email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

DISTRIBUTION Scandinavia

It’s a Nordic Christmas worldwide

by 

Two Christmas films from northern Europe are opening simultaneously in a number of territories this week Home For Christmas [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bent Hamer
film profile
]
by internationally acclaimed Norwegian filmmaker Bent Hamer, and Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jalmari Helander
film profile
]
, the high concept Santa Claus movie by up-and-coming Finnish director Jalmari Helander.

A popular title in Norway with its core arthouse audience, Home for Christmas’ admissions dropped only 15% since opening on November 12, and it was number three at the local Top Ten last weekend, following mainstream titles The Troll Hunter and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Hamer’s award-winning film opened yesterday in Germany (Pandora), Switzerland (Filmcoopi) and the Netherlands (Cinemien) and today reaches Italy (Bolero) and Estonia (Estin Film). According to sales company The Match Factory, the film will also screen in France (Happiness), Austria (Filmladen ), Belgium (Cinemien), Spain (Golem) and Hungary (Cirko Film) before Christmas.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is opening wide today in Finland (80 screens) courtesy of FS Film. Scanbox is releasing it in Denmark and Norway, and Icon Film Distributors in Australia, as well as the UK and Ireland, with a medium-size launch and a strong marketing campaign.

In the US, Oscilloscope has been aggressively promoting the film on the Internet and is platforming it first in New York and then in approximately more 20 cities, while Top Film will distribute Rare Exports in Russia. Splendid Medien in Germany has scheduled Helander’s audacious Santa Claus story for December 23. French sales agent Grégoire Melin says that a French release has been set for April 2011, although the name of the distributor is not yet official.

The film’s producer, Petri Jokiranta (Cinet Film), said Helander is already working on the follow up to Rare Exports, which will have more action and more humour. Jokiranta will be looking for European partners on the English-language project with an international cast.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy