Helsinki-based production company It’s Alive Films has boarded upcoming “Copernicus Secrets” as ca o-producer, joining Orka Studio’s Magdalena Zimecka (Poland) and 4film’s Anita Juka (Croatia.)
Recently, Orka co-produced Naomi Watts survival drama “Infinite Storm” by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, as well as Marta Minorowicz’s “Illusion.”
“We like to try new things and we have never been involved in this kind of co-production before. Copernicus was an intellectual giant, whose vision had a tremendous effect on modern science. In a way, this story has been relevant since the 15th century,” said Finland’s Jani Pösö.
Running It’s Alive Films alongside director and longtime collaborator Teemu Nikki, Pösö is also behind “Euthanizer,” Finland’s 2018 Oscar submission, Venice-winning “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic” or children’s film “Snot & Splash – The Mystery of Disappearing Holes,” starring Pekka Strang.
Currently, the duo is shopping their new feature “100 Liters of Gold.
Recently, Orka co-produced Naomi Watts survival drama “Infinite Storm” by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, as well as Marta Minorowicz’s “Illusion.”
“We like to try new things and we have never been involved in this kind of co-production before. Copernicus was an intellectual giant, whose vision had a tremendous effect on modern science. In a way, this story has been relevant since the 15th century,” said Finland’s Jani Pösö.
Running It’s Alive Films alongside director and longtime collaborator Teemu Nikki, Pösö is also behind “Euthanizer,” Finland’s 2018 Oscar submission, Venice-winning “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic” or children’s film “Snot & Splash – The Mystery of Disappearing Holes,” starring Pekka Strang.
Currently, the duo is shopping their new feature “100 Liters of Gold.
- 2/3/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The Göteborg Film Festival’s film industry confab, the Nordic Film Market, unspooling Jan 31-Feb. 2, has unveiled in exclusivity to Variety its 2024 lineup comprising 58 new and upcoming Nordic films.
These are directed by newcomers and bona fide helmers such as Hans Petter Moland, Rúnar Rúnarsson, Charlotte Sieling, Daniel Espinosa and Pirjo Honkasalo.
Just over two weeks before kick-off, a record number of delegates – 507 from 33 countries – have signed up for the biggest film market in the Nordic region.
The 90-plus international buyers, 90 funding bodies, 60 festival programmers and 50 sales agents can look forward to a revamped showcase, both in terms of programming and set-up, with a new hub for networking and accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Draken. “We’re very excited about making this year’s venue both new and familiar for delegates coming to Göteborg,” said head of industry Josef Kullengård.
“The industry has entered a slowdown, but creatively, the Nordic...
These are directed by newcomers and bona fide helmers such as Hans Petter Moland, Rúnar Rúnarsson, Charlotte Sieling, Daniel Espinosa and Pirjo Honkasalo.
Just over two weeks before kick-off, a record number of delegates – 507 from 33 countries – have signed up for the biggest film market in the Nordic region.
The 90-plus international buyers, 90 funding bodies, 60 festival programmers and 50 sales agents can look forward to a revamped showcase, both in terms of programming and set-up, with a new hub for networking and accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Draken. “We’re very excited about making this year’s venue both new and familiar for delegates coming to Göteborg,” said head of industry Josef Kullengård.
“The industry has entered a slowdown, but creatively, the Nordic...
- 1/16/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
“Death Is a Problem for the Living,” now also in Italy.
The Finnish black comedy, directed by Teemu Nikki of “Euthanizer” fame, will premiere at the Rome Film Festival in October.
“I am so proud of everything we have made together, especially ‘Euthanizer’ and [Venice Horizons Extra winner] ‘The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,’ but this one is certainly the most consistent. And the most surprising, because you really don’t know what’s going to happen to these characters,” says Jani Pösö, who produces for Helsinki-based It’s Alive Films.
Co-produced by Andrea Romeo for Italy’s The Culture Business, and scored by Marco Biscarini, it will be distributed in Italy by I Wonder Pictures in the spring, with Scandinavian Film Distribution overseeing the Finnish release.
In the film – previously known as “The Player” – gambling addict Risto (Pekka Strang) and his kind neighbor Arto, who just found out he...
The Finnish black comedy, directed by Teemu Nikki of “Euthanizer” fame, will premiere at the Rome Film Festival in October.
