"Karla and Jonas" will screen in the exclusive programme Sprockets Family Zone at Toronto International Festival, kicking off 9th September.
This is the third film based on Danish author Renée Toft Simonsen's popular novels for young people. "Karla and Jonas" is adapted for the screen by Iben Gylling, directed by Charlotte Sachs Bostrup and produced by Thomas Heinsesen for Nordisk Film. International Sales are handled by TrustNordisk.
The story is about Karla, 13, and her friend, the orphaned Jonas, who doesn't have a 'real' family. Inspired by the television programme 'Without a Trace', Karla accompanies Jonas on a dangerous journey to the city lights in pursuit of Jonas' biological mother.
The Karla-films around the world
"Karla and Jonas" (2010) received the Don Quixote Award at Zlin film festival this June, while "Karla and Katrine" was the big audience hit at Madrid film festival in November 2009, winning both the Audience Award and the Children's Jury's 1st Prize.
Besides their popularity at the domestic boxoffice, the three Karla films have sold very well internationally. The two first Karla-films sold to a number of European countries, including Germany, France and Italy, making the dubbed versions of these films available to millions of television viewers. Furthermore, the first film "Karla's World" sold to Korea and Turkey.
Danish family films—at Sprockets Family Zone
For five consecutive years, Danish children's films have been privileged to be selected for Sprockets Family Zone: Mogens Hagedorn's feature film debut "Timetrip" in 2009, Thomas Borch Nielsen's "Sunshine Barry & The Disco Worms" in 2008, Ole Bornedal's "The Substitute" in 2007, and A. Film-duo Michael Hegner and Karsten Kiilerich's "The Ugly Duckling" in 2006.
These films reaped both extended sales and admirable mention at the Toronto film festival, one of North America's important sales platforms, so the international exposure for "Karla and Jonas" is looking bright.
Four Danish films in Toronto programmes
Special Presentation
Susanne Bier's "In a Better World"
Masters
Jørgen Leth's "Erotic Man"
Sprockets Family Zone
Charlotte Sachs Bostrup's "Karla and Jonas"
Reel to Real
Janus Metz' "Armadillo"