Operation Napoleon, an Iceland-set conspiracy thriller from director Óskar Þór Axelsson (Black’s Game) has racked up international sales ahead of its market bow at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin later this month.
Sales outfit Beta Cinema unveiled on Thursday that the film has been picked up by Mediawan for France, Twelve Oaks in Spain, Hagi Film in Poland and by Tohokushinsha for Japan. Smaller sales include the territories of the former Yugoslavia (MegaCom) and Taiwan (Av-Jet).
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Icelandic crime author Arnaldur Indriðason, Operation Napoleon is a high-concept conspiracy thriller centered on an old German World War II plane containing dangerous secrets, is discovered as it emerges from a melting glacier in Iceland, where it crossed back in 1945.
Icelandic newcomer Vivian Ólafsdóttir (It Hatched) stars in the English-language adaptation alongside an international cast including Game of Thrones’ Iain Glen, Riviera...
Sales outfit Beta Cinema unveiled on Thursday that the film has been picked up by Mediawan for France, Twelve Oaks in Spain, Hagi Film in Poland and by Tohokushinsha for Japan. Smaller sales include the territories of the former Yugoslavia (MegaCom) and Taiwan (Av-Jet).
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Icelandic crime author Arnaldur Indriðason, Operation Napoleon is a high-concept conspiracy thriller centered on an old German World War II plane containing dangerous secrets, is discovered as it emerges from a melting glacier in Iceland, where it crossed back in 1945.
Icelandic newcomer Vivian Ólafsdóttir (It Hatched) stars in the English-language adaptation alongside an international cast including Game of Thrones’ Iain Glen, Riviera...
- 2/2/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ahead of the film’s market premiere at Berlin’s European Film Market, Beta Cinema has announced first deals for “Operation Napoleon” to France (Mediawan), Spain (Twelve Oaks), Poland (Hagi Film), Former Yugoslavia (MegaCom), Japan (Tohokushinsha) and Taiwan (Av-Jet).
The English-language thriller is based on the eponymous best-selling novel by Icelandic crime author Arnaldur Indriðason and stars Icelandic newcomer Vivian Ólafsdóttir (“It Hatched”) and Iain Glen, best known for his role as Dr. Alexander Isaacs in the “Resident Evil” film series and as Ser Jorah Mormont in “Game of Thrones.”
The sweeping story takes us from modern Iceland to America and Nazi Germany at the end of World War II. It centers on young Icelandic lawyer Kristin, who gets drawn into the vortex of an international conspiracy when she receives grainy footage of an old airplane wreck, recently revealed by the melting of one of Iceland’s largest glaciers.
The...
The English-language thriller is based on the eponymous best-selling novel by Icelandic crime author Arnaldur Indriðason and stars Icelandic newcomer Vivian Ólafsdóttir (“It Hatched”) and Iain Glen, best known for his role as Dr. Alexander Isaacs in the “Resident Evil” film series and as Ser Jorah Mormont in “Game of Thrones.”
The sweeping story takes us from modern Iceland to America and Nazi Germany at the end of World War II. It centers on young Icelandic lawyer Kristin, who gets drawn into the vortex of an international conspiracy when she receives grainy footage of an old airplane wreck, recently revealed by the melting of one of Iceland’s largest glaciers.
The...
- 2/2/2023
- by Leo Barraclough and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
In first phase sales, Alief has closed multiple major territories across Europe and Asia on “Cop Secret,” one of the key titles marking as move towards the mainstream in the lineup at August’s Locarno Festival, where it had its world premiere.
Made on the near eve of this year’s American Film Market, the sales announcement comes after the comedy action romp bowed in its native Iceland on Oct. 20 breaking a 15-year-old record for the biggest box office opening weekend for a local title.
A buddy cop spoof rendering real the homoerotic undercurrents of the genre, having played the BFI London and Busan Festivals, the feature debut of Icelandic Hannes Thór Halldórsson is now set as the opening night gala,playing in competition, on Nov. 3 at the Nordic Days in Lubbeck, Germany where the film has been acquired, as for German-language territories by Mfa Plus Film Distribution, which is eying a Q2 2022 theatrical release.
Made on the near eve of this year’s American Film Market, the sales announcement comes after the comedy action romp bowed in its native Iceland on Oct. 20 breaking a 15-year-old record for the biggest box office opening weekend for a local title.
A buddy cop spoof rendering real the homoerotic undercurrents of the genre, having played the BFI London and Busan Festivals, the feature debut of Icelandic Hannes Thór Halldórsson is now set as the opening night gala,playing in competition, on Nov. 3 at the Nordic Days in Lubbeck, Germany where the film has been acquired, as for German-language territories by Mfa Plus Film Distribution, which is eying a Q2 2022 theatrical release.
- 10/29/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Erlingsdóttir previously oversaw legal and business affairs for the London-based sales, production and finance company Rocket Science.
Icelandic production company Zik Zak Filmworks has appointed Ragnheidur Erlingsdóttir as its new CEO.
Zik Zak’s former CEO Skúli Malmquist is now managing director of the Iceland Dance Company.
Erlingsdóttir previously oversaw legal and business affairs for the London-based sales, production and finance company Rocket Science. She is an Iceland native who worked as a producer there (on films including Xl and Rainbow Party) before moving to the UK for four years.
Zik Zak’s current slate – also overseen by producer Arnar...
Icelandic production company Zik Zak Filmworks has appointed Ragnheidur Erlingsdóttir as its