“I am so proud of everything we have made together, especially ‘Euthanizer’ and [Venice Horizons Extra winner] ‘The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,’ but this one is certainly the most consistent. And the most surprising, because you really don’t know what’s going to happen to these characters,” says Jani Pösö, who produces for Helsinki-based It’s Alive Films.
Co-produced by Andrea Romeo for Italy’s The Culture Business, and scored by Marco Biscarini, it will be distributed in Italy by I Wonder Pictures in the spring, with Scandinavian Film Distribution overseeing the Finnish release.
In the film – previously known as “The Player” – gambling addict Risto (Pekka Strang) and his kind neighbor Arto, who just found out he...
- 9/22/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
FilmSharks has picked up world sales rights to Finnish children’s film “Snot & Splash: The Mystery of Disappearing Holes.”
“It was a bidding war. They got offers from everybody,” said FilmSharks CEO Guido Rud.
“Snot & Splash” (“Räkä ja Roiskis”) is produced by It’s Alive Films – founded by director Teemu Nikki and Jani Pösö – and set for distribution in its native Finland (Scanbox), Scandinavian sub distribution by Sweden (Folkets Bio) and Norway (Norsk Filmdistribusjon), and Italy in the spring (I Wonder Pictures).
Poland’s Orka and Post Control Helsinki are also on board.
“We are very proud to be working with one of the most creative of Finnish production companies. Most great scripts and ideas are coming from Finland right now. It’s one of the hottest creative hubs,” added Rud.
The deal was signed during the Locarno Film Festival, where the film premiered as part of Locarno Kids Screenings.
The...
“It was a bidding war. They got offers from everybody,” said FilmSharks CEO Guido Rud.
“Snot & Splash” (“Räkä ja Roiskis”) is produced by It’s Alive Films – founded by director Teemu Nikki and Jani Pösö – and set for distribution in its native Finland (Scanbox), Scandinavian sub distribution by Sweden (Folkets Bio) and Norway (Norsk Filmdistribusjon), and Italy in the spring (I Wonder Pictures).
Poland’s Orka and Post Control Helsinki are also on board.
“We are very proud to be working with one of the most creative of Finnish production companies. Most great scripts and ideas are coming from Finland right now. It’s one of the hottest creative hubs,” added Rud.
The deal was signed during the Locarno Film Festival, where the film premiered as part of Locarno Kids Screenings.
The...
- 8/7/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
It’s interesting to look at the discrepancy between films made about disability in the U.S. versus abroad. For starters, there seems to be a greater interest in telling disabled stories overseas than there is here in the States. But that doesn’t mean that an increase in representation is all positive. In fact, in the case of the Finnish feature, “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” the lack of disabled people writing scripts still leads to questionable on-screen antics.
There are certainly good intentions found within Teemu Nikki’s feature. For starters, it’s lead character, Jaako (Petri Poikolainen) is an average guy who just happens to be a wheelchair user and blind. He spends his days checking his social media, playing Keno, and deconstructing films with Sirpa (Marjaana Maijala), a woman he’s met online who also has a disability. The two have never met,...
There are certainly good intentions found within Teemu Nikki’s feature. For starters, it’s lead character, Jaako (Petri Poikolainen) is an average guy who just happens to be a wheelchair user and blind. He spends his days checking his social media, playing Keno, and deconstructing films with Sirpa (Marjaana Maijala), a woman he’s met online who also has a disability. The two have never met,...
- 2/3/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
With the Sundance Film Festival now wrapped up, offering our first glimpse at the 2023 cinematic offerings, eyes are now on Berlinale, which kicks off later this month. Looking at this month’s theatrical releases, it’s an eclectic mix of fest favorites (including the best film from last year’s Cannes and a pair of highlights from last year’s Slamdance), underseen gems, and a few auteur-driven studio offerings.
12. The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic (Teemu Nikki; Feb. 3)
A week before James Cameron’s 1997 box-office behemoth returns to theaters, we’ll see the release of an acclaimed festival favorite in which his Best Picture winner figures into the central narrative. Winner of the Orizzonti Extra Audience Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Teemu Nikki’s The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic follows Jaakko (Petri Poikolainen), a charming Finn who loves movies despite his blindness,...
