21/08/2006

Danish-born Hanne Palmquist has just been appointed Managing Director of Nordisk Film & TV Fund, the pan-Nordic funding organisation based in Oslo. She will take over on January 1, 2007 from Svend Anbrahamsen, who has held the position for the last seven years.

Palmquist has been active in the Danish film industry for over 15 years, working across various sectors as head of communications for Filmkontakt Nord, PR manager for Zentropa Entertainment, head of sales for Trust Film Sales, distribution advisor for the production department of the Danish Film Institute and Nordic acquisition manager for Nordisk Film.

She has also been a producer at Fine & Mellow Productions, where she collaborated with directors Jannik Johansen on Murk and Kenneth Kainz on his feature debut Pure Hearts, set to open in Denmark on September 8. Her latest position was as head of sales for Denmark’s TV2/World.

The Nordic Film & TV Fund (NFTF) promotes the production of audiovisual projects in the five Nordic countries by participating in the top-up financing of feature films, TV fiction and series, short films and creative documentaries.

Its annual budget of approximately NOK 67m (€8.2m) is provided at one-third by the Nordic Ministry Council, one-third by the five Nordic film institutes and one-third by broadcasters SV and TV4 in Sweden, NRK and TV2 in Norway, DR and TV2 in Denmark, YLE in Finland and RUV and Stød 2 in Iceland.

Commenting on her new job to the NFTF’s newsletter, Palmquist said: "Local films are stronger than ever in the Nordic countries. With top financing from the fund, a film will often increase its performance domestically and be in a better position to reach foreign markets. At the same time, the collaboration on a co-production is a fruitful experience which will artistically benefit the Nordic filmmakers."