05/01/2004

The regional film organisation in the north-west of Sweden, Film i Väst, will be having a very busy spring in 2004, with four films set to shoot in the region, including Lars von Trier’s Manderlay [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

The new feature by the Danish filmmaker will be shot entirely at Trollhättan’s film studios from March 1st, 2004. It will be starring Stellan Skarsgård, Jean-Marc Barr, Udo Kier, Jeremy Davies and the 21 year old American actress, Bryce Dallas, who will replace Nicole Kidman in the lead role.

Zentropa, the company producing Manderlay and which is a regular co-production partner of Film I Väst, will also be involved in the production of the feature film debut of Kristina Humle, scheduled to start shooting in the Western Swedish region of Götaland in early March. It's the touching story of 19- year-old Minna, and her search for love and herself. The film is co-production between Memfis Film, Film I Väst, the Swedish firm SVT , Zentropa Entertainment and Nordisk Film & TV.

Two other Film I Väst co-productions will also start shooting next March: The Best Dad in The World ("Världen’s Bästa Pappa"), the feature film debut of Maria Essen, produced by Omega Film, and Sex, Hope and Love ("Sex, Hopp och kärlek") directed by Lisa Ohlin (Seeking Temporary Wife) and produced by Illusion Film.

Film I Väst, the second most active co-producer of Swedish feature films after the Swedish broadcaster SVT, had a feature film production budget of €5m in 2003. It has just been awarded Skr 3.3m (around €365,000) from the Swedish Film Institute to continue developing its feature film activity in the region.