06/02/2009

Scandinavian sales company TrustNordisk has a record three films vying for the Golden Bear, directed by some of Europe’s most promising talents: Little Soldier [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Denmark’s Annette K. Olesen, screening this afternoon at the Berlinale Palast; Storm [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alexander Fehling
interview: Hans-Christian Schmid
film profile] by Germany’s Hans-Christian Schmid and Mammoth [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Sweden’s Lukas Moodysson.

“With Storm, Mammoth and Little Soldier, I feel we are heading for the most fantastic Berlin Festival ever,” said TrustNordisk CEO Rikke Ennis.

The three directors are Berlinale favourites, having all come to the festival two to three times before. Little Soldier is probably the most niche film, featuring Trine Dyrholm as a soldier back from a mission who tries to help a Nigerian escort girl. The film is being introduced to international buyers for the first time but opened in Denmark last November.

Storm has a strong political storyline, about a prosecutor of The Hague war tribunal for the former Yugoslavia who tries to persuade a witness to testify in court. Kerry Fox plays the lead.

Mammoth is the most mainstream of the three titles and was shot in English, a first for Moodysson. The film pre-sold to a dozen territories (including Filmcoopi for Switzerland, A Film for Benelux, Budapest Film for Hungary) in Cannes 2008 following a 20-minute promo. It opened in Sweden two weeks ago to positive reviews and is currently number four at the Top Ten.

At the European Film Market, TrustNordisk will also screen Norway’s record-breaking WWII drama Max Manus [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which is nearing the one million admissions mark at home. Ennis’ sales team will also show world buyers promos of the US remake of Danish hit Love at First Hiccup and the much anticipated Swedish animated title Metropia.