The Danish international sales agency has closed eight contracts for the film - as well as several for its Norwegian and Finnish fare
Danish director Mads Matthiesen´s second feature, The Model [+] - starring newcomer Maria Palm as an emerging Danish model who is struggling to gain a foothold on the Parisian scene, and who falls in love with a slightly older photographer, thus turning her glamorous life at the top into real drama - has proved a hot ticket for Danish international sales agency TrustNordisk at the European Film Market at Berlin.
CEO Rikke Ennis and her staff have so far licensed the film to Latin America (California Films), China (HGC Entertainment), Russia CIS (Voxell Media), Hungary (Vertigo Media), Turkey (Ozen Film), Estonia (Estin Film), Lithuania (Incognito Film) and the former Yugoslavia (2i Film), thus adding to France (AB Groupe), Poland (Kino Swiat), Korea (Scene & Sound), Bulgaria (Pro Films) and the Middle East (Gulf Film).
Co-starring British actor Ed Skrein, The Model was launched in the Dragon Awards competition at the Göteborg International Film Festival, before its Danish premiere on 11 February. It was produced by Jonas Bagger, for Zentropa Entertainments, with Sputnik Film, Zentropa Sweden, Swedish regional film centre Film Väst and Zentropa Poland.
“The high level of interest from buyers confirms that we have come to Berlin with a strong and versatile selection of films. The market is only halfway through, and we are looking forward to closing even more deals in the days to come,” said Ennis.
Norwegian director Benjamin Ree´s documentary Magnus describes how Magnus Carlsen - now a world chess champion - had a difficult time in his early chess life: he was bullied by his classmates at school because of his interest. The Sigurd M Karoliussen production for Moskus Film, with VGTG, Nordisk Film and Main Island, has been sold to Germany, Austria (NFP), Hong Kong (EDKO), the former Yugoslavia (Discovery Film) and Benelux (September Film Rights).
Norwegian director Erik Skjoldbjærg´s Pyromaniac - which has not yet been domestically released - has been contracted for Korea (Sidus FNH), the former Yugoslavia (Cinemania Group) and Turkey (Sinema TV Yay. VE Prod). Based on Norwegian author Gaute Heivol´s novel Before I Burn, the portrait of a pyromaniac who in 1978 started a number of dangerous fires in Finsland was produced by Edward Dreyer and Aage Aaberge for Glør Film, with Bleck Film Sweden and Neue Road Movies Germany.
Norwegian director Vibeke Idsøe´s upcoming period drama The Lion Woman is set between 1912 and 1937 and follows Eva (Connie Nielsen), who is born with hair covering her entire body - and yet she manages to forge an extraordinary life. The adaptation of Norwegian author Erik Fosnes Hansen´s novel has been picked up for Benelux (September Film Rights), South America (California Filmes), the former Yugoslavia (Cinemania Groupicon), Turkey (Sinema TV Yay. VE Prod.) and Hong Kong (EDKO Films). John M Jacobsen, Reza Bahar and Marcus B Brodersen are producing for Filmkameratene and Gifted Films West, with Tre Vänner, MMC Movies and The Post Republic.
Set on one of the Åland Islands in 1666, at the start of the most widespread and systematic witch hunt in Scandinavian history, Finnish director Saara Cantell's Devi´s Bride has been sold to Turkey (Sinema TV Yay. VE Prod.), South-East Asia (Golden River Thailand) and the former Yugoslavia (Cinemania Group). The film was produced by Markku Flink for Periferia Productions, with Götafilm, Pomor Film, Sun and Moon Pictures, and Schubert International.