04/04/2014 - Two children’s films – Chris Buck/Jennifer Lee’s Frozen and Arild Fröhlich’s Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder – top the charts in Norway

“This year, Norwegian cinemas have had a strong start, and children’s movies – especially the Norwegian ones – have led the way,” said head of communications Birgitte Langballe, of Norwegian cinema association Film & Kino, as she released the admission statistics for early 2014.

Between 1 January and 31 March, theatres sold 3,116,987 tickets – up 14.1% on the same period in 2013, and the best result since 2009. Local products accounted for a substantial part of this: 831,218 tickets, or a 26.7% domestic market share (12.3% more than last year).

Norwegian director Arild Fröhlich’s children’s film, Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder, took 265,691 admissions, to become this year’s most popular Norwegian movie, followed by Arne Lindtner Næss’ Casper and Emma’s Winter Vacation (206,820 admissions) and Katarina Launing’s Cool Kids Don’t Cry [+see also:
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“Even the American children’s film Frozen – number one in the charts – is inspired by Norway,” added Langballe, referring to Chris Buck/Jennifer Lee’s fully animated feature, which has grossed €800 million worldwide.

Based on Danish fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, the Walt Disney Animation Studios production is also inspired by Norwegian fjords and fjells, and will not only benefit local distribution and admission, but also tourism.

Following an agreement with the Innovasjon Norge organisation, Disney used Norwegian names (Sven, Anna, Olaf), stave churches, trolls, fjord horses, bunader (traditional clothes), northern lights and Sámi yoik music in the film. In return, Norwegian tourism authorities may use the film in their marketing.

In 2012, Disney signed a similar contract with Scottish organisations for Brave, which – according to Norway’s VG – increased tourism turnover by almost €0.2 billion. Disney’s own tour operator, Adventures by Disney, is selling its own eight-day round trip to Norway, and so far Skyscanner has had 153% more queries for US-Norway flights than last year.