19/03/2007

Danish filmmaker Ole Bornedal’s new film, The Substitute [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which had its world premiere at the International Children and Youth Film Festival in Malmö (BUFF), was presented with the festival’s Youth Prize and the new Swedish Church Award (with €5,400) last Friday night during the festival’s closing ceremony.

“With a different plot and surprising scenes, the film manages to create a refreshing and exciting mood, although the message is about people’s unique power of love. Fantastic acting, fabulous photography and quick camera work catch the audience’s attention and the story raises many questions on second thoughts”, commented the Youth Jury.

Bornedal, whose breakthrough came with the thriller Nightwatch in 1994, had not made a feature film since the ambitious English-language Scandinavian co-production I am Dina [+see also:
trailer
film profile] in 2002.

The Substitute, made for his usual production partner Michael Obel (Thura Film), is the story of a sixth grade substitute teacher (Paprika Steen) who wants to train her class for an international competition in Paris. But something is not right: Why is she so mean? And how can she read the kids’ minds?

The film will be released in Denmark on June 16 through SF Film/Filmcompaniet.

While busy promoting The Substitute, Bornedal is also working on the editing of Just Another Love Story – his “comeback” to the genre that made his famous – a gripping thriller starring Anders Berthelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Charlotte Fich. Also produced by Thura Film, the film will be ready next September.

Both The Substitute and Just Another Love Story are being handled by Nordisk Film International Sales.