Take Two Studios, the recently launched Finnish production banner, has enlisted industry veteran Sara Norberg as partner and COO.
The company was created last October by three of Finland’s top media executives, Eero Hietala, Lasse Koskinen and Ilkka Hynninen. Hietala and Hynninen previously co-founded Aito Media, where they produced the series “Almost True” and “Pirjo,” half-hour comedy “Mother-in-Paw” and procedural crime drama “Lakeside Murders.”
Norberg, who has over 20 years in the entertainment industry, previously oversaw Finland’s Helsinki International Film Festival for six years. She’s joining Take Two Studios from Cinematic, a Finnish film and TV banner where she worked as CEO and executive producer. While at the company, she spearheaded the production of Aku Louhimies’s action thriller “Omerta 6/12,” which ranks as Finland’s biggest-budgeted production ever. The movie was released in local cinemas in November, while a spinoff series will premiere on CMore later this year.
The company was created last October by three of Finland’s top media executives, Eero Hietala, Lasse Koskinen and Ilkka Hynninen. Hietala and Hynninen previously co-founded Aito Media, where they produced the series “Almost True” and “Pirjo,” half-hour comedy “Mother-in-Paw” and procedural crime drama “Lakeside Murders.”
Norberg, who has over 20 years in the entertainment industry, previously oversaw Finland’s Helsinki International Film Festival for six years. She’s joining Take Two Studios from Cinematic, a Finnish film and TV banner where she worked as CEO and executive producer. While at the company, she spearheaded the production of Aku Louhimies’s action thriller “Omerta 6/12,” which ranks as Finland’s biggest-budgeted production ever. The movie was released in local cinemas in November, while a spinoff series will premiere on CMore later this year.
- 1/20/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Due to Covid-19 cinema lockdowns or restrictions, box office in the Nordic region plummeted in 2020 year-on-year by 64% in Sweden, 57.6% in Iceland, 57% in Norway, 54% in Finland, and 47% in Denmark.
The dearth of new U.S .tentpoles, combined with strong domestic titles such as “Another Round,” allowed homegrown movies to punch all-time record market shares in Denmark (50.4%), Finland (41.1%) and Norway (35.6%).
The biggest U.S. hit across the Nordics was Disney’s “Frozen 2,” which continued to perform strongly in early 2020 after its Christmas 2019 opening.
Denmark: The Year of ‘Another Round’
Thomas Vinterberg’s Oscar contender and 2020 champion “Another Round” figured among a handful of national titles that saved the Danish cinema year and mitigated Covid-19’s impact on cinemagoing.
National box office sank 47% to Dkk 630 million ($101 million) off 7.2 million ticket sales in 2020. This compares to 13.2 million admissions for a gross box office value of Dkk 1.18 billion ($190 million) in 2019, according to preliminary data...
The dearth of new U.S .tentpoles, combined with strong domestic titles such as “Another Round,” allowed homegrown movies to punch all-time record market shares in Denmark (50.4%), Finland (41.1%) and Norway (35.6%).
The biggest U.S. hit across the Nordics was Disney’s “Frozen 2,” which continued to perform strongly in early 2020 after its Christmas 2019 opening.
Denmark: The Year of ‘Another Round’
Thomas Vinterberg’s Oscar contender and 2020 champion “Another Round” figured among a handful of national titles that saved the Danish cinema year and mitigated Covid-19’s impact on cinemagoing.
National box office sank 47% to Dkk 630 million ($101 million) off 7.2 million ticket sales in 2020. This compares to 13.2 million admissions for a gross box office value of Dkk 1.18 billion ($190 million) in 2019, according to preliminary data...
- 2/5/2021
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Picture Tree International has acquired international rights to Danish director Lisa Jespersen’s feature debut, the comedy drama “Persona Non Grata” (Hvor Kragerne Vender), and will introduce the film to buyers at the upcoming Nordic Film Market, after its launch in Nordic Competition during the online edition of Goteborg Film Festival this week. Variety has been given exclusive access to the trailer.
