Thriller in Egypt and documentary on democracy in Myanmar receive funding

Backstabbing for Beginners, Per Fly’s first film since Monica Z, which won four Guldbagge Awards, is a political thriller about a UN lobbyist who falls foul of diplomats and cynical governments in a corruption conspiracy. The film features Ben Kingsley.

After 20 years’ exile in Norway, journalists Aye Chan Naing and Than Win Htut return to Myanmar in the documentary Democracy Road by Turid Rogne. The want to test the limits of their newfound democracy, which is based on a literally bumpy road in a nation with a fragile infrastructure.

The noir thriller The Nile Hilton Incident by Tarik Saleh (Gitmo, Tommy) is inspired by a true event: the murder of a Lebanese Idol winner at a Dubai hotel. An Egyptian businessman and politician who was dumped by the star turned out to be behind the crime, and the event shakes the whole of Egypt. Fares Fares plays the lead role.

Exercise One by Victoria Verseau is a drama about Juli’s transgender journey from man to woman. She has to struggle with rods to keep her vagina from healing over. She seeks comfort and help online, but her longing for closeness leads to a one-night stand that ends in degradation and even more loneliness.

Production funding January

Democracy Road. Photo: Kieran Kolle

Democracy Road
Director Turid Rogne
Screenplay Turid Rogne
Producer Andreas Rocksén
Funding recipient Laika Film & Television AB*
Target group Adults
Film type Documentary 
Technique Live action
Film commisioner Antonio Russo Merenda
Funding granted 350 000 kronor
Production company’s presentation: After 20 years' exile in Norway, journalists Aye Chan Naing and Than Win Htut return to Myanmar to test the limits of its newfound democracy. They have dreamt of this for many years, but the struggle for freedom is far from over.

* Swedish co-producer. Main producer: Aldeles AS/Elisabeth Kleppe, NorgeExercise One. Photo: Leydis Manso Aguilar

Exercise One
Screenplay Victoria Verseau
Manus Victoria Verseau
Producer Jörgen Andersson, Kjell Åhlund
Funding recipient Doppelganger AB
Target group Adult
Film type Feature
Genre Drama
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 310 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: Juli has undergone gender reassignment from man to woman. She has to struggle with rods to keep her vagina from healing over. She seeks comfort and help online, but her longing for closeness leads to a one-night stand that ends in degradation and even more loneliness.

Homo Sacer. Photo: Lode Kuylenstierna

Homo Sacer
Director Lode Kuylenstierna
Screenplay Dag Kuylenstierna
Producer Lode Kuylenstierna
Funding recipient LodeDetlof produktion
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Mixed
Film commissioner Antonio Russo Merenda
Funding granted 300 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: In 2011, a year when political power has shifted to social media and created revolutions and riots, both in the Arab world and Europe, an injured, already floored man is robbed on the streets of Tottenham. The event goes viral, and the mugger, Esau, becomes the face of evil and opportunism.

Mr. Sugar Daddy. Photo: Nils Croné

Mr. Sugar Daddy
Director Dawid Ullgren
Screenplay Dawid Ullgren
Producers Catherine Champagne, Caroline Drab
Funding recipient POP! Media
Target group Adult
Film type Feature
Genre Drama
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 225 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: The film depicts the love story that never happened, about an older man who wants a new start in life. At a nightclub he falls in love with a younger man, and is launched into a game that can have no winners.

Production funding December

Becker. Photo: Marco Padoan

Becker
Director Martin Larsson
Screenplay Martin Larsson
Producer Erik Magnusson
Funding recipient Anagram Film & TV AB
Target group Adult
Film type Feature
Genre Drama
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Magdalena Jangard
Funding granted 5 500 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: Becker is driven by the quest for money, and is king in the southern Swedish village of Tingsryd, where everyone knows who he is. But lies, secrets and betrayal are changing the world as he knows it. To prevent his empire from falling, he is forced to act in a way he has never done before.

Capturing the Divine
Director Susanna Edwards
Screenplay Susanna Edwards
Producer Stina Gardell
Funding recipient Mantaray Film AB
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Cecilia Lidin
Funding granted 1 000 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: In an ingenious combination of metacinema and documentary, divine presence and trivial everyday, we follow director Susanna Edwards on a hunt for the ever-elusive world music artist Natacha Atlas.

