15/10/2007

During its latest round of production support, the Swedish Film Institute (SFI) awarded a total of SEK 15.8m (€1.7m) to five feature films and five documentaries, including the French/Swedish co-production Les grandes personnes by French debut filmmaker Anna Novion (see Making of) and Leo by Josef Fares (Jalla, Jalla!).

Les grandes personnes (lit. ”The Grown Ups”) was awarded SEK 700,000. The film focuses on a father (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) who takes his daughter on a holiday in Sweden but a misunderstanding about their holiday accommodation forces them to stay with the owner of the house (Lisa Boysen). The film was produced by France’s Christie Molia (Moteur s’il vous plait) in co-production with Sweden’s Olivier Guerpillon (DFM Fiktion). Memento Films is handling world sales.

Fares' fourth feature film, awarded SEK 3m, tells the story of Leo, who along with his girlfriend is the victim of an unprovoked attack just after having celebrated his 30th birthday. Produced by Anna Anthony (Memfis Film), Leo will have its world premiere at the Stockholm International Film Festival (November 15-25) ahead of its domestic release on November 30 through Sonet Film.

Rallybrudar (“Rally Chicks”), by the producers of the Oscar nominated As it is in Heaven [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Anders Birkeland and Göran Lindström, received the biggest grant: SEK 7m. The film stars Eva Röse and Marie Robertsson as two women who challenge men at a car rally in the 1960s, and also features Maria Lundqvist (Heartbreak Hotel [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). SF will release it locally in autumn 2008.

Bashtu (awarded SEK 1.2m) is a relationship comedy by first-time filmmaker Manuel Concha. The film was produced by Dansk Skalle (Fourteen Sucks) in co-production with Film i Skåne, Film i Väst, Concha Films, and Sonet Film.

Lastly, The Long Distance Love (awarded SEK 750,000) is a docudrama directed by Elin Jönsson and Magnus Gertten for Auto Images.