12. The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic (Teemu Nikki; Feb. 3)
A week before James Cameron’s 1997 box-office behemoth returns to theaters, we’ll see the release of an acclaimed festival favorite in which his Best Picture winner figures into the central narrative. Winner of the Orizzonti Extra Audience Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Teemu Nikki’s The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic follows Jaakko (Petri Poikolainen), a charming Finn who loves movies despite his blindness,...
- 2/2/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Valdimar Jóhannsson’s Lamb has won the 2022 Nordic Council Film Prize.
The award was announced Tuesday evening during the Nordic Council’s Autumn Session in Helsinki, Finland. Lamb beat out four other shortlisted films, including Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World, Hlynur Pálmason’s Godland, Teemu Nikki’s The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic, and Clara Sola, directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén.
The Nordic Council Film Prize, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, is awarded annually to “an artistically significant, Nordic-produced full-length feature film with cinema distribution”. The prize also comes with a Dkk 300,000 cash prize, which is shared between the director, writers, and producers.
Discussing their decision to pick Lamb, the Nordic council jury described the film as “unique and darkly menacing.”
“Lamb combines Iceland‘s tradition of pastoral cinema and the literary heritage of the folk tale,” the jury said in a statement.
The award was announced Tuesday evening during the Nordic Council’s Autumn Session in Helsinki, Finland. Lamb beat out four other shortlisted films, including Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World, Hlynur Pálmason’s Godland, Teemu Nikki’s The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic, and Clara Sola, directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén.
The Nordic Council Film Prize, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, is awarded annually to “an artistically significant, Nordic-produced full-length feature film with cinema distribution”. The prize also comes with a Dkk 300,000 cash prize, which is shared between the director, writers, and producers.
Discussing their decision to pick Lamb, the Nordic council jury described the film as “unique and darkly menacing.”
“Lamb combines Iceland‘s tradition of pastoral cinema and the literary heritage of the folk tale,” the jury said in a statement.
- 11/1/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Italy’s I Wonder Pictures has boarded Finnish comedy “The Player” as a co-producer ahead of its bow at Haugesund’s industry sidebar New Nordic Films.
The company will also handle local distribution. The project is directed by Teemu Nikki and produced by It’s Alive Films’ Jani Pösö.
“I consider Teemu Nikki as one of the best European directors. He is brilliant, prolific and always surprising,” Andrea Romeo, I Wonder Pictures’ general manager and head of acquisitions, told Variety.
“I think that his cinema will be increasingly appreciated in the world, as well as in Italy. His movies always talk about important issues, keeping a perfect balance between black comedy and auteur cinema. It’s also a great pleasure for us to work with a producer like Jani and a company as prestigious as It’s Alive Films.”
The Finnish duo has just been nominated for the Nordic Council Film...
The company will also handle local distribution. The project is directed by Teemu Nikki and produced by It’s Alive Films’ Jani Pösö.
“I consider Teemu Nikki as one of the best European directors. He is brilliant, prolific and always surprising,” Andrea Romeo, I Wonder Pictures’ general manager and head of acquisitions, told Variety.
“I think that his cinema will be increasingly appreciated in the world, as well as in Italy. His movies always talk about important issues, keeping a perfect balance between black comedy and auteur cinema. It’s also a great pleasure for us to work with a producer like Jani and a company as prestigious as It’s Alive Films.”
The Finnish duo has just been nominated for the Nordic Council Film...
- 8/24/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Five Nordic features are nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize. The prestigious recognition, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, was first awarded to Aki Kaurismäki’s “The Man Without a Past.”
Hlynur Pálmason’s “Godland,” Teemu Nikki’s “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” “Lamb” by Valdimar Jóhannson, Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated “The Worst Person in the World” and “Clara Sola,” directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, will all vie for the award.
It is billed as a prize that celebrates “a unique filmmaking vision, deeply rooted in Nordic culture” and comes with a sum of Dkk 300,000, shared equally between the director, screenwriter and producer.
Trier, fresh off his win at Saturday’sAmanda Awards, already won the prize in 2016 for “Louder Than Bombs.” It’s also not the first nomination for Finland’s Nikki, previously noticed for darkly comedic “Euthanizer.” His new film, featuring Petri Poikolainen who suffers from Ms,...
