Norwegian Ninja delivers one-two punch in Austin
by Annika Pham
Norwegian writer-director Thomas Cappelen Mallin won Best Director and Mads Ousdal Best Actor for the spoof spy movie Norwegian Ninja (Kommandør Treholt & Ninjatroppen) at the recent Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas.
Mallin’s directorial debut is based on his 2006 novel Ninjateknikk II: Usynlighet i Strid 1978, a satirical take on the true story of Arne Treholt, a Norwegian diplomat who was convicted of espionage on behalf of Russia and Iraq during the Cold War. The Torden Film production was picked up by Celluloid Dreams’ new Nightmares label at the last Cannes market and subsequently sold to the UK, Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The film was a ”surprise movie” at Vienna’s Slash Film Festival, which ended on September 30, and it will next screen in the Midnight X-Treme Competition at the 43rd Sitges International Film Festival (October 7-17) in Spain.
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