Incredible. That’s the word that comes to mind with Benjamin Ree’s “The Painter and the Thief,” a stranger-than-fiction friendship story in which vérité techniques produce unbelievable results. I don’t mean to imply that this astonishing documentary isn’t truthful. Rather, I’m in awe of how things played out, and fully aware that there was a certain amount of manipulation — not necessarily of the facts, but certainly in the way they’re presented — required to produce
By the director’s own account, at the beginning of what would prove to be a three-year journey, Ree knew only that he wanted to make a film about an art heist (he started the project after the premiere of his 2016 chess-champ doc “Magnus”). Ree’s research led him to Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova, who had recently moved to Oslo, where two massive works were taken from the window of her first solo show in Norway.
By the director’s own account, at the beginning of what would prove to be a three-year journey, Ree knew only that he wanted to make a film about an art heist (he started the project after the premiere of his 2016 chess-champ doc “Magnus”). Ree’s research led him to Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova, who had recently moved to Oslo, where two massive works were taken from the window of her first solo show in Norway.
- 1/24/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
It may have been a quieter MipTV this year, with attendee numbers down 5% from 2018 and key players BBC Studios, Fox Networks Group and Endemol Shine all absent from the market, but there has still been a buzz of activity over the past week. Variety looks back at some of the key television deals and announcements that were causing a stir on the Croisette.
Scripted
*In one of the biggest deals of MipTV, Telefonica’s pay TV unit Movistar+ closed a multi-year distribution-production alliance with Germany’s Beta Film. Beta already distributed Movistar+ series on a title-by-title basis but the new deal transforms the arrangement into a partnership which will play through all stages of the value chain from early development. It provides Beta Film exclusive international distribution rights, excluding Spain and sometimes Latin America, to approximately six Movistar+ series a year. The two companies will also look to finance, develop...
Scripted
*In one of the biggest deals of MipTV, Telefonica’s pay TV unit Movistar+ closed a multi-year distribution-production alliance with Germany’s Beta Film. Beta already distributed Movistar+ series on a title-by-title basis but the new deal transforms the arrangement into a partnership which will play through all stages of the value chain from early development. It provides Beta Film exclusive international distribution rights, excluding Spain and sometimes Latin America, to approximately six Movistar+ series a year. The two companies will also look to finance, develop...
- 4/11/2019
- by Robert Mitchell
- Variety Film + TV
Cannes — As this edition of Canneseries proves once more, Norway is a production hub to be reckoned with. Apart from the local series “Magnus” playing in competition, the festival is hosting producers Silje Hopland Eik and Cindy Hanson, of prolific outlet Cinenord, who are both on hand to present their latest project, “Ice Valley,” as part of Canneseries Drama Producers Pitch forum.
The genre bending project marks the latest TV venture for Cinenord, a production company that has also ushered 28 films. Eik and Hanson spoke with Variety ahead of their pitch session on Tuesday.
What were the roots of “Ice Valley?”
Hanson: It all originated from the fact that Silje and I are both from Bergen, the city at the center of “Ice Valley.” We’ve always been fascinated by this area, this sort of Bermuda Triangle of mysteries that go all the way back to the Viking age. It...
The genre bending project marks the latest TV venture for Cinenord, a production company that has also ushered 28 films. Eik and Hanson spoke with Variety ahead of their pitch session on Tuesday.
What were the roots of “Ice Valley?”
Hanson: It all originated from the fact that Silje and I are both from Bergen, the city at the center of “Ice Valley.” We’ve always been fascinated by this area, this sort of Bermuda Triangle of mysteries that go all the way back to the Viking age. It...
- 4/9/2019
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Hat Trick International has picked up worldwide rights to off-beat Norwegian comedy drama Magnus, the UK indie’s first foreign language series, in another sign of the growing global appeal of foreign-language shows.
