04/12/2007

Swedish director Jens Jonsson’ feature debut The King of Ping Pong [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Danish filmmaker Ole Bornedal’s local hit Just Another Love Story [+see also:
trailer
film profile] are among 16 titles selected to compete in the World Cinema section of the Sundance Film Festival (January 17-27).

Pia Lundberg, head of International at the Swedish Film Institute (SFI), commented: “The whole of Sweden and a part of the world’s biggest film festivals have been waiting for Jens Jonsson to follow up his extraordinary short films with a feature. This will be meteoric start for Swedish films on the international [circuit] in 2008.”

A drama set in the far north, The King of Ping Pong is the story of an ostracized and bullied teenage boy who excels only in ping-pong. He descends into an acrimonious struggle with his younger, more popular brother when the truth about their family history and their father surfaces over the course of their spring break.

The film was produced by Bob Film Sweden in co-production with Filmpool Nord and Nordisk Film A/S, SVT; in association with Jens Jonsson AB; and with support from the SFI, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the MEDIA programme and Eurimages.

Nordisk Film will release it in Sweden on February 8, 2008.

One of Denmark’s biggest hits this year with over 236,000 admissions, Just Another Love Story centres on Jonas, who lives a quiet life as a family man until he causes a car crash that leaves a young woman with amnesia. When he is mistaken for her boyfriend, Jonas’ decision to play the role gradually unravels his life.

The film was produced by Michael Obel (Thura Film) with support from the Danish Film Institute, Filmfyn, Nordisk Film & TV Fond and SVT.

Nordisk Film International Sales has already sold it Canada (Seville Pictures), UK and Ireland (Revolver Entertainment), Russia/CIS and Ukraine (Maywin Media), India and South Asia (Baba Digital), Brazil (Video Filmes/Gallions) and Pakistan and Afghanistan (Baba Digital).