Ghostbrothers. Photo: Albin Biblom

Ghostbrothers
Director Richard Dinter
Screenplay Richard Dinter
Producer Richard Dinter
Funding recipient Zvonko Produktion AB
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Cecilia Lidin
Funding granted 775 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: One is a shaman, the other a filmmaker. They share the same Croatian father but have grown up in completely different circumstances. One in Germany after the Second World War, the other in an idyllic Swedish suburb. When the German brother sets off to look for his lost grandfather, the other decides to go along.

Golden Girl. Photo: Garagefilm International AB

Golden Girl
Director Susanna Edwards
Screenplay Susanna Edwards
Producers Mimmi Spång, Rebecka Lafrenz
Funding recipient Garagefilm International AB 
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Cecilia Lidin
Funding granted 1 275 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: Golden Girl is a film about Frida Wallberg’s life as a professional boxer, about putting everything at stake in a deadly sport. A film about dreaming big, and the brutal reality which that entails.

KIKI. Photo: Naiti Gámez

KIKI
Director Sara Jordenö
Screenplay Sara Jordenö, Twiggy Pucci Garcon
Producer Annika Rogell 
Funding recipient Story AB 
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Antonio Russo Merenda
Funding granted 1 500 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: Through a strikingly intimate and visually daring lens, Kiki offers a riveting and complex insight into a safe space created and governed by LGBTQ youth of color, who are demanding happiness and political power. An exciting coming of age story about agency, resilience and the transformative artform that is voguing.

My Letters. Photo: Mantaray Film

My Letters... (Mina brev...)
Director Manal Masri
Screenplay Manal Masri
Producer Stina Gardell 
Funding recipient Mantaray Film AB
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Klara Grunning
Funding granted 1 500 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: A thriller documentary in which the lead is looking for answers as to why her brother was shot. A journey that leads to new questions and unexpected answers.

Rum 213 (English title tba)
Director Emelie Lindblom
Screenplay Emil Larsson, Martin Jern
Producers Emil Larsson, Martin Jern
Funding recipient Dansk Skalle AB 
Target group Children
Film type Feature
Genre Thriller
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Magdalena Jangard
Funding granted 5 275 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: Elvira goes to summer camp and is scared to death of not making any friends. Mysterious things also start to happen things that can’t be explained… unless you believe in ghosts. A gentle horror movie based on Ingelin Angerborn’s successful novel.

Refelections. Photo: Broos Film.

Reflections (Speglingar)
Director Sara Broos
Screenplay Sara Broos
Producer Sara Broos
Funding recipient Alma Löv Museum AB 
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Cecilia Lidin
Funding granted 800 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: A mother and a daughter, about subconscious transfers, projections and reflections, fragments of the past, everyday life, and dreams. About symbiosis and distance, self-image and shame. About the thin line between art and life, and trying to hold onto something when everything is constantly changing.

The Key
Director Timur Makarevic
Screenplay Timur Makarevic
Producer China Åhlander
Funding recipient Chinema Film Sweden AB*
Target group Adult
Film type Feature
Genre Drama
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Suzanne Glansborg
Funding granted 1 000 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: Vedran fled to Sweden alone from a war-torn Bosnia in 1992. Today Vedran sees himself as Swedish, and he had no plans ever to return to Sarajevo. But he is forced to return, and is confronted with the memories of his childhood and starts thinking about himself – who he really is…

* Swedish co-producer. Main producer: Proba; Amra Bakcic Camo, Bosnien-Hercegovina

Ambulans. Photo: Karl Erik Brøndbo

Ambulans
Director Sebastian Torngren Wartin
Screenplay Sebastian Torngren Wartin
Producer Lizette Jonjic
Funding recipient Zentropa International Sweden AB*
Target group Adult
Film type Feature
Genre Drama
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 100 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: The journey of an ambulance through the Oslo night. Two worlds meet – a meeting that has disastrous consequences and leaves a mark on paramedic Sanne. What is right and what is wrong? And how far is she actually prepared to go to save a stranger’s life?

* Swedish co-producer. Main producer: Maipo Film AS, Moa Liljedahl, Norge

First Like
Director Alexander Rönnberg 
Screenplay Sara Bergmark Elfgren
Producer Daniel Di Grado
Funding recipient Silvio Entertainment AB
Target group Youth
Film type Feature
Genre Other
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 120 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: Do you dare to be the first to press Like…? A short horror film that aims to scare the viewer.

In All Ages. Photo: Gorki Glaser-Müller

In All Ages (Gå i barndom)
Director Johanna Bernhardson
Screenplay Johanna Bernhardson
Producer Johanna Bernhardson
Funding recipient Subjektobjekt
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 80 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: An experimental documentary in which the director depicts her grandmother’s experience of being all her ages at once. The inner life is conveyed using projections and complex sound.