Hlynur Pálmason’s “Godland,” Teemu Nikki’s “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” “Lamb” by Valdimar Jóhannson, Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated “The Worst Person in the World” and “Clara Sola,” directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, will all vie for the award.
It is billed as a prize that celebrates “a unique filmmaking vision, deeply rooted in Nordic culture” and comes with a sum of Dkk 300,000, shared equally between the director, screenwriter and producer.
Trier, fresh off his win at Saturday’sAmanda Awards, already won the prize in 2016 for “Louder Than Bombs.” It’s also not the first nomination for Finland’s Nikki, previously noticed for darkly comedic “Euthanizer.” His new film, featuring Petri Poikolainen who suffers from Ms,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Three of the nominees premiered at Cannes 2021.
The five nominees for the lucrative Nordic Council Film Prize have been unveiled at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund today (August 23).
Three of the nominees premiered at Cannes 2021: Iceland’s Lamb, directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson; Norway’s The Worst Person In The World from Joachim Trier; and Sweden’s Clara Sola directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén.
Denmark’s entry is Hlynur Pálmason’s Godland, which debuted at Cannes this year.
Finnish entry The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic, directed by Teemu Nikki, premiered in the Orizzonti...
The five nominees for the lucrative Nordic Council Film Prize have been unveiled at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund today (August 23).
Three of the nominees premiered at Cannes 2021: Iceland’s Lamb, directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson; Norway’s The Worst Person In The World from Joachim Trier; and Sweden’s Clara Sola directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén.
Denmark’s entry is Hlynur Pálmason’s Godland, which debuted at Cannes this year.
Finnish entry The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic, directed by Teemu Nikki, premiered in the Orizzonti...
- 8/23/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
More than 300 industry delegates from top shingles including Warner Bros Discovery, Viaplay, Germany’s Constantin Film, The Match Factory and France’s TF1 Studio are expected on the shores of Haugesund, Norway, over Aug. 23-26, for Scandinavia’s major film showcase, New Nordic Films.
Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness” will both open the film confab festivities and screen alongside 18 new Nordic finished films at the market. But for the avid buyers and programmers of Nordic content, the biggest draw will be the 18 works in progress – half of them looking for sales and distribution – and 23 pics in development available for co-production and financing.
“We’ve noticed a shift in recent years, with buyers and sellers favouring the Works in Progress and Nordic Coproduction Market over the market screenings. These seem to be more valuable for the industry,” said Gyda Velvin Myklebust, head of New Nordic Films.
Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness” will both open the film confab festivities and screen alongside 18 new Nordic finished films at the market. But for the avid buyers and programmers of Nordic content, the biggest draw will be the 18 works in progress – half of them looking for sales and distribution – and 23 pics in development available for co-production and financing.
“We’ve noticed a shift in recent years, with buyers and sellers favouring the Works in Progress and Nordic Coproduction Market over the market screenings. These seem to be more valuable for the industry,” said Gyda Velvin Myklebust, head of New Nordic Films.
- 8/12/2022
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
The film marks the debut of blind, wheelchair-using actor Petri Poikolainen.
Intramovies has sold North American rights to SXSW title The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic to Cinedigim.
The Italian outfit closed a brace of additional deals for Finnish director Teemu Nikki’s romantic thriller in other territories, including Sky Digi Entertainment (Taiwan); Cineworx (Switzerland); and Cinobo (Greece.)
Theatrical rights for Chile were taken up by Cinetopia, and Eastern Europe television rights by HBO Europe.
The film marks the debut of blind, wheelchair-using actor Petri Poikolainen.
In further deals, Intramovies has sold Francesco Costabile’s The...
Intramovies has sold North American rights to SXSW title The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic to Cinedigim.
The Italian outfit closed a brace of additional deals for Finnish director Teemu Nikki’s romantic thriller in other territories, including Sky Digi Entertainment (Taiwan); Cineworx (Switzerland); and Cinobo (Greece.)
Theatrical rights for Chile were taken up by Cinetopia, and Eastern Europe television rights by HBO Europe.
The film marks the debut of blind, wheelchair-using actor Petri Poikolainen.
In further deals, Intramovies has sold Francesco Costabile’s The...
