Norwegian-Pakistani director Iram Haq, whose feature debut I Am Yours [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] (photo) is Norway’s official candidate for the Academy Award 2014 as Best Foreign-Language Feature, is among the four Norwegian filmmakers who have received a €25,000 VIP grant from the Norwegian Film Institute, intended to help directors get started with a new project, after they have recently completed a film.

“The programme should support established directors who want to explore and challenge their artistic standpoint, and this way develop the artistic expression and diversity of Norwegian cinema,” said the institute.

It didn’t take long for Haq – also an actress – to become established; I Am Yours is only her second film after Little Miss Eyeflap, which was awarded at the Aspen Short Film Festival in 2009. Her first feature had its international premiere in the Discovery section of last month’s Toronto Film Festival.

Also awarded €25,000, Norwegian director Arild Østin Ommundsen had made four features, when he wanted to return to a more intimate production with a smaller cast and crew, It’s Only Make Believe, about a young woman’s return to everyday life after spending 10 years in prison for murder. The film was selected for the Focus on World Cinema at last month’s 37^th World Film Festival in Montreal.

Norwegian directors Eva Sørhaug, whose latest feature 90 Minutes [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] was nominated for an Amanda, Norway’s national film prize, and Rune Denstad Langlo, whose Chasing the Wind [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film] won one, were backed by the Norwegian Film Institute to immerse themselves in new, artistically ambitious projects.