I Will Always Love You Kingen  
Director Amanda Kernell 
Screenplay Amanda Kernell
Producers Kaj Snijder, Andreas Emanuelsson
Funding recipient Bob Film Sweden
Target group Youth
Film type Feature
Genre Drama
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Helen Ahlsson
Funding granted 1 026 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: It’s minus 30 Celsius and Conny, aged 20, walks around like a worried criminal, hood up, in a forgotten little village in the far north of Sweden. He is not welcome anywhere, and the whole community seems to hate him. Yesterday he panicked and left his girlfriend when she was in labour – but he’s had a change of heart and wants to go back. But what does he have to do to make her forgive him?

The Committee. Photo: Jarmo Kiuru

The Committee (Kommittén)
Directors Gunhild Enger, Jenni Toivoniemi
Screenplay Gunhild Enger, Jenni Toivoniemi
Producer Marie Kjellson
Funding recipient Kjellson & Wik AB
Target group Adult
Film type Feature
Genre Comedy
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 500 000 SEK
Production company's presentation: Three delegates from Sweden, Norway and Finland come together to agree on an artwork to be placed at Three-Country Cairn, the geographical meeting-point of the three nations. A comedy about political processes with high ambitions, which ultimately fall flat.

Dear Kid
Director Frida Kempff
Screenplay Frida Kempff
Producers David Herdies, Martina Eriksdotter
Funding recipient Momento Film AB
Target group Adult
Film type Feature
Genre Drama
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 300 000 SEK
Production company's presentation:

Production funding November

Backstabbing for Beginners
Director Per Fly
Screenplay Daniel Payne, Per Fly
Producers Malene Blenkow, Lars Knudsen
Funding recipient Eyeworks Scandi Fiction AB*
Target group Adult
Film type Feature
Genre Thriller
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Suzanne Glansborg
Funding granted 1 500 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: The Dane Michael Soussan gets his dream job as a lobbyist with the UN Oil for Food programme, but gets caught up in one of the UN's biggest corruption scandals. Michael is drawn into a struggle for power between dysfunctional diplomats, cynical governments and greedy corporations that earn a lot of money on Iraq's oil at a time when Saddam Hussein is still in power.

* Swedish co-producer. Main producer: Creative Alliance; Malene Blenkow, Lars Knudsen, Danmark

Forbidden Love. Photo: Sueccia Film AB

Forbidden Love (Förbjuden kärlek)
Director Anders Wahlgren
Screenplay Anders Wahlgren
Producers Anders Wahlgren, Cecilia Nabo
Funding recipient Suecia Film AB
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Mixed
Film commissioner Antonio Russo Merenda
Funding granted 500 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: Axel Munthe is the Italian island Capri's doctor. A Robin Hood figure who charges the rich a lot so he can treat the poor for free. Victoria, the spouse of the Crown Prince of Sweden, needs a doctor and seeks out Axel. She is unhappily married and they fall madly in love.

Gilbert's Revenge (Gilberts grymma hämnd). Photo: Maipo / Mostfilm

Gilbert's Revenge (Gilberts grymma hämnd)
Director Hanne Larsen
Screenplay Hanne Larsen, Kathrine Valen Zeiner
Producer Charlotte Most
Funding recipient Most Film AB*
Target group Children 
Genre Comedy
Film type Feature
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Suzanne Glansborg
Stödbelopp 1 000 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: Gilbert, 11, has a severe egg allergy, which leads to embarrassment - and bullying. When he and his family move, he does everything to hide his allergy from his new friends. When Gilbert's auntie gives him eggs on purpose he comes up with a plan to get his revenge on her.

* Swedish co-producer. Main producer: Maipo; Kristin Ulseth, Norge

Post Punk Disorder. Photo: MoukaFilmi

Post Punk Disorder
Directors Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi
Screenplay Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi
Producers Lennart Ström, Sami Jahnukainen
Funding recipient Auto Images AB*
Target group Adult 
Film type Documentary 
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Antonio Russo Merenda
Stödbelopp 275 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: A documentary about the Finnish punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivit's last journey. Band leader Pertti has decided to retire. The band's future is on the line for the other three members Kari, Sami and Toni. But before all this they decide to enter the Finnish heat of the Eurovision Song Contest. Amazingly enough they win, and their final journey is to the finals in Vienna.

