The Norwegian-French-German co-production Pesta scooped the prestigious Eurimages Co-Production Development Award (worth €20,000) at this year’s Cartoon Movie (see the news), which ran in Bordeaux from 5-7 March. A few days later, we caught up with Norwegian outfit Mikrofilm’s Tonje Skar Reiersen, who is producing the animated feature alongside her colleague Lise Fearnley and co-producers Lucie Bolze, of France’s Xilam Films, and Kristine Knudsen, of Germany’s Knudsen Pictures. Set in Norway during the Black Death, Pesta tells a tragic love story between an unlikely young couple: pious noble girl Astrid, and outlaw and heathen Eilev.

Cineuropa: How would you describe the concept of Pesta, and what are the main themes tackled in the project?
Tonje Skar Reiersen: Pesta is a romance-horror genre hybrid. Director Hanne Berkaak got the idea during COVID-19. In our post-pandemic, climate change[-riddled] world, we especially see young girls struggling, afraid for their future. So with this film, we want to show that mankind has already gone through dramatic changes in the past. And even in the darkest of times, there is love, a human connection and hope for a better tomorrow.

What is the target audience you’ll be aiming to intercept?
We believe that creating this film with a very specific target audience in mind will ensure that we tell a different kind of tale from a fresh angle. Our main target audience are girls aged 16, but obviously, the film’s potential is much broader. 

How will you use the prize money you won?
We will continue [to invest in] the film’s visual and technical development to achieve a look that fulfils the director's vision, communicates well with the target audience and will be doable within our budget.

How important do you think your participation in Cartoon Movie was, overall?
I love Cartoon Movie! For our previous film, Titina [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], Cartoon Movie was essential in enabling us to find both the right co-producer and sales agent. Last year, we met Pesta’s French co-producer, Lucie Bolze, of Xilam Films, for the first time here. And this year, our pitch was vital to create some industry buzz. I think Cartoon Movie is by far the most efficient and important financial forum for animated features. It is also where I go to get inspired by other producers and their projects. European animation is enjoying a golden age, and it is a privilege to be working in such an innovative and bold industry. 

What can you tell us about the visual concept for the project?
The film will be a 2D/3D hybrid [project]. We want the beautiful hand-drawn and organic feel from 2D mixed with the flexible camera angles, movement and staging provided by 3D. We are also doing tests to see if we can use motion capture as a basis for parts of the animation. The characters have been developed by Norwegian-Hungarian artist Julia Torjak, while French creative Fursy Teyssier is currently exploring the overall visual concept and background design. Besides this, the director is an acclaimed illustrator herself, so she is hands-on throughout the visual development. 

What’s next for you?
In addition to the further development and financing of Pesta, we have two exciting features in development: one by Titina director Kajsa Næss, and one by The Tower [+leggi anche:
recensione
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intervista: Mats Grorud
scheda film]’s Mats Grorud. We are currently in production with three shorts: a live-action/animation hybrid for pre-schoolers; an experimental poetry film; and a daring and provocative documentary about Easter Island and climate change. In addition, we are hoping to go into production with Linda Hambäck’s new feature, after Gordon & Paddy [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] and The Ape Star [+leggi anche:
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scheda film], later this year, which we will co-produce with Sweden’s Lee Film and Denmark’s Nørlum. But before all this, we are very excited to be premiering Oscar winner Torill Kove’s new short Maybe Elephants fairly soon…

Do you know when the film will be ready?
Depending on how the financing goes, we hope to deliver Pesta in Q4 2027, with a festival premiere [slated for] spring 2028 and [aiming] to hit cinemas in time for Halloween that year.