- 5/24/2022
- by Alina Trabattoni
- ScreenDaily
One of Roger Ebert's most famous, frequently used quotes goes, "The movies are like a machine that generates empathy." That sentiment perfectly applies to Teemu Nikki's wholly unique "The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic." The film stars Petri Poikolainen, a blind, wheelchair-using actor with Ms, who is the center of the film's world for nearly every single frame. Nikki keeps the camera almost always trained on Poikolainen's face; the image floats and drifts, and everything beyond Poikolainen's visage is usually blurry; deliberately out-of-focus. It creates a singular experience, as if we've been thrust into the main character's...
The post The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic Review: A Unique Film With Great Empathy [SXSW] appeared first on /Film.
The post The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic Review: A Unique Film With Great Empathy [SXSW] appeared first on /Film.
- 3/16/2022
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic Trailer — Teemu Nikki‘s The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic / Sokea mies joka ei halunnut nähdä Titanicia (2021) movie trailer has been released by Intramovies. The The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic trailer stars Petri [...]
Continue reading: The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic (2021) Movie Trailer: Petri Poikolainen Makes A Brave Journey to Visit the Woman He Loves...
Continue reading: The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic (2021) Movie Trailer: Petri Poikolainen Makes A Brave Journey to Visit the Woman He Loves...
- 2/12/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
The strand showcases films from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The Baltic competition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will screen 12 films, including five world premieres, at the festival’s 25th edition.
The competition showcases films from the three Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. There will be five Estonian films, with four from Lithuania and three from Latvia.
Scroll down for the full line-up
The five world premieres are Ivar Murd’s u.Q., which tells the story of Estonian funk-soul-jazz producer Uku Kuut’s; Emilis Vėlyvis’ Lithuanian crime thriller The Generation Of Evil, set in a small Latvian...
The Baltic competition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will screen 12 films, including five world premieres, at the festival’s 25th edition.
The competition showcases films from the three Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. There will be five Estonian films, with four from Lithuania and three from Latvia.
Scroll down for the full line-up
The five world premieres are Ivar Murd’s u.Q., which tells the story of Estonian funk-soul-jazz producer Uku Kuut’s; Emilis Vėlyvis’ Lithuanian crime thriller The Generation Of Evil, set in a small Latvian...
- 10/26/2021
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Teemu Nikki’s Venice and Antalya winner “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic” won the Golden star for best film at the 5th El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt, which wrapped Friday. The award carries a cash prize of $50,000.
The film’s lead Petri Poikolainen won best actor, while Maya Vanderbeque, the young star of “Playground,” won best actress.
Egyptian filmmaker Omar El Zohairy’s Cannes winner “Feathers,” which also won the Variety award at El Gouna earlier, won best Arab narrative film.
Directors Aleksey Chupov and Natasha Merkulova’s “Captain Volkonogov Escaped” won the Netpac award and bronze in the narrative category.
Michel Franco’s “Sundown” won silver in the narrative competition, while Aditya Vikram Sengupta’s “Once Upon a Time in Calcutta” scored a special mention from Netpac.
Mounia Akl’s “Costa Brava, Lebanon” won the Fipresci award and the Green Star award for tackling environmental issues.
The film’s lead Petri Poikolainen won best actor, while Maya Vanderbeque, the young star of “Playground,” won best actress.
Egyptian filmmaker Omar El Zohairy’s Cannes winner “Feathers,” which also won the Variety award at El Gouna earlier, won best Arab narrative film.
Directors Aleksey Chupov and Natasha Merkulova’s “Captain Volkonogov Escaped” won the Netpac award and bronze in the narrative category.
Michel Franco’s “Sundown” won silver in the narrative competition, while Aditya Vikram Sengupta’s “Once Upon a Time in Calcutta” scored a special mention from Netpac.
Mounia Akl’s “Costa Brava, Lebanon” won the Fipresci award and the Green Star award for tackling environmental issues.
- 10/22/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
A massive fire that broke out at Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival on Wednesday is now under control, organizers have confirmed.
Shortly after the fire broke out, dramatic videos of the incident were posted on social media.