* Swedish co-producer. Main producer: Mouka Filmi Oy/Sami Jahnukainen, Finland

Fragility (Skörheten). Photo: Maria Åkesson

Fragility (Skörheten)
Director Ahang Bashi
Screenplay Ahang Bashi
Producer David Herdies
Funding recipient Momento Film AB
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary 
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Klara Grunning
Funding granted 900 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: When her career is really taking off, documentary filmmaker Ahang Bashi falls into a deep slump of panic anxiety and depression. Using the camera as her tool she takes us back in time, to her escape to Sweden and the little girl who didn't understand.

The Nile Hilton Incident. Photo: Atmo Rights AB

The Nile Hilton Incident
Director Tarik Saleh
Screenplay Tarik Saleh
Producer Kristina Åberg
Funding recipient Atmo Rights AB
Target group Adult 
Genre Thriller
Film type Feature
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Baker Karim
Funding granted 11 000 000 SEK
Production company´s presentation: The film is inspired by a true event: the 2008 murder at a hotel in Dubai of the Lebanese winner of an Egyptian pop idol-type show. An Egyptian businessman and politician who was dumped by the star turned out to be behind the crime, which shook the whole of Egypt.

Amalimbo. Photo: Roland Seer

Amalimbo
Director Juan Pablo Libossart
Screenplay Juan Pablo Libossart
Producers Johanna Lind
Funding recipient Fasad Production AB
Target group Adult
Genre Fantasy
Film type Feature
Technique Mixed
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 400 000 SEK
Production company´s presentation: Five-year-old Tipuana experiences limbo when she tries to get to the other side to see her father again during the mourning after his death.

Champ des Possibles. Photo: Cristina Picchi

Champ des Possibles
Director Cristina Picchi
Screenplay Cristina Picchi
Producers Annika Hellström
Funding recipient Cinenic Film AB*
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary 
Technique Live action 
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 80 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: A contemporary city's symphony, where fluid memories blend with the sounds of streets and natural elements, where stories of loss and love are reflected in the demolition and new construction of buildings, where life and death co-exist alongside one another, like the darkest hour of the night and the first light of day.

* Swedish co-producer. Main producer: Cristina Picchi, Italien

Lachek, jag är elak. Photo: Fateme Gosheh

Lachek, I am Mean (Lachek, jag är elak)
Director Fateme Gosheh
Screenplay Fateme Gosheh
Producer Fateme Gosheh
Funding recipient Gosheh ART
Target group Family
Genre Drama
Film type Feature
Technique Animated
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 250 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: Rokia, a nine-year-old girl, lives with her parents and eight siblings in a Swedish suburb. She is given a veil by her unemployed father, a veil he has made himself. She has to wear it like all her sisters. One day she loses it in the playground. Rokia's father will kill her if she can't find her veil. What is she to do?

Canine (Orions ögon). Photo: Kicki Kjellin

Canine (Orions ögon)
Director Kicki Kjellin
Screenplay Anna Platt
Producer Gila Bergqvist Ulfung
Funding recipient Breidablick Film Produktion AB
Target group Adult 
Genre Drama
Film type Feature
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Helen Ahlsson
Funding granted 1 539 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: Karin and Peter have been married for nearly 15 years. On the surface they seem happy, but behind closed doors there is oppression. And then Orion comes into their lives, a dog that helps them look at their relationship through new eyes.

Storyboard P. Photo: Matt D´Arcy

Storyboard P
Director Matt D´Arcy
Screenplay Matt D´Arcy
Producers Erik Pauser, Dylan Williams
Funding recipient AMP Film AB
Target group Adult
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Klara Grunning
Funding granted 500 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: The New Yorker described Storyboard P as “The Basquiat of street dancing”. Before he became famous, Storyboard came to Sweden to teach at a folk high school. Not in any rush to return home, he decided to stay. But when he refused to do anything else but dance, he ended up on the street.

Superbarbara: The Beginning. Photo: Eksjö Animation

Superbarbara: The Beginning
Director Boonsri Tangtrongsin
Screenplay Boonsri Tangtrongsin
Producer Boonsri Tangtrongsin
Funding recipient Eksjö Animation
Target group Adult 
Genre Drama
Film type Feature
Technique Animated
Film commissioner Andreas Fock
Funding granted 300 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: Abused and abandoned, Barbara decides to be a victim no more. To not be what she was created to be. To save the world from oppression and greed. A world of easily manipulated beings who have totally lost control of their lives.