Lots of explosives and state support launch two new Norwegian features

by Jorn Rossing Jensen

17/05/2012 - Having evaluated their commercial market potential, the Norwegian Film Institute has decided to support two major Norwegian productions, Morten Tyldum's Tordenskjold and Arild Fröhlich's Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder, by €2.1 million and €1.9m repectively.

Directed by Tyldum (photo), of Headhunters [trailer] fame, Tordenskjold is the biopic of Norwegian 18th century nobleman and naval officer Peter Wessel Tordenskjold, celebrated as a hero both in Norway and Denmark. The €9.8 million historical drama will be produced by John M. Jacobsen and Sveinung Golimo for Norway's Filmkameratene AS, Peter Aalbæk Jensen and Marie Gade for Denmark's Zentropa Entertainments.

Dansh writers Mikael Olsen and Gert Duve Skovlund have penned Tordenskjold's adventures during the Great Northern War (1700-1721), including the 1716 the Battle of Dynekilden, where his light force destroyed the supply fleet of Sweden's King Karl XII. SF Norge AS will handle local release, SF International foreign sales of the film, which will shoot next summer.

Norwegian bestselling author Jo Nesbø is not only writing thrillers - such as Headhunters - he has also signed a series of children's books about Doctor Proctor, who invents strange potions and powders, such as an industrial strength fart powder that can send people to outer space. The eccentric professor will now perform in his first feature, from a screenplay by Johan Bogaeus.

Arild Fröhlich (Pittbulterje (2005), Fatso (2008)) will direct Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder, about two children's encounter with their new neighbour. The €5.3 million kid flick will be produced by Cornelia Boysen and Synnøve Hørsdal, for Maipo Film & TV Produksjon AS, and is scheduled to lense from April 2013. Nordisk Film Distribusjon AS will release in 2014.