021 chiller “Power” starring Rose Williams.

Gabrielle de Cevins from The Bureau stated, “Our project presents multiple opportunities for collaborating with Nordic coproducers.” Previously, The Bureau has collaborated in post-production with Film i Väst and Film Gate. Currently, we are a minority co-producer on Eye Eye Pictures’ Norwegian production titled “A Prayer For The Dying,” which indicates that we have positive past experiences working with the Nordics.

In addition, I’m thrilled to explore the possibility that some parts of our project could be produced in Scandinavia, in collaboration with a production partner. We can’t wait to delve into various avenues for bringing Corinna’s chilling vision to life on the screen.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the cinematic venture by The Bureau, in collaboration with Air Street Films (our partners on Netflix’s “The Strays”), has garnered development backing from the British Film Institute (BFI). Thanks to The Bureau Sales, we have a minimum guarantee against projected sales estimates. Excitingly, filming for this project is scheduled to commence in the summer of 2025!

In addition, on the sales side, “Nothing Holy,” a black metal horror film, has been secured early through an arrangement with The Yellow Affair. The director Horner (“Brilliantlove”), from Elation Pictures, and Norwegian production partner Truls Kontny, a former Norwegian Film Commissioner, will be presenting this project to potential buyers.

Written by Stewart Wright, this fictional tale revolves around an enigmatic Norwegian black metal group named ‘Nothing Holy’. In 1991, they journey to a secluded Finnish studio accompanied by budding filmmaker Hella Trulsdatter, with the intention of recording their album, “Trapped in Purgatory”. As the recording sessions unfold, friction builds among the band members, and their unity begins to unravel. The producer eventually walks out following a heated argument, but his gruesome corpse is found later on. This is a brief overview of the story’s plot.

Horner described it as a blend of “The Blair Witch Project” and “Spinal Tap,” reminiscent of the Metallica documentary, encapsulating both the harshness and elegance typical of black metal music.

Keith Bell from Pinball Films (“Dog Soldiers”, “The Descent”) will be the producer for a project, jointly produced with Rein Film from Norway. Filming is scheduled to commence during the winter season of 2025.

The U.K.-Norwegian collaborators will search for additional funding, both national and regional, in Haugesund. Meanwhile, the two other joint productions, “The Fell” and “Let it Come Down,” led by talented writer-directors Quirke (from Amazon’s “Nocturne”) and Bjerke (a writer on Netflix’s “Midsummer Night”), are primarily seeking Norwegian funding and co-producers.

Title “The Fell” brings together U.K. genre masterminds Escape Plan (“Saint Maud”) and U.S. indie studio Yoki, Inc (“Animal Kingdom”). The narrative unfolds on a chilling subarctic island where a young couple experiences a miscarriage during their vacation. As they grapple with their contrasting emotions, they start to question the island’s authenticity – especially their own relationship, hints the summary.

“Anna Keeley from Escape Plan observes that it’s unusual for a horror story to blend elements of deep character exploration, folklore, and both modern and eternal realities. She cautions that by the end, you might view fairies entirely differently.”

Asked about the connection between our projects and the Nordic region, Keeley explained: “The subarctic landscapes of Northern Scotland’s islands hold a striking similarity – geographically, historically, and culturally – with the Nordic territories. Both were home to the Picts and Vikings, and we view this shared environment as a common legacy. By collaborating with Norwegian partners, we believe they will offer an invaluable perspective that complements our own, and we are eager to create a world that mirrors these intertwined aspects.”

The movie, created by Oliver Kassman, Brad Zimmerman, and David Michod, is scheduled to begin the main filming in late spring or early autumn of 2025.

“In his first full-length film, ‘Let it Come Down’, we see the work of Norwegian-born, London-residing director Bjerke. He is known for the critically acclaimed short movie ‘Exposed’, which won the BIFA Critics Choice Award.”

Isabella Speaight from Backscatter Productions in the U.K. describes the character-driven thriller as an engaging investigation into unusual connections between people, pushing boundaries with its fresh perspective.

“In ‘Let It Come Down,’ I explore intricate human actions and moral uncertainties that are often quickly categorized or judged,” said the director, drawing inspiration from films like “Don’t Look Now” (1973) and “Beast” (2017). The movie delves into topics such as the isolating impact of family dysfunction and the hidden, darker aspects of intimacy, offering a deep emotional perspective and relevance.”

As a movie aficionado reporting from the scene, I’m thrilled to share that alongside the captivating Norwegian actress Lisa Loven Kongsli (“Quisling-The Final Days,” “Force Majeure”), some outstanding U.K. acting talent is set to join our upcoming project. The cameras will roll later this year or early 2025. In Haugesund, I’m on a mission to secure international and Scandinavian sales and distribution partners for this exciting venture.

Reflecting on the captivating lineup from last year’s pitch events in Haugesund, I was particularly smitten with four exceptional U.K. projects: “Gunnar’s Daughter,” a Script Cube creation penned by Rebecca Lenkiewicz; “Haven,” masterfully directed by Adam Berg for Poisson Rouges Pictures; the compelling “The DJ,” brought to life by Jørn Utkilen from Hopscotch Films; and the chilling “Who Goes There,” produced jointly by Gingerbread Pictures and Pulse Films, under the guidance of Astrid Thorvaldsen.

According to Helen Gladders from Gingerbread Pictures, after her 2023 proposal, the project is advancing favorably, and they’re preparing to film it as early as 2025.

In the meantime, Christophe Granier-Deferre, founder of Poisson Rouge Pictures, noted that Haugesund played a crucial role in assessing Nordic interest in the project. Since then, we have completed the script, attracted various Scandinavian production and financial partners for the project, and have a clear plan on how to move forward with its execution.

Notable aspects of the U.K. Focus include a case study featuring producer James Watson and filmmaker Mikko Mäkelä, discussing their project “Sebastian,” which was selected at Sundance and obtained by Kino Lorber for distribution in the U.S.

2024-08-06 16:47

Projects by Zu Quirke, Corinna Faith, Anna Fredrikke Bjerke, Ashley Horner Topline Second U.K. Focus at New Nordic Films (EXCLUSIVE)

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