Pitching forum 2014
SØRFOND held its annual pitching forum during the Films from the South festival 15th of October. Six projects had been picked out to pitch to Norwegian producers and we are hoping to see applications for production support from all of them in February.
We had a quick chat with Ingunn Sundelin and Anne Bergseng two Norwegian producers from Tordenfilm. We asked them what kind of film projects they were specifically looking for.
- We are looking for quality stories with international potential, and are interested in both fiction and documentary projects. We already have two films in production with support from the fund. One of them is the Palme d'Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul's film Love in Khon Kaer.
The fund has earned a name overseas and interest for SØRFOND has grown rapidly. The door opening to the international industry is an especially attractive part of the fund, Sundelin said.
- It is tempting to work with directors and projects that has international networks. The arrangement has worked out very well for us and has given our company a network abroad.
Bergseng added that the fund has opened her eyes to the world and other kind of stories than the ones you find at home.
- Dramatic and powerful stories of war and conflict, it it is a gift to get the opportunity to work with a Palme dÓr winner as well as other international talents.
We also spoke with Raymond Phathanavirangoon the producer of Samui Song, directed by Pen-ek Ratanaruang. Phathanavirangoon visited SØRFOND and Norway for the first time, with his feature film project. He was looking for a Norwegian co-producer and partner, and was also hoping for a theatrical release of the film in Norway at some point.
Pen-ek Ratanaruang is no stranger to the festival, neither to Norwegian cinemas. Films from the South had a retrospective of his films in 2012. Phathanavirangoon is hoping that SØRFOND can contribute with top-up funding for their project, but he is also hoping to find an European actor for the role as an intellectual, art-loving man who thrives in the heat.
The application deadline for the 2015 grants is February 27. The pitching forum is not a premise to apply. Read more about the application process in the guidelines.