DFI backs award-winning female directors and animation
by Annika Pham
The Danish Film Institute (DFI) has awarded DKK18m (€2.4m) to three new feature films by promising Danish filmmakers Heidi Maria Faisst, Birgitte Stærmose and Jan Rahbek.
Faisst received a FIPRESCI award and Church of Sweden award in 2009 for her debut feature The Blessing. Based on her original script, Den du hvisker (“Those Who Whisper”) tells of a teenage girl’s search for the unattainable love of her mother. Louise’s mother is just out of prison and in the eyes of a teenager she’s cool, tough and enchanting. To win her love, Louise follows her lead and enters a world of partying, drugs, fast cash and men. Everyone seems to forget that she is just a teenager.
The film is produced by Meta Louise Foldager for Zentropa. Shooting will start this Friday. The delivery date is set for spring 2011.
Stærmose won a Special Mention at the latest Berlinale for her documentary Ønskebørn (Out of Love). Her narrative feature debut is a thriller set in a hotel whose staff and guests are both actors and witnesses to a murder. The story is based on an original screenplay by leading Danish scriptwriter Kim Fupz Aakeson.
The European cast includes Danish actors David Dencik, Mikael Birkkjær, Trine Dyrholm and Stine Stengade, Sweden’s Magnus Krepper, Spain’s Ariadna Gil, Luan Jaha from Kosovo and Leon Lucev of Croatia. Currently shooting, the film is produced by Alphaville Pictures Copenhagen.
Carlo’s Casino is an animated 3D film by first-time filmmaker Rahbek, winner of the 2008 Nordic Talent Pitch Prize for the project. In the comedy, Mani the Monkey who tries to win the heart of the beautiful Lulu while investigating plans from his rival Carlo to build a gigantic monkey-shaped casino on his beach. Rahbek co-wrote the script with producer Thomas Borch Nielsen.
The film received support from West Denmark Film Pool, Film i Skåne and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond. SF will handle the domestic release, scheduled for summer 2012.
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