Made by Viafilm, producers of international dramas Norsemen and Lilyhammer, the title is currently playing in competition at Canneseries. Creator is Vidar Magnussen (Side by Side) and it was commissioned by Christina Rezk-Resar, Head of Comedy for Nrk. Two versions of the 6 x 30’ series were shot both in Norwegian and English.
The Norway-set sci-fi crime and comedy thriller follows Magnus (played by Magnussen), an idiotic genius former detective who tries to solve a murder rooted in Norse mythology. He teams up with a suicidal police partner (Pål Rønning) and a scrawny young neighbour and the three outcasts embark on an adventure that gets increasingly strange as the story unfolds. Director is Lilyhammer’s Geir Henning Hopland.
Anders Tangen,...
Made by Viafilm, producers of international dramas Norsemen and Lilyhammer, the title is currently playing in competition at Canneseries. Creator is Vidar Magnussen (Side by Side) and it was commissioned by Christina Rezk-Resar, Head of Comedy for Nrk. Two versions of the 6 x 30’ series were shot both in Norwegian and English.
The Norway-set sci-fi crime and comedy thriller follows Magnus (played by Magnussen), an idiotic genius former detective who tries to solve a murder rooted in Norse mythology. He teams up with a suicidal police partner (Pål Rønning) and a scrawny young neighbour and the three outcasts embark on an adventure that gets increasingly strange as the story unfolds. Director is Lilyhammer’s Geir Henning Hopland.
Anders Tangen,...
- 4/8/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s easy to get lost with all the news coming out of Cannes this weekend. Variety has gathered six stories that might have passed you by, or only just been officially annonced.
“Magnus” Notches Hat Trick
Indie U.K. distributor Hat Trick International has secured international rights to fantasy-laced police drama “Magnus.” Described to Variety by series producer Anders Tangen as “Inspector Clouseau Meets Stranger Things,” the series follows doofus detective Magnus Udredal, demoted through the ranks down to janitor, who is drafted by a Central Unit special investigator in league with U.S. military intelligence to solve the murder of a girl and disappearance of Norway’s most famous actor. The series is produced by Norway’s Nrk and Tangen’s Viafilm, behind Netflix hits “Lilyhammer” and “Norsemen.” As they did with “Norsemen,” the series was shot in both Norwegian and English.
Freemantle, Mediaset Spain Team on “Game of...
“Magnus” Notches Hat Trick
Indie U.K. distributor Hat Trick International has secured international rights to fantasy-laced police drama “Magnus.” Described to Variety by series producer Anders Tangen as “Inspector Clouseau Meets Stranger Things,” the series follows doofus detective Magnus Udredal, demoted through the ranks down to janitor, who is drafted by a Central Unit special investigator in league with U.S. military intelligence to solve the murder of a girl and disappearance of Norway’s most famous actor. The series is produced by Norway’s Nrk and Tangen’s Viafilm, behind Netflix hits “Lilyhammer” and “Norsemen.” As they did with “Norsemen,” the series was shot in both Norwegian and English.
Freemantle, Mediaset Spain Team on “Game of...
- 4/8/2019
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Cannes — Norwegian police officer and inventor Magnus Undredal is a doofus. The only question is if he’s a total dipstick.
Stationed in the wilds of Norway, where he’s been demoted to the rank of station janitor, he’s drafted in by the shady Geir Drageset, a Central Unit special investigator in league with U.S. military intelligence in the area, to not solve the murder of a girl and disappearance of Norway’s most famous actor. Magnus’ explanation is that he’s been abducted by a troll, which causes him to be sacked for the second time in a few days.
But Magnus’ inventions, such as a chest of drawers which allows him to stake out crime scenes, well, they nearly work. And maybe’s he’s right.
A crazed fantasy-laced cop show, “Magnus” is produced by Norway’s Nrk, whose credits include “Occupied” and “State of Happiness,” and...
