Producers Asle Vatn and Christian Fredrik Martin are among Variety's "10 Producers to Watch 2006". The announcement was made in Toronto where they are currently promoting their latest film "URO" at the Toronto International Film Festival.
02/10/2006 :: Every year Variety selects 10 producers from all over world as the up-and-comers that the industry should pay special attention to. The Norwegians Asle Vatn and Christian Fredrik Martin's movie "URO" is currently a hit in theatres in Norway, and the producers received the Variety news with great enthusiasm.
"We were really surprised! This is truly great and obviously means a lot to us. What we appreciate the most is the opportunity to get in contact with potential partners in the business," Martin said to dagbladet.no
The producer duo started the production company Friland in 2002 and have since then fronted several big screen hits. "Kissed by Winter" was Norway's nominee for the Academy Awards in 2005 and it won the AFI Fest grand jury prize. That same year the youth comedy "Tommy's inferno" was a big success in Norwegian theatres. "URO" had its world premiere at the Cannes film festival's "Un certain regard".
Martin and Vatn have several new projects in the works.
"We have plenty of plans! We're currently developing numerous projects where we know that some will become reality. When this network is opened to us there is also the temptation to try new methods for cooperation, then time will show what results in something concrete," Martin said to dagbladet.no
In later years, Norwegian film has gotten noticed on the international market. For example, the Cannes festival could present a record number of Norwegian entries this year. According to a report produced by Price Waterhouse Coopers on assignment from the Norwegian Film Institute, the revenue from sales of Norwegian movies broad has doubled over a four year period.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs