Where Nordic silence ends - and Arctic madness begins! In just 2
weeks from now, it's time for the 18th edition of Nordisk Panorama - 5
Cities Film Festival. So if you still haven't treated yourself to an
accreditation, now is the time to get moving!
As always, you can enjoy a wide array of side programmes, seminars and
social events besides the abundance of high quality Nordic shorts and
docs in competition. Check out the full screening schedule of the
festival here. And read about it all at www.nordiskpanorama.com.
Here are some samples of what you definitely don't want to miss:
NPIntr07: New Nordic Voices
A new competition programme for upcoming filmmakers. Expect the Unexpected!
Mika Kaurismäki: My Dinner with...
We have asked Mika Kaurismäki to invite an esteemed colleague for a
live tête-à-tête. He has invited multiaward-winner, Fernando Trueba,
for a chat about their lives in film.
Meet Dvoted
The new Nordic web-hub for young filmmakers of the future is present at
Nordisk Panorama for the first time and invites the professional
community to take a closer look.
Nordic YouTube Wonders
If you think YouTube is only about Mentos&Coke and Lonely Girls and
that the big breaks only happen Over There, attend Nordisk Short Film
Circle and check out a couple of Nordic YouTubees who have reached
larger audiences than any of us would ever dream of! Check out the full
programme of the Short Film Circle here.
The Ever-Evolving Documentary Marketplace
Jan Röfekamp of Films Transit Distribution in Montreal shares his vast
experience in international documentary distribution, touching upon:
the myths and realities of theatrical distribution, how to navigate the
festival jungle and what new media means for filmmakers of today and
tomorrow. For the full description, go here.
Nordisk Forum Online is open
Last year we introduced this unique platform, offering attending
financiers the opportunity to preview the Nordisk Forum projects online
and see short trailer excerpts. This year we developed the site
further, now offering producers and observers a chance to see profiles
of the attending commissioning editors and film consultants and in
addition an opportunity to request meetings. The site is restricted to
Nordisk Forum participants.
Until we see each other live, you can make friends with the festival at Myspace.
See you soon in Oulu!
FOCUS: NEW NORDIC AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
Viasat Broadcasting signs deal with Glimz.net
Scandinavian film distributor and film-on-demand service Glimz.net and
Viasat Broadcasting have made a new framework agreement. Through the
new deal, a large number of short films will be broadcast on the TV1000
network through-out the Nordic countries. Read more about Glimz.net and
the new deal here.
Short Films teach children languages
Norden i Bio is a project initiated by Föreningarna Nordens Förbund,
using short films to teach children in the Nordic countries an
understanding of the Nordic languages. This year's theme is 'Growing
Up' and 25.000 children aged 10-12 are expected to make use of the
material. The 5 short films in the material are: Houdini's Hound (Sara
Johnsen, Norway 2003), Classmates (Björn Carlström/Stefan Thunberg,
Sweden 2003), Little Man (Esben Tønnesen, Denmark 2006), Sirkka (P.V.
Lehtinen, Finland 2001), and Dans - keppnin (Egill Edvardsson, Iceland
2005). Learn more here (Nordic languages only).
EDN launches online forum
European Documentary Network has launched an online forum for their
members to create new opportunities to form closer networks, discuss
current trends in the documentary business as well as share and use the
huge amount of knowledge and experience about European documentary,
accumulated by the members. Read more about EDN and become the next
member here.
NRK boosts documentaries
NRK2 has sharpened its profile and gives more room for documentaries.
The channel will screen a solid number of documentaries, both current
political documentaries and the more timeless, personal films. NRK2
expects to screen between 50 and 75 hours of documentaries more per
year. And these will not only be confined to the more common 30' and
60' slots. Every Saturday in prime time, there will be a 90' slot,
showing mainly international award winning documentaries.
WANTED
Call for submissions for the Sheffield Doc/Fest MeetMarket
MeetMarket is a new pitching initiative at Sheffield Doc/Fest, designed
to match documentary makers' most innovate project ideas with UK and
international buyers. The online project submissions for The MeetMarket
are open.
Selected projects will be scheduled into one-on-one meetings with
buyers, commissioning editors, distributors and sales agents from the
UK and the rest of the world. The MeetMarket provides high quality,
creative and original ideas with the possibility to be fast-tracked
from development to production, in a supportive, structured setting. At
the same time, MeetMarket is an excellent opportunity for non-UK
producers to get acquainted with the British factual industry and to
build up a network. Part of the MeetMarket programme is a Who-Is-Who
session - introducing the most important broadcasters, distributors and
their programming briefs.
This year, Sheffield Doc/Fest focuses on Danish documentary films and
on documentary filmmaking in Denmark. In that connection, Doc/Fest
offers all Danish producers (and other roles) a discounted delegate
pass rate of £130 - to get the discounted rate, please contact Suzana
Jovanovska at Suzana@sidf.co.uk.
Submissions deadline: 14 September.
More information about Sheffield Doc/Fest and the MeetMarket here.
Kyle Balda Masterclass
Foreningen af Animert Film arranges a 3D Animation Masterclass. The Kyle Balda Masterclass will be held in Oslo, 12-14 October.
The Masterclass is a two day lecture and demonstration series designed
to offer an approach to 3D character animation. The majority of the
topics covered in the two days will have to do with the approach and
completion of 3D character animation, the procedures used and tricks of
the trade.
Kyle Balda has been working professionally in feature animation for the
past 15 years, most notably with Pixar Animation Studios and Industrial
Light & Magic.
Deadline for application: 1 October.
More information on the Masterclass here.
NAMES IN THE NEWS
Since 1 August, Mette Hoffmann Meyer has been Commissioning
Editor at DR TV. She is in charge of buying and co-producing
international documentaries for DR1 and DR2.
Former film consultant to the Swedish Film Institute Bo-Erik Gyberg
has been appointed Chairman of the Swedish lobbying group Filmallians
(Film Alliance). Filmallians represents the interests of Swedish film
and TV producers, directors, playwrights, theatres, and post-production
facilities.
Host on children's TV through many years, Signe Lindkvist, is appointed Editor of B&U, DR's children & Youth department.
Ingrid Festøy Ottesen is new Project Coordinator at Norsk Filmfond. Her responsibility is short films and drama series for television.
Head of Production at Norsk Filmfond, Elin Erichsen, has
been appointed acting Director, until the new restructured Film
Institute becomes a reality in 2008. She succeeds Stein Slyngstad, who
didn't wish to prolong his contract.
Elina Kivihalme has been appointed Production Consultant at The
Finnish Film Foundation for the duration of Miia Haavisto's maternity
leave. She is responsible for the support for documentaries and short
films, as well as TV series.
Åsa Garnert is the new acting Head of Information at The Swedish
Film Institute. Åsa Garnert has worked at SFI since 2003, a.o. as Head
of Public Relations and film political coordinator.
Veslemøy Rysstad has been appointed Head of Information at Norsk
Filmfond for the duration of Marit Sætre's maternity leave. Veslemøy
Rysstad previously worked as Head of Information at Rikskonserterne
(The National Concerts).
New Danish Screen has appointed Kim Leona Commissioning Editor and Nanna Mailand-Mercado Producer.
Søren Høy is the new Principal at the European Film College in
Ebeltoft, Denmark. Søren Høy is a film journalist, author and
businessman. He has a.o. spearheaded the weekly film show Filmland on
DR.
Heads of DR2, Mette Davidsen-Nielsen and Gitte Rabøl,
leave DR2. Having always demanded innovation on the screen and of the
co-workers, they both think it's time for renewal in their positions as
well.
Füsun Eriksen is the new Head of BUSTER - Copenhagen
International Film Festival for Children and Youth. Füsun Eriksen has
previously worked for Trust Film Sales/Zentropa. Since 1 July, BUSTER
is administered by Copenhagen International Film Festival.