Norwegian dream
Fiction work
Robert (19), a Polish immigrant working at a fish factory in Norway, has come to earn money to pay off his mother’s debts. Robert realizes he has feelings for his colleague Ivar (19). For fear of losing his position within a group of Poles at the factory, he hides his feelings, especially when it turns out that Ivar is doing vogue, and is an aspiring drag queen.
Director’s statement:
While working with stories in the films I make, I am always inspired by the reality surrounding me, but then I filter the stories I find, through my own experiences and emotions. I want to make the audience cry, laugh and think. Together with a really amazing cast and crew, we tell the story about how love is blind and that to truly love another person, firstly you need to accept, love and stand up for yourself.
GENRE: Coming of Age, Drama DIRECTOR: Leiv Igor Devold PRODUCERS: Håvard Wettland Gossé, Bartek Gliński, Lennart Lenzing PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Spætt Film, Solo Film, Riva Film PRODUCTION YEAR: 2023 BUDGET: 1 046 655,169 EUR German distribution: Salzgeber Norwegian distribution: Storytelling Media
WORLD SALES: True Colors
Pitched at co-production markeds or WIP in: Marché de films (Cannes), Nordic Film Marked (Gøteborg film festival), New Nordic Films (Norwegian film festival, Haugesund), Polish Days (New Horizons, Wroclaw 2020 and 2022), Eastern promises (Karlove Vary), Coco Pitch (Cottbus) as well as New Talent Strand (BFI London).
Festivals:
Opening film, Kosmorama International Film Festival, Norway - Norwegian premiere
OFF Camera, Cracow, Poland - Polish premiere
Inside Out, Toronto, Canada - International premiere
Frameline47, San Francisco, USA - US premiere
Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, Poland
Norwegian Film Festival in Haugesund, Norway
The International Filmfest Emden-Norderney, German premiere
Nordishe Filmtage Lübeck, Germany
Koszalin Film Debut Festival "Young and film", Poland
Two Rivesides BNP PARIABAS, Poland
Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival, Cardiff, Wales
Toffifest, Torun, Poland
Out On Film, Atlanta LGBT FIlm Festival, USA
OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival Fort Lauderdale, USA
Queer Film Festival - Salzgeber - screenings in 12 cities in Germany and Austria
Saxo Scandinavian Film Festival, Australia
Awards:
Best cinematography at Koszalin Film Debut Festival "Young and film", Poland
Nominations:
Best male actor, director and script at Norwegian Film Award Amanda, at Norwegian Film Festival in Haugesund
Best debut film at Frameline Film Festival, San Francisco, US
Best debut at Inside Out Film Festival in Toronto, Canada
Best male actor at OFF CAMERA film festival in Cracow
DGB award at the International Filmfest Emden-Norderney in Germany
SCORE film award at the International Filmfest Emden-Norderney in Germany
The film has been screened in regular screenings in Norwegian cinemas selling 10 000 tickets.
For any inquires regarding this project please contact the producer: Håvard Wettland Gossé +47 988 78 923 havard@spaett.no
International sales agent: True Colors
Festivals: Norwegian Film Institute: Stine Oppegaard, mail: stine.oppegaard[@]nfi.no