Stationed in the wilds of Norway, where he’s been demoted to the rank of station janitor, he’s drafted in by the shady Geir Drageset, a Central Unit special investigator in league with U.S. military intelligence in the area, to not solve the murder of a girl and disappearance of Norway’s most famous actor. Magnus’ explanation is that he’s been abducted by a troll, which causes him to be sacked for the second time in a few days.
But Magnus’ inventions, such as a chest of drawers which allows him to stake out crime scenes, well, they nearly work. And maybe’s he’s right.
A crazed fantasy-laced cop show, “Magnus” is produced by Norway’s Nrk, whose credits include “Occupied” and “State of Happiness,” and...
- 4/5/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Paris — Netflix Original Series “How To Sell Drugs Online (Fast),” BBC One-Canal Plus-HBO drama “Years & Years” and Amazon/Liberty Global order “The Feed” look like potential highlights at a 2nd Canneseries festival whose much enlarged U.S. presence also takes in Starz double-bill “The Rook” and “Now Apocalypse” and AMC’s “NOS4A2.”
Added to the announced Canal Plus-Studiocanal “Vernon Subutex,” Fremantle’s “Beecham House,” backed by ITV, and now Beta Film’s “Bauhaus- A New Era,” a Zero One/Constantin TV/ Nadcon production for Zdf/Arte – Canneseries boasts a half-dozen-or-so banner world premieres from big U.S. and European players, playing in or out of competition.
Beyond the occasional title, such as Belgium’s “The Twelve” which Federation Entertainment brought onto the market at Mipcom, the Canneseries competition looks to have a strong line in comedy, and also be, as artist director Albin Lewi put it – presenting 2019’s Canneseries...
Added to the announced Canal Plus-Studiocanal “Vernon Subutex,” Fremantle’s “Beecham House,” backed by ITV, and now Beta Film’s “Bauhaus- A New Era,” a Zero One/Constantin TV/ Nadcon production for Zdf/Arte – Canneseries boasts a half-dozen-or-so banner world premieres from big U.S. and European players, playing in or out of competition.
Beyond the occasional title, such as Belgium’s “The Twelve” which Federation Entertainment brought onto the market at Mipcom, the Canneseries competition looks to have a strong line in comedy, and also be, as artist director Albin Lewi put it – presenting 2019’s Canneseries...
- 3/13/2019
- by John Hopewell and Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
More than 360 international delegates are expected at Göteborg’s 13th Nordic TV Drama Vision (Jan. 30-31) described by head of industry Cia Edström as a ‘boutique event’, where top Nordic and international drama professionals gather each year to gauge the state of the Nordic market and hot content.
For the first time, to comply with the growing demand from international drama execs, a new venue – the historical theater building ‘Stora teatern’ – will host this year’s expanded Nordic TV confab.
Keynote speakers set to inspire attendees comprise seasoned U.K. TV writer Sally Wainwright, BAFTA award-winning comedy producer Jon Plowman and Netflix’s director of co-production & acquisition, Northern and Central Europe, Lina Brounéus.
Nordic professionals will be eager to discover Brounéus’ commissioning plans in the region beyond the three Originals already announced: “The Rain Season 2” from Denmark, “Quicksand” from Sweden, selected for the Berlinale Series, and “Ragnarok” from Norway, penned...
For the first time, to comply with the growing demand from international drama execs, a new venue – the historical theater building ‘Stora teatern’ – will host this year’s expanded Nordic TV confab.
Keynote speakers set to inspire attendees comprise seasoned U.K. TV writer Sally Wainwright, BAFTA award-winning comedy producer Jon Plowman and Netflix’s director of co-production & acquisition, Northern and Central Europe, Lina Brounéus.
Nordic professionals will be eager to discover Brounéus’ commissioning plans in the region beyond the three Originals already announced: “The Rain Season 2” from Denmark, “Quicksand” from Sweden, selected for the Berlinale Series, and “Ragnarok” from Norway, penned...
- 1/22/2019
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
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