18/02/2014 - After winning prizes in Sundance and Berlin, Eskil Vogt’s feature debut is ready to meet international demand – and local audiences

Two festivals, two prizes: Norwegian director Eskil Vogt’s first feature, Blind [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eskil Vogt
interview: Eskil Vogt
film profile], received the Screenwriting Award: World Cinema Dramatic in Sundance and left the Berlinale with the Europa Cinemas Label as Best European Film in the Panorama sidebar section.

The title, which stars Ellen Dorrit Petersen, is now ready to meet international demand with support from the Europa Cinemas Network, with additional promotion and incentives for exhibitors to extend the film’s run on the screens. Demand from local audiences should be satisfied after the 28 February release by Norsk Filmdistribusjon.

“Vogt’s film is a breath of fresh air – an original debut feature with a really interesting approach to narrative structure. The film teases the audience, playing with notions of fantasy and reality. Above all, it is an arthouse film that will engage with and provoke debate among the younger audience – a welcome counterpoint to the predominance of middle-aged dramas,” said the Europa Cinemas jury.

According to French international sales agent Pape Boye of Paris-based Versatile, Blind has already been licensed to France (KMBO), Benelux (Cinéart), the CIS countries (Prozvglyad), Taiwan (Maison Motion) and Brazil (Imovision), while the US, Australia and the UK are in advanced negotiations. 

Staged by Norwegian producers Hans-Jørgen Osnes and Sigve Endresen for Oslo’s Motlys, together with Amsterdam’s Lemming Film, Blind is the story of Ingrid, who has recently lost her sight; she retreats to the safety of her home, a place where she can feel in control, alone with her husband and her thoughts. However, her deepest fears and repressed fantasies soon take over. The cast includes Henrik Rafaelsen, Vera Vitali and Marius Kolbenstvedt.