Norwegian fund grants to South film

The new Norwegian film fund SØRFOND, financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by the Norwegian Film Institute, contributes to the completion of films from Southern countries. Seven films have got support in 2012.

Following a large and positive interest among international filmmakers, SØRFOND has, in its first ever funding-round, awarded NOK 4 million (around € 530,000) to seven different projects divided between the countries of India, Argentina, Bolivia, Pakistan and Palestine:

CHAR - THE ISLAND WITHIN (documentary film)
Director: Sourav Sarang, India
Norwegian co-producer: Cinema Oslo v/Jon Jerstad
The project receives NOK 200,000 in grants (around € 26,500)

DESHORA (feature film)
Director: Barbara Sarasola-Day, Argentina
Norwegian co-producer: Faction Film v/Dag Hoel
The project receives NOK 679,000 in grants (around € 90,000)

KANDIRE – Land Without Evil (feature film)
Director: Juan Carlos Valdivia, Bolivia
Norwegian co-producer: PJB Picture Company v/Petter Borgli
The project receives NOK 750,000 in grants (around € 100,000)

NEITHER THE VEIL NOR THE FOUR WALLS (feature film)
Director: Afia Nathaniel, Pakistan
Norwegian co-producer: Indie Film v/Carsten Aanonsen
The project receives NOK 750,000 in grants (around € 100,000)

PALESTINE STEREO (feature film)
Director: Rashid Masharawi, Palestine
Norwegian co-producer: Ape&Bjørn v/Silja Espolin Johnson and Ruben Thorkildsen
The project receives NOK 750,000 in grants (around € 100,000)

WAKOLDA (feature film)
Director: Lucía Puenzo, Argentina
Norwegian co-producer: Hummelfilm v/Gudny Hummelvoll
The project receives NOK 750,000 in grants (around € 100,000)

WHEN HARI GOT MARRIED (documentary film)
Director: Ritu Sarin, India
Norwegian co-producer: Cinema Oslo v/Jon Jerstad
The project receives NOK 121,000 in grants (around € 16,000)

A lot of interest generated by “SØRFOND”
Seven international film projects, all with Norwegian co-production, have received altogether a total of NOK 4 million in grants. The interest generated by the new film fund has been large and positive. 38 applications were received before the first ever application deadline on the 15th of February 2012 – following the initial Pitching Forum during the Films from the South festival in October 2011. A total of 250 directors wished to travel to Oslo to meet potential Norwegian co-producers – a required condition in order to apply for support from the fund. The international jury in charge of the assessment of the applications consisted of: Mama Keita (Senegal), Kalle Løchen (Norway) and Kristine Skaret (Norway). The leader of the jury, Kalle Løchen, declared that the level of the projects submitted was extremely high.

– Film is a fantastic medium to communicate important stories. Through SØRFOND, we contribute to giving strong voices from the South an opportunity to show their own culture. This also gives us a better understanding of the world we are surrounded by, declares Norwegian Development Minister Heikki Holmås.

Strengthening freedom of expression
Following an initiative by the Films from the South Foundation, SØRFOND was established in 2010. The fund aims to support film production in countries where such production is limited by political, economic or social causes. The fund will help to strengthen film as a mean for cultural expression, promote diversity and artistic integrity on the international film stage. A unique feature of SØRFOND – in comparison with other similar European funds – is that it focuses in priority on freedom of expression while assessing the applications.

International networking
The first round of applications confirmed that there is great interest from Norwegian producers and film professionals to create contacts outside Europe and North America. The hope is that new international contacts can contribute to an increased internationalisation of Norwegian producers, and provide inspiration for new ways to tell local stories.

For more information on SØRFOND – The Norwegian South Film Fund:

- Lasse Skagen, Artistic Director, Films from the South Foundation:
Tel: +47 22 82 24 80 / Mob: +47 95 81 42 73 / Email: [email protected]

- Ivar Køhn, Head of Production Dep., Norwegian Film Institute:
Tel: +47 22 47 45 00 / Mob: +47 41 40 20 96 / Email: [email protected]

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