NFI backs Moland-Skarsgård comedy

by Annika Pham

09/03/2009 - The Norwegian Film Institute has awarded NOK 6.5m to Regnskap (“Accounts”), a major project that will reunite top Norwegian filmmaker Hans Petter Moland (The Beautiful Country) with Swedish star Stellan Skarsgård for the third time.

The two previously worked together on the award-winning Zero Kelvin (1995) and Aberdeen (2000). Based on a script by established Danish scriptwriter Kim Fupz Aakeson (Little Soldier [trailer]) Regnskap will be Moland’s sixth feature film and first comedy. It tells the story of Ulrik, who is released from prison after serving 12 for the murder of his wife’s lover. He faces a tough choice: avenge those who turned him in or forget about his past and try to win back his estranged son who is about to start a family.

The cast includes Axel Hennie (Max Manus [trailer]) and Bjørn Floberg (Kitchen Stories). The NOK 16.1m film produced by Paradox’s Finn Gjerdrum and Stein B. Kvae will start shooting on March 25. Domestic distribution through Scanbox is set for February 15, 2010.

In its latest round of production support, the NFI also awarded NOK 2.9m to Norway’s multiple award-winning documentary filmmaker Margreth Olin (Raw Youth) for her new project De Andre. The film about political asylum seekers in Norway is currently shooting for Speranza Film. Sandrew Metronome will release it domestically in November 2010.