The Nordic region boasts few major film projects with international potential, but when opportunity knocks, Nordisk Film’s film production unit must be a self-evident cooperation partner. No other Scandinavian production company can rival Nordisk Film’s command of the entire film-making value chain or offer such excellent competency on all fronts.

Kon-tiki is a good example. The story of the legendary Norwegian expedition, headed by Thor Heyerdahl, in 1947 to sail across the Pacific has been on the drawing board for several years, and ambitions for the project have fluctuated over that period. In March 2010 the Norwegian Film Institute gave the project the largest grant ever awarded – NOK 18.5 million in addition to ticket subsidies expected to run to NOK 15 million. Nordisk Film in association with the British Recorded Picture Company will produce the film, to be directed by Espen Sandberg and Joachim Rønning, the acclaimed directors of another Norwegian drama feature, ’Max Manus’.

Four-way filming
‘Kon-tiki is a shining example of a project where Nordisk Film’s involvement is vital. We are the company for the job because the Nordisk Film team is strong across the board. It is a mammoth project that will be shot by local film crews in four different countries,’ explains Henrik Zein, general manager of Nordisk Film Production.

Aage Aaberge is the producer on the Nordisk Film side. At Nordisk Film Production in Denmark, general manager Henrik Zein and administration manager Lena Haugaard will coordinate funding, production management and financial management as well as handle the numerous underlying complex agreements. On the distribution side, Nordic acquisitions manager Lone Korslund will provide the link to the film directors, be involved in the script and provide creative input to ensure the film gets the best possible promotion. The project is also firmly embedded in the corporate management team, with business development director Asger Flygare Bech-Thomsen as anchor man for the highly intricate negotiations that numerous stakeholders and a large budget entail.

‘We are excited but also humble in the face of this task. Those who remember I Am Dina know that we have some ghosts haunting us. For this reason, we are extremely aware of the need for realistic ambitions and strict financial control. We’re looking forward to working with Jeremy Thomas and Peter Watson from      Recorded Picture Company, which, along with Hanway Films, is the perfect partner for giving the film an international edge. Naturally we hope that Kon-tiki will lead to other similar projects. With the team we have put together, we have the best chance of success,’ says Henrik Zein.