Mikael Marcimain's CALL GIRL has won the International Critics Award (FIPRESCI) after worldpremiering in Toronto International Film Festival's Discovery Programme, which shines a spotlight on the most exciting work from directors, who present either their first or second feature film.
A directorial debut from Mikael Marcimain and with screenplay written by Marietta von Hausswolff von Baumgarten, the political thriller was awarded the prestigious prize with the following remark from the jury: "With an intense sense of cinema reminiscent of the American thrillers of the 1970s, Mikael Marcimain´s debut feature achieves a portrait of an obscure world involving women´s rights and political corruption. Marcimain deals with his sensitive subject with immense ease and craftsmanship. Because of these accomplishments the FIPRESCI Award for Best Film in the Discovery Programme goes to Mikael Marcimain´s CALL GIRL"
Mikael Marcimain about receiving the award "It feels very honorable to be appreciated by a jury of international critics who see films from all over the world! I'm excited and proud after years of struggling to get the film made. A great start for CALL GIRL."
The political thriller starring Pernilla August, Simon J. Berger, David Dencik, Sven Nordin, Kristoffer Joner amongst others, is directed by one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed directors in Sweden, Mikael Marcimain, who has won numerous international awards for his TV-series HOW SOON IS NOW (2008), THE LASER MAN (2005) and THE GRAVE (2004).
Producer is Mimmi Spång, who was selected as Producer On the Move 2011 with her colleague Rebecka Lafrenz. Recently they both were acknowledged for their work with the feature film SEBBE (2010) by Babak Najafi, which won Best First Feature Award in Berlin International Film Festival. Cinematographer of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008), THE FIGHTER (2010) and TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (2011) Hoyte van Hoytema is director of photography.
After an exclusive screening of a three-minute long promo during EFM in Berlin, CALL GIRL was snatched by Lumiere (Benelux) and Sonamu Pictures co., ltd. (Korea). During Cannes this year it was announced that French distributor Pretty Pictures came on board, and lately also Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia (Maywin Media AB) and Czech Republic as well as Slovakia (Film Europe) has been secured all rights.
CALL GIRL is produced by Garagefilm International AB, in co-production with Friland Produksjon A/S, Newgrange Pictures ltd, Yellow Film & TV oy, Film i Väst, Sveriges Television AB, Nouvago Capital AB, The Chimney Pot AB and Dagsljus AB and with the support of the Swedish Film Institute, Finnish Film Foundation, Bord Scannán na HÉireann/Irish Film Board, the Norwegian Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Section 481 and in co-operation with YLE and Windmill Lane VFX - Dublin.
CALL GIRL is a Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Irish co-production, produced with the support of the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, and has been presented at the CineMart of the International Film Festival of Rotterdam. The film is supported by The Swedish Film Institute, which also handles festivals.
Domestic premiere is 9. November 2012.