Three Danish films at Sundance 2005

 


Press
release01.12.2004
Three Danish films are
selected for the 2005 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, USA. The festival
takes place 20-30 January 2005 and marks the world premiere of Thomas
Vinterberg's "Dear Wendy". The film is screened as part of the Premieres
programme, which showcases the diversity of contemporary
cinema.
Susanne Bier's critically acclaimed feature film "Brothers" is
selected for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, a new initiative at
the festival that until this year only had competition programmes for
American films. Moreover, Sean McAllister's "Liberace of Baghdad", which
was produced by Danish production company Team Productions, is competing
in the World Cinema Documentary Competition.
"Dear Wendy" is based on an original screenplay by Lars von Trier. It
is the story of 18-year-old Dick who lives in a poor mining town in the
American Midwest. One day he happens upon a small revolver. Despite his
pacifist views, he is drawn to the power and possibilities inherent in the
weapon. He forms the Dandies, a brotherhood of armed, peace-loving
outsiders. Vinterberg has gathered a team of young, international actors
for his fourth feature film, "Dear Wendy", among these is Jamie Bell, who
played the role of Billy in "Billy Elliot". Bell stars as Dick in "Dear
Wendy".
The documentary film "Liberace of Baghdad" follows the once infamous
Iraqi pianist Samir Peter from January 2004 until the fall of 2004.
Through Samir and his family the films gives an insight into the
drastically altered reality of the Iraqi people.
Since 1984, when Robert Redford launched the festival to promote
artistic and independent filmmaking, it has established itself as an
important launch pad for feature films in the North American market.
"Brothers" is produced by Sisse Graum Jørgensen for Zentropa
Productions.
"Dear Wendy" is produced by Sisse Graum Jørgensen for Lucky Punch, a
Nimbus/Zentropa Productions company.
"Liberace of Baghdad" is produced by Mette Heide of Team Production for
BBC & TV 2/Denmark.
Sundance Film Festival: www.sundance.org
For further information:
Danish Film InstituteLizette Gram, +45 2482 3758, lizetteg@dfi.dkVicki Synnott, +45
5054 5011, vickis@dfi.dk