The film follows Laura who has distanced herself from her family in the countryside, and moved to Copenhagen to live the bohemian lifestyle as a writer. When she is forced to return home to attend her brother’s wedding, she discovers that he’s about to marry her worst childhood enemy Catrine. Laura realizes that Catrine has taken over her place in the family and is now ready to do anything to get it back.
Jespersen studied film directing at the National Film School of Denmark, and has...
The film follows Laura who has distanced herself from her family in the countryside, and moved to Copenhagen to live the bohemian lifestyle as a writer. When she is forced to return home to attend her brother’s wedding, she discovers that he’s about to marry her worst childhood enemy Catrine. Laura realizes that Catrine has taken over her place in the family and is now ready to do anything to get it back.
Jespersen studied film directing at the National Film School of Denmark, and has...
- 1/29/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Berlin-based Picture Tree International, which is participating in this week’s Ventana Sur, has announced a swathe of deals on its sales slate, including a pact with HBO for U.S. rights on Mexican comedy “Go Youth,” which premiered locally at Morelia Film Festival recently.
Carlos Armella’s movie tells the intertwined stories of four teenagers struggling with the absurdities of life and rebelling against the adult world.
“Enfant Terrible,” selected for Cannes Official Selection this year, has added to previously announced sales with a deal with Encripta for all Latin America. The film, directed by Oskar Roehler, is about the life of German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Deals have been closed for Norwegian romantic comedy “Diana’s Wedding” – Charlotte Blom’s bittersweet tribute to love – with Limelight for Australia and New Zealand, HBO Europe for Eastern Europe, and Ads for Hungary. Pti has received offers for the film from the U.
Carlos Armella’s movie tells the intertwined stories of four teenagers struggling with the absurdities of life and rebelling against the adult world.
“Enfant Terrible,” selected for Cannes Official Selection this year, has added to previously announced sales with a deal with Encripta for all Latin America. The film, directed by Oskar Roehler, is about the life of German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Deals have been closed for Norwegian romantic comedy “Diana’s Wedding” – Charlotte Blom’s bittersweet tribute to love – with Limelight for Australia and New Zealand, HBO Europe for Eastern Europe, and Ads for Hungary. Pti has received offers for the film from the U.
- 12/3/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Chloé Zhao’s drama, shot by Joshua James Richards, also picked up the Fipresci Award.
Nomadland cinematographer Joshua James Richards was awarded the Golden Frog at Poland’s EnergaCamerimage International Film Festival on Saturday (November 21).
The US drama, starring Frances McDormand and directed by Chloé Zhao, also won the Fipresi award. Nomadland is a strong awards season contender and previously won the Golden Lion at Venice and People’s Choice audience award at Toronto.
The 28th edition of the cinematography festival, which took place entirely online this year, closed with Andrew Levitas’ Minamata and an honorary award for the film’s star,...
Nomadland cinematographer Joshua James Richards was awarded the Golden Frog at Poland’s EnergaCamerimage International Film Festival on Saturday (November 21).
The US drama, starring Frances McDormand and directed by Chloé Zhao, also won the Fipresi award. Nomadland is a strong awards season contender and previously won the Golden Lion at Venice and People’s Choice audience award at Toronto.
The 28th edition of the cinematography festival, which took place entirely online this year, closed with Andrew Levitas’ Minamata and an honorary award for the film’s star,...
- 11/23/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Finnish cinematographer Rauno Ronkainen is continuing his collaboration with director Antti J. Jokinen with the action films “Omerta 6/12” and “Omerta 7/12,” based on Ilkka Remes’ popular novel “6/12,” and starring “BlacKkKlansman’s” Jasper Pääkkönen. The films are shooting in Estonia.