Watch: A massive fire has broken out in the main hall of the El Gouna Film Festival site in Egypt, one day ahead of the opening ceremony, according to local media reports. #Gff https://t.co/13Z78ZM5ik pic.twitter.com/J1HYCjLSj8
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 13, 2021
“El Gouna Film Festival Management announced the control of a fire that broke out in El Gouna Conference and Culture Center. The fire damaged a small part of the hall prepared to receive the opening activities of the festival,” the festival management said in a statement. “Once the fire broke out, El Gouna Film Festival Management coordinated with the Civil Protection Forces...
Shortly after the fire broke out, dramatic videos of the incident were posted on social media.
Watch: A massive fire has broken out in the main hall of the El Gouna Film Festival site in Egypt, one day ahead of the opening ceremony, according to local media reports. #Gff https://t.co/13Z78ZM5ik pic.twitter.com/J1HYCjLSj8
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 13, 2021
“El Gouna Film Festival Management announced the control of a fire that broke out in El Gouna Conference and Culture Center. The fire damaged a small part of the hall prepared to receive the opening activities of the festival,” the festival management said in a statement. “Once the fire broke out, El Gouna Film Festival Management coordinated with the Civil Protection Forces...
- 10/13/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
“Mister8,” a Finnish comedy series produced by It’s Alive Films, is set to make its international debut at Canneseries. In this meet cute turned meet-your-competition, Juho (Pekka Strang) pits himself against his love interest Maria’s (Krista Kosonen) seven other partners – one for each day of the week. Maria, a wealthy and powerful CEO, has each man comfortably under her control, until Juho uses his wits to weaponize jealousy in the ranks, and hilarity ensues.
Shot in black and white, “Mister8” takes a stylized approach to its comedy, eschewing jokes for situational and absurdist visual humor. Teemu Nikki directs, having successfully partnered with producer Jani Pösö before – Nikki directed “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” which in September won the Armani Beauty Audience Award in the new Horizons Extra section of the Venice Film Festival. They also made the 2017 film “Euthanizer,” which was selected as the...
Shot in black and white, “Mister8” takes a stylized approach to its comedy, eschewing jokes for situational and absurdist visual humor. Teemu Nikki directs, having successfully partnered with producer Jani Pösö before – Nikki directed “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” which in September won the Armani Beauty Audience Award in the new Horizons Extra section of the Venice Film Festival. They also made the 2017 film “Euthanizer,” which was selected as the...
- 10/13/2021
- by JD Linville
- Variety Film + TV
Covid-related travel restrictions have made Busan’s film market a more Korean affair. But, having gone virtual, that does not have to be the case.
Some 22 European sales companies, more than in 2020, will wake part at the Asian Contents & Film Market which kicks off Monday. They are helped by the annual Europe! Umbrella for European World sales and by Film Sales Support.
The online umbrella stand sees the participation of: LevelK and TrustNordisk form Denmark; Media Move and New Europe Film Sales from Poland; Films Boutique, The Match Factory, Picture Tree International, m-appeal, Sola Media and Pluto Film from Germany; Minerva Pictures, Intramovies, Fandango Film Sales, True Colours and Tvco from Italy; Latido and Filmax and newcomers Begin Again Films, Moonrise Pictures, Feel Content and Feel Sales; from Spain; and Heretic from Greece.
Highlights include Hungary’s Cannes competition entrant “The Story of My Wife” by Ildiko Enyedì, represented by...
Some 22 European sales companies, more than in 2020, will wake part at the Asian Contents & Film Market which kicks off Monday. They are helped by the annual Europe! Umbrella for European World sales and by Film Sales Support.
The online umbrella stand sees the participation of: LevelK and TrustNordisk form Denmark; Media Move and New Europe Film Sales from Poland; Films Boutique, The Match Factory, Picture Tree International, m-appeal, Sola Media and Pluto Film from Germany; Minerva Pictures, Intramovies, Fandango Film Sales, True Colours and Tvco from Italy; Latido and Filmax and newcomers Begin Again Films, Moonrise Pictures, Feel Content and Feel Sales; from Spain; and Heretic from Greece.
Highlights include Hungary’s Cannes competition entrant “The Story of My Wife” by Ildiko Enyedì, represented by...
