30/03/2009

The Lillehammer-based Filmbin, the only Norwegian production company dedicated entirely to children’s and youth films, are working on their feature project, Bestevenner (“Best Friends”). Currently shooting, the film’s cast includes some of Norway’s top actors: Anne Dahl Torp (Cold Lunch [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and Anders Baasmo Christansen (North [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rune Denstad Langlo
film profile]).

Bestevenner is the first foray into feature filmmaking for the three co-founders of Filmbin: director Christian Lo, producer Trine Aadalen Lo and editor Arild Tryggestad. Lo and his wife, who both graduated from film school in the UK, quickly decided to focus on children and youth films when they travelled to festivals with their first short film, Punctured (about an 11 year-old boy), and found inspiration in young audiences’ reactions.

They set up Filmbin in 2004 with Tryggestad, a former student at the Lillehammer Film School, and have since made another three shorts.

Their focus on kids’ movies and original stories to which children can relate could not be better timed as it is the top priority for both the government and the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI) for 2009. “It was about time the Institute realised how essential this area of filmmaking is. Kids get their first cinematic experience very early on and if it is very strong it sometimes stays with them for the rest of their lives,” said Aadalen Lo.

Bestevenner tells the story of two nine-year-old girls who go on a mission to find their friend Naisha who has suddenly disappeared. It was written by Morten Hovland, credited for two family-oriented TV series for NRK. The NOK 16.8m film was backed by the NFI, regional film fund Film3 and SF Norway.