Ronkainen and Jokinen previously worked together on three film: “Purge,” which brought Ronkainen the second of his three Jussi awards, period romance “The Midwife,” and most recently Laura Birn-led biopic “Helene,” about to take a bow at the EnergaCamerimage Film Festival in the main competition.
The “Omerta” films, which will be followed by a TV series, follow a secret unit of European special forces and their international operations, set in the near future and kick-starting with an attack by Serbian terrorist group.
Unlike in some other action thrillers “the world we are trying to show is not realistic,” Ronkainen tells Variety. The films could even be compared with nightmarish operas,...
Ronkainen and Jokinen previously worked together on three film: “Purge,” which brought Ronkainen the second of his three Jussi awards, period romance “The Midwife,” and most recently Laura Birn-led biopic “Helene,” about to take a bow at the EnergaCamerimage Film Festival in the main competition.
The “Omerta” films, which will be followed by a TV series, follow a secret unit of European special forces and their international operations, set in the near future and kick-starting with an attack by Serbian terrorist group.
Unlike in some other action thrillers “the world we are trying to show is not realistic,” Ronkainen tells Variety. The films could even be compared with nightmarish operas,...
- 11/13/2020
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
China has struggled to get viewers back into cinemas this week, but the Shanghai Intl. Film Festival (Siff) has found a way to break through: screen all eight of the “Harry Potter” franchise films in a row, with limited seating due to Covid-19 distancing measures, and watch the public duke it out for the privilege to attend.
They must be doing something right in their selection, however: the festival sold 108,000 tickets in the first ten minutes of online sales. That contrasted with only slow box office in commercial cinemas which resumed operating on Monday.
Siff is set to run July 25 to Aug. 2 with an eclectic selection shown in a mix of screenings with a live audience, outdoor viewings and online streaming.
More than 400 films will screen in 29 designated cinemas, including Jordan Peele’s “Us,” a 4K restoration of “Apocalypse Now,” and “1917,” the only studio film new to Chinese audiences among the various offerings.
They must be doing something right in their selection, however: the festival sold 108,000 tickets in the first ten minutes of online sales. That contrasted with only slow box office in commercial cinemas which resumed operating on Monday.
Siff is set to run July 25 to Aug. 2 with an eclectic selection shown in a mix of screenings with a live audience, outdoor viewings and online streaming.
More than 400 films will screen in 29 designated cinemas, including Jordan Peele’s “Us,” a 4K restoration of “Apocalypse Now,” and “1917,” the only studio film new to Chinese audiences among the various offerings.
- 7/23/2020
- by Rebecca Davis and Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Film festival is scheduled for July 25 to August 2 with Shanghai TV Festival taking place August 3-7.
Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff) has confirmed that it will go ahead in a hybrid physical and virtual format, but mostly without overseas guests, from July 25 to August 2.
It will be immediately followed by the 26th Shanghai TV Festival (Stvf), which will be held August 3-7.
The news comes as Chinese authorities announced that cinemas in low-risk regions will start to reopen today (July 20). Chinese cinemas have been closed since January 23 as part of measures to contain the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Shanghai has not...
Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff) has confirmed that it will go ahead in a hybrid physical and virtual format, but mostly without overseas guests, from July 25 to August 2.
It will be immediately followed by the 26th Shanghai TV Festival (Stvf), which will be held August 3-7.
The news comes as Chinese authorities announced that cinemas in low-risk regions will start to reopen today (July 20). Chinese cinemas have been closed since January 23 as part of measures to contain the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Shanghai has not...
- 7/20/2020
- by 89¦Liz Shackleton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Only this week officially confirmed as going ahead, the Shanghai International Film Festival has announced some of the first titles to be selected.
The festival will run 25 July to Aug. 2 combining a mixture of theatrical screenings in front of live audiences, outdoor screenings and online streaming. It will include a conference series known as the Golden Goblet Forum, its International Film and TV Market, a Belt and Road Film Week, and the Siff project market.
