The Sundance Film Festival revealed Thursday the showcase of new works selected across various categories. From Denmark, two films were announced as part of the upcoming fest, where they will be celebrating their world premieres.
Simon Lereng Wilmont's 'A House Made of Splinters' is selected for the World Cinema Documentary Competition, considered one of the most prestigious doc competitions in the world.
Writer-director Christian Tafdrup's psychological horror film 'Speak No Evil' will take part in Midnight, a series out of competition with works ranging from horror, comedies and sci-fi to films that defy genre categories altogether.
The Sundance Film Festival launched its first edition in 1985 and is based on founder Robert Redford's ambition to promote groundbreaking cinematic narratives. The festival in Park City, Utah, is considered to be one of the most important platforms for European art cinema in North America.
Sundance Film Festival 2022 runs from 20 to 30 January. Read more at festival.sundance.org.
A House Made of Splinters
Simon Lereng Wilmont's new film is a follow-up to 'The Distant Barking of Dogs', both films showing the lives of children in war-torn Eastern Ukraine. The film from 2017 won a string of awards, including for best first film at IDFA.
A House Made of Splinters
In this war-worn and impoverished corner of Eastern Ukraine where addiction casts a long shadow, there sits a safe haven for children temporarily removed from their parents. A House Made of Splinters follows three kids awaiting their fate— will they go back or move on to a new home while a group of dedicated social workers create small moments of joy and respite from childhoods all but lost.
Filmmaker Simon Lereng Wilmont returns with a follow-up to his acclaimed first feature, The Distant Barking of Dogs, offering a unique look into how the long-term consequences of war on a society already under strain impacts the most vulnerable.
The war in Eastern Ukraine takes a heavy toll on poor families living near the frontline. 'A House Made of Splinters' follows a small group of strong-willed social workers who strive tirelessly in a special kind of orphanage to create an almost magical safe space for kids to live in while the state authorities and courts decide the future fate of the child and family.
'A House Made of Splinters' is produced by Monica Hellström for Final Cut for Real in co-production with Story (Sweden), Donkey Hotel (Finland) and Moon Man (Ukraine) and with backing from the Danish Film Institute. Cinephil is handling international sales.
Speak No Evil
Christian Tafdrup wrote the script with his brother, Mads Tafdrup, who was also co-writer on 'A Horrible Woman' (2017). This time the duo explores how far we are willing to go to maintain polite facades and good-mannered behaviour.
Speak No Evil
On a vacation in Tuscany, a Danish family instantly becomes friends with a Dutch family. Months later, the Danish couple receives an unexpected invitation to visit the Dutch in their wooden house and decide to go for the weekend. However, it doesn't take long before the joy of reunion is replaced with misunderstandings.
On a vacation in Tuscany, a Danish family instantly becomes friends with a Dutch family. Months later, the Danish couple receives an unexpected invitation to visit the Dutch in their wooden house and decide to go for the weekend. However, it doesn't take long before the joy of reunion is replaced with misunderstandings, and things gradually get out of hand.
'Speak No Evil' is produced by Jacob Jarek for Profile Pictures in co-production with Oak Motion Pictures (the Netherlands) wiith support from the Danish Film Institute, regional film fund FilmFyn and the Netherlands Film Production Incentive, with co-financing from national broadcaster DR. International sales are handled by TrustNordisk.
Domestic theatrical release is set for 17 March by Nordisk Film.
Danish films at Sundance
Danish feature films and documentaries have been strongly represented at the Sundance Film Festival in recent years.
At the 2021 edition, two documentary films were part of the World Cinema Documentary Competition, both taking home awards: Jonas Poher Rasmussen's 'Flee', Denmark's Oscar bid, won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, while Camilla Nielsson's 'President' was honoured with the Special Jury Award for best 'Vérité Filmmaking'. Both films are produced by Final Cut for Real.
More winners include Mads Brügger's 'Cold Case Hammarskjöld' and May el-Toukhy's 'Queen of Hearts' in 2019, Gustav Möller's 'The Guilty' in 2018 and Feras Fayyad's 'Last Men in Aleppo' in 2017.
See overview of Danish films at Sundance.
