16/01/2006

As always well represented in Berlin’s Kinderfilmfest because of its strong tradition of children films, Scandinavian cinema will have four titles at the festival this year. Two at the Kinderfilmfest: the Danish/UK coproduction We Shall Overcome [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and the Swedish/Danish co-production Percy, Buffalo Bill & Me - and two at the 14Plus programme: the Finnish and the Swedish Four Weeks In June.

We Shall Overcome is the third film by Niels Arden Oplev whose directorial debut Portland screened in competition in Berlin 1996. His new film produced by Zentropa in co-production with Glasgow-based Sigma Films, is set in 1969. Based on true events, it features 13-year old Frits who is having difficulties with the tyrannical headmaster of his provincial school. Influenced by a speech by Martin Luther King and the winds of change in the world at large, the boy will rebel against the headmaster’s authority. The film is sold by Trust Film Sales.

Percy, Buffalo & Me is Swedish filmmaker Anders Gustafsson’s second film after the award-winning Bagland. The summer adventures of a young boy who discovers love, jealousy and friendship is produced by the Swedish Anne Ingvar (Felicia Film) in co-production with Nordisk Film, Film i Väst, SVT and CineStar Rental. The film is sold by Nordisk Film International Sales.
The Finnish film Beauty And The Bastard which will have its international premiere in Berlin, is directed by newcomer Dome Karukovski, the son of US actor George Dickerson. The boy-meet-girl story was one of the biggest local successes of 2005.
Four Weeks in June is produced by Omega Film in co-production with Sonet Film, Persson Mothander Filmproduktion and Filmpool Nord. The story of a friendship between the young Sandra (Tuva Novotny) and an 80-year old neighbour (Ghita Nørby) gave both actresses the opportunity to run this year for a Guldbagge Award.