At last year's Rome International Film Festival, Danish director Nicolo Donato took home the top award for his feature debut "Brotherhood". This year two Danish films are among the contenders for a Golden Marc’Aurelio: Susanne Bier's "In a Better World" in the main competition and Kaspar Munk's "Hold Me Tight" in the youth competition. Both films will be enjoying their European premiere at the festival, held 28 October – 5 November.
Sold for theatrical release
"In a Better World" is in a lineup of 16 international titles. Bier's drama about ethical dilemmas in a complex, global world is sold for theatrical release in Italy and is expected to premiere in early 2011. Distributor Teodora Films have bought release rights to several of Bier's films over the year, and her films have traditionally shown great success in Italy.
"In a Better World" has already garnered considerable critical acclaim. At its international premiere in Toronto, reception by both audience and press was enthusiastic, and more recently the film received top ratings at its release in Sweden and Norway – not to mention that it is the Danish candidate for an Oscar nomination in the category for best foreign film.
Super16 director in youth programme
Competing in the youth programme Alice nella Città is the youth drama "Hold Me Tight" that delves into topics of school bullying and class conflicts. Director Kaspar Munk is a graduate from the alternative film school Super16 and has previously attracted attention with two short films.
"In a Better World" and "Hold Me Tight" are still running in Danish cinemas and, as of last week, both films were on the Top-10 chart.
TrustNordisk handles international sales for "In a Better World" and Nimbus Film for "Hold Me Tight".