- 10/11/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Catalan director Clara Roquet’s teenage female friendship drama “Libertad” and Ferit Karahan’s social drama “Brother’s Keeper,” about Kurdish kids living in fear at a Turkish boarding school, won the best film awards respectively in the international and national competitions at Turkey’s 58th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival which wrapped Saturday.
“Libertad,” a first feature that centers on a bond that forms during a summer in Spain’s Costa Brava between two young women from opposite sides of the tracks, was a recent Cannes Critics’ Week standout that has been making the festival rounds. Pic will soon segue from Antalya to the Rome Film Festival.
“Brother’s Keeper” is based on helmer Karahan’s own experience and follows two friends, Yusef and Memo, at a secluded boarding school for Kurdish boys in the mountains of Eastern Anatolia. When Memo falls mysteriously ill, Yusuf to try to help...
“Libertad,” a first feature that centers on a bond that forms during a summer in Spain’s Costa Brava between two young women from opposite sides of the tracks, was a recent Cannes Critics’ Week standout that has been making the festival rounds. Pic will soon segue from Antalya to the Rome Film Festival.
“Brother’s Keeper” is based on helmer Karahan’s own experience and follows two friends, Yusef and Memo, at a secluded boarding school for Kurdish boys in the mountains of Eastern Anatolia. When Memo falls mysteriously ill, Yusuf to try to help...
- 10/10/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Finnish series “Mister8,” produced by It’s Alive Films and sold internationally by Federation Entertainment, will celebrate its international premiere at Canneseries. The series festival will take place on Oct. 8-13 in Cannes, alongside the 37th edition of the MipTV market.
Starring Krista Kosonen (spotted in “Blade Runner 2049”) and Pekka Strang, reuniting after their 2019 rom-com “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants,” it will see a successful woman, Maria, who shares her life with seven men – one for each day of the week. But when another one comes along, someone needs to go: a young poet, a restaurant owner that likes to party, a former soldier living on the outskirts of the society, or maybe a single dad of two kids.
“It’s a pitch-black comedy about modern relationships,” says producer Jani Pösö. “Maria has come to the conclusion that guys tend to have only one redeeming feature – everything else is total shit.
Starring Krista Kosonen (spotted in “Blade Runner 2049”) and Pekka Strang, reuniting after their 2019 rom-com “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants,” it will see a successful woman, Maria, who shares her life with seven men – one for each day of the week. But when another one comes along, someone needs to go: a young poet, a restaurant owner that likes to party, a former soldier living on the outskirts of the society, or maybe a single dad of two kids.
“It’s a pitch-black comedy about modern relationships,” says producer Jani Pösö. “Maria has come to the conclusion that guys tend to have only one redeeming feature – everything else is total shit.
- 9/21/2021
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Fresh off another win at Finland’s Jussi Awards, this time for his short film “The Bouncer,” Aleksi Salmenperä is already in post-production with his upcoming feature “Bubble,” about to be presented at Helsinki International Film Festival’s industry event Finnish Film Affair in its Fiction in Progress section.
“I was sort of embarrassed by this win,” he jokes. The comedy was shot six years ago and originally intended as a part of an episodic film. At previous Jussi Awards, Salmenperä was named best director for “Distractions” in 2016, and drama “Void” won best director and best film in 2019. “Bubble,” set to premiere in the spring of next year, is bound to surprise some of his fans, however, with Salmenperä calling it “the cosiest film” he has ever made.
“I don’t know what happened! Maybe I am just getting old, but there is so much warmth in this film. I...
“I was sort of embarrassed by this win,” he jokes. The comedy was shot six years ago and originally intended as a part of an episodic film. At previous Jussi Awards, Salmenperä was named best director for “Distractions” in 2016, and drama “Void” won best director and best film in 2019. “Bubble,” set to premiere in the spring of next year, is bound to surprise some of his fans, however, with Salmenperä calling it “the cosiest film” he has ever made.
“I don’t know what happened! Maybe I am just getting old, but there is so much warmth in this film. I...
- 9/21/2021
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy’s return to live, in-person screenings is an occasion for national celebration, says Anna Möttölä, the executive director of the event, now marking its 34th edition.
