ERA New Horizons IFF

 

by Sandy Mandelberger, Online Dailies Editor

 

The Polish-Swedish Film Meetings introduced a number of exciting new projects from both Polish and Swedish producers. In networking meetings with producers, sales agents and financiers, these projects in development will undoubtedly profit from the atmosphere of cooperation that has been initiated between the Era New Horizons International Film Festival and the Swedish Film Institute.

“Callgirl“ is a drama being developed by Swedish producer Mimmi Spång of Stockholm-based Garage Film (email: info@garagefilm.se). The film tells the story of two underage girls who slept with top politicians, which threatened the country’s political elite. The film is budgeted at nearly 3 Million Euros, with the Swedish Film Institute, MEDIA and the Nordic Film and TV Fund attached as partners. Spång was in Wroclaw looking to find a Polish co-producer, arrange a pre-sales agreement with a Polish distributor and to scout possible locations for shooting in Wroclaw.

“Super Max” is a youth comedy/drama from director Andreas Tibblin about Max, a troubled teenager working in a comic book store who becomes obsessed with superheroes. The film is being produced by Magnus Åkerstedt of Drama Svecia (http://www.dramasvecia.se/) on a proposed budget of 1.5 Million Euros, of which nearly one-third is already in place via partners The Chimney Pot and Dagsljus, with Svensk Filmindustri on board for distribution.

“Four More Years” is a satirical comedy from actress-turned-director Tova Magnusson-Norling and producer Martin Persson of Anagram Produktion (http://www.anagramproduktion.se/). The film tells is about a liberal politician whose life transforms when he loses an election and falls in love with a man who works for the opposition. Budgeted at 1.75 Million Euros, of which nearly 75% is already in place with monies from the Swedish Film Insitute, Helsinki Film, Film i Väst and Sandrew Metronome, Persson is looking for a Polish co-producer and to scout locations in Wroclaw.

“The Story of the Warsaw Connection” is a historical drama being produced by Peter Kropénin of HobAB (http://www.hobab.se/) with a budget of 4.5 Million Euros. The film recreates the true story of Swedish business men who smuggled necessities and information in Poland during the German occupation. The producer is seeking a Polish co-producer to help develop the project and access Polish subsidy monies and location support.

“Fear of Heights” by director Bartek Konopka and producers Dariusz Gajewski and Ewa Jastrzebska of Studio Munka (studiomunka@sfp.org.pl) is a psychological drama about a television reporter whose life is changed when he re-engages with his estranged father. There is a completed script with a proposed budget of nearly 4 Million Zlotys, of which half is guaranteed. The producers are looking to find a Swedish co-producer who can invest 250,000 Euros.

“The Stag Party” is a road movie about a group of Swedish twenty-somethings who arrange a stag party for their friend and get stranded in Poland when their car is stolen. The film has director Slawomir Pstrong attached, with producer Aleksandra Kulakowska of On Production (http://www.onproduction.pl/) on the look out for Swedish co-producers and sales agents.

“The Terrorist” is an investigative documentary about a journalist’s search for Shamil Basayev, the notoriously elusive Chechen rebel. The film is to be directed by the team of Marcin Mamon and Mariusz Pilis with Krzysztof Kopczynski of Eureka Media (http://www.eurekamedia.info/) serving as producer. The film is budgeted at nearly 250,000 Euros with development financing already in place via Media Plus, the Polish Film Institute, German=based Licht Film, LRT Lithuania and Cat3 Spain.

“Raiders: the Raven and the Cross” is a period action adventure film being developed by director Cezary Iberl and producer Slawomir Ciok of Icebreaker Films (slavc@poczta.fm). Set in Poland in the year 1020 AD, the action begins when two Viking brothers lead a small group of renegade warriors to rob a wealthy merchant. The production is budgeted at 10 Million Euros, of which 1 Million Euros is in place via partners Trzyglów (PL), Jomsviking Productions (USA), the Polish Film Institute and the City of Szczecin. The producers are seeking financial and artistic contributions from Swedish producers with access to subsidy and private funding.