Film I Väst plans studio extension

by (a.p.)

07/04/2003 - Swedish regional film fund, Film i Väst situated in north-west Västra Götaland will start building a 1,500m² sound stage in May, as well as several offices for new companies, as part of its goal to become one of Europe’s most dynamic and vibrant film regions.
Established in 1992, FiV is a major co-producer of Nordic films with an annual budget of Euros7.5m – including Euros5m for feature films, Euros550,000 for shorts and documentaries, Euros500,000 for Development. Euros250,000 for film and TV facilities with two sound stages, Euros150,000 for Children’s and Youth Film projects, Euros100,000 for distribution, and Euros100,000 for the Film Commission’s activities.
In order to support FiV’s expansion plans, the regional government and municipalities in the North-Western regions of Sweden increased their grants by an extra Euros1.5m for 2003, and Tomas Eskilsson the head of FiV expects the region to increase its contribution further in the near future due to FiV’s extraordinarily successful track record.

This region is home to 153 film and audiovisual companies (in particular in Trollhättan) including Scandinavia’s three most successful production outfits: Zentropa Films, Memfis Film and Sonet Film with whom FiV co-produced Lars von Trier’s Dancer In The Dark, Lukas Moodysson’s Together and Lilka 4-Ever [trailer], Joseph Fares’ Jalla Jalla, and Richard Hobert’s Everyone Loves Alice.

In 2002, 15 feature films were co-produced by FiV including Dogville [trailer], Kopps, Details and Skagerrak . Currently in production at Trollhättan are Anders Nilsson’s The Third Wave, Kjell Åke Andersson’s Mamma, Pappa, Barn and the TV series, Solisterna (The Soloists) produced by Götafilm and Swedish broadcaster SVT. Another 13-to-14 feature films and two TV Dramas will start shooting in 2003.