While cinemas in Helsinki must still be limited to 50% capacity for pandemic precaution reasons, screenings of hot new titles such as opening gala film Leos Carax’s tragicomic musical “Annette” and closer Mia Hansen-Løve’s “Bergman Island” have already sold out, Möttölä says, with audience anticipation for the beloved fest feeling palpable this year following a mainly online event in 2020. Foreign guests such as Ninja Thyberg, screening her Sundance sensation “Pleasure,” are also generating buzz this year, she notes.
Meanwhile the event has managed to maintain its dedication to diversity and inclusion despite Covid challenges, with some 46% of the 131 features and 149 shorts screening by women or non-binary filmmakers.
The popular Spotlight section has seen brisk ticket sales for its program,...
While cinemas in Helsinki must still be limited to 50% capacity for pandemic precaution reasons, screenings of hot new titles such as opening gala film Leos Carax’s tragicomic musical “Annette” and closer Mia Hansen-Løve’s “Bergman Island” have already sold out, Möttölä says, with audience anticipation for the beloved fest feeling palpable this year following a mainly online event in 2020. Foreign guests such as Ninja Thyberg, screening her Sundance sensation “Pleasure,” are also generating buzz this year, she notes.
Meanwhile the event has managed to maintain its dedication to diversity and inclusion despite Covid challenges, with some 46% of the 131 features and 149 shorts screening by women or non-binary filmmakers.
The popular Spotlight section has seen brisk ticket sales for its program,...
- 9/16/2021
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
The Venice Film Festival unveiled its award winners on Saturday night, and Jane Campion, Penélope Cruz and Maggie Gyllenhaal are among the award winners for the top prizes.
“Happening,” a French abortion drama from director Audrey Diwan, won the Golden Lion, and Paolo Sorrentino’s film “The Hand of God” won the second place prize, or the Silver Lion.
In the acting categories, Penélope Cruz won Best Actress for Pedro Almodovar’s “Parallel Mothers,” and John Arcilla won Best Actor for “On the Job: The Missing 8.” Jane Campion won the Silver Lion for Best Director for her film “The Power of the Dog.”
Among some of the other winners, Maggie Gyllenhaal won Best Screenplay for her adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel “The Lost Daughter.” Gyllenhaal praised Campion and spoke about how watching “The Piano” inspired her as a storyteller. “The Hand of God” star Filippo Scotti also won the...
“Happening,” a French abortion drama from director Audrey Diwan, won the Golden Lion, and Paolo Sorrentino’s film “The Hand of God” won the second place prize, or the Silver Lion.
In the acting categories, Penélope Cruz won Best Actress for Pedro Almodovar’s “Parallel Mothers,” and John Arcilla won Best Actor for “On the Job: The Missing 8.” Jane Campion won the Silver Lion for Best Director for her film “The Power of the Dog.”
Among some of the other winners, Maggie Gyllenhaal won Best Screenplay for her adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel “The Lost Daughter.” Gyllenhaal praised Campion and spoke about how watching “The Piano” inspired her as a storyteller. “The Hand of God” star Filippo Scotti also won the...
- 9/11/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
This year’s Venice Film Festival is coming to a close after two weeks of in-person cinema on the Lido, which means it’s time for the annual fete to hand out its awards. IndieWire will be updating the winners list live as they are announced.
Categories including Volpi cups for Best Actor and Actress, the Silver Lion, and the Golden Lion, the festival’s top honor, and more.
Last year’s Golden Lion winner Chloe Zhao returned to Venice this year as a member of the competition jury, which is being presided over by “Parasite” Oscar winner Bong Joon Ho. The “Snowpiercer” and “Parasite” Oscar winner became the first person from South Korea to serve as the president of the film festival’s seven-person jury. Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera hailed Bong as “one of the most authentic and original voices in worldwide cinema.” Additional competition jurors were actor Virginie Efira,...
Categories including Volpi cups for Best Actor and Actress, the Silver Lion, and the Golden Lion, the festival’s top honor, and more.
Last year’s Golden Lion winner Chloe Zhao returned to Venice this year as a member of the competition jury, which is being presided over by “Parasite” Oscar winner Bong Joon Ho. The “Snowpiercer” and “Parasite” Oscar winner became the first person from South Korea to serve as the president of the film festival’s seven-person jury. Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera hailed Bong as “one of the most authentic and original voices in worldwide cinema.” Additional competition jurors were actor Virginie Efira,...
- 9/11/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.