Cinemas in China only begin to operate from Monday 20 July. And the festival will be expected to play its part in minimizing the spread of the coronavirus. There will be no festival guests from overseas and tickets will only be sold online, starting from July 20 through vendor Taopiaopiao.
The first nine titles announced for the Golden Goblet competition section include: “Feel Your Memories,” from Italian director Cristina Comencini; “Helene,” a biopic about Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck directed by Antti Jokinen,...
The festival will run 25 July to Aug. 2 combining a mixture of theatrical screenings in front of live audiences, outdoor screenings and online streaming. It will include a conference series known as the Golden Goblet Forum, its International Film and TV Market, a Belt and Road Film Week, and the Siff project market.
Cinemas in China only begin to operate from Monday 20 July. And the festival will be expected to play its part in minimizing the spread of the coronavirus. There will be no festival guests from overseas and tickets will only be sold online, starting from July 20 through vendor Taopiaopiao.
The first nine titles announced for the Golden Goblet competition section include: “Feel Your Memories,” from Italian director Cristina Comencini; “Helene,” a biopic about Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck directed by Antti Jokinen,...
- 7/19/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Berlin-based Picture Tree International (Pti) has acquired global sales rights to Leander Haussmann’s highly anticipated East German laffer “A Stasi Comedy.”
Set in the early 1980s, the film centers on East Germany’s infamous state security service, the Staatssicherheitsdienst or Stasi, and young agent Ludger, played by David Kross, who is sent to infiltrate the counterculture scene in East Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district, home to artists, bohemians and free-thinking radicals. Decades later, Ludger is confronted with the possibility of his secret Stasi past coming to light.
Written and directed by Haussmann, “A Stasi Comedy” is the third installment in the celebrated filmmaker’s East German-themed comedy trilogy that began with “Sonnenallee” (“Sun Alley”) in 2000 and followed with “Nva” in 2004.
“After 30 years, it should be finally allowed to laugh about the Stasi,” Haussmann said.
“A Stasi Comedy” is produced by Ufa Fiction in co-production with Constantin Film, which is...
Set in the early 1980s, the film centers on East Germany’s infamous state security service, the Staatssicherheitsdienst or Stasi, and young agent Ludger, played by David Kross, who is sent to infiltrate the counterculture scene in East Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district, home to artists, bohemians and free-thinking radicals. Decades later, Ludger is confronted with the possibility of his secret Stasi past coming to light.
Written and directed by Haussmann, “A Stasi Comedy” is the third installment in the celebrated filmmaker’s East German-themed comedy trilogy that began with “Sonnenallee” (“Sun Alley”) in 2000 and followed with “Nva” in 2004.
“After 30 years, it should be finally allowed to laugh about the Stasi,” Haussmann said.
“A Stasi Comedy” is produced by Ufa Fiction in co-production with Constantin Film, which is...
- 2/17/2020
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Directed by Antti Jokkinen, the biopic is about Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck.
Picture Tree International has boarded sales for Antti Jokinen’s Finnish drama Helene.
Picture Tree plans to screen the film for buyers at Goteborg’s Nordic Film Market and at Berlin’s European Film Market, with a festival premiere coming later in 2020. The film was previously touted as a work in progress in Haugesund in August 2019.
The biopic is about Helene Schjerfbeck, a Finnish painter who lived a quiet life in the countryside with her elderly mother. The film covers her life from 1915-1923, when an art dealer...
Picture Tree International has boarded sales for Antti Jokinen’s Finnish drama Helene.
Picture Tree plans to screen the film for buyers at Goteborg’s Nordic Film Market and at Berlin’s European Film Market, with a festival premiere coming later in 2020. The film was previously touted as a work in progress in Haugesund in August 2019.
The biopic is about Helene Schjerfbeck, a Finnish painter who lived a quiet life in the countryside with her elderly mother. The film covers her life from 1915-1923, when an art dealer...
- 1/16/2020
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
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