26/02/2008

The Norwegian Film Fund has awarded a total of NOK 50.3m (€6.3m) to seven new feature films, including three projects by female directors Eva Dahr (Mars & Venus), Margareth Olin and Katka Eyde Jacobsen, all set to start shooting in April.

Dahr’s new project The Orange Girl is an ambitious €3.5m European co-production between Norway’s Helgeland Film, Spain’s Jaleo Films and Germany’s Tradewind Pictures. It is co-financed by TV2 Norway, with support from Eurimages, the regional of Andalucia in Spain and Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

The film is based on Jostein Gaarder’s eponymous novel, which was translated into 43 languages. “It’s a warm and beautiful story about living and having the courage to love,” said the filmmaker. The Orange Girl will be shot in German studios and on location in Spain. Sandrew Metronome will handle domestic distribution in February 2009, and Beta Cinema world sales (outside the co-production countries).

Engelen will be the first feature for the established documentary filmmaker Olin (Raw Youth). Known for her commitment to social issues, Olin has written a story about a young girl who gets involved in drugs and loses custody of her daughter. The €1.2m film produced by Speranza Film will be released by Sandrew Metronome in 2009.

Yatzy is the first feature film by Eyde Jacobsen, a graduate of the Lillehammer Film School. Based on a novel by Harald Rosenløw Eeg, it centres on a 15-year-old boy who goes to live with a foster family in the countryside. The €2m film to be shot in Super 16mm is produced by Karin Julsrud for 4½.

The Fund also granted development support to Marius Holst’s Bastøy, produced by 4½, and marketing support to three films based on familiar material: Arne Lindtner Næss’ Olsenbanden Jr og det sorte gullet and the thrillers Cold Prey 2 by Mats Sundland and Skjult by the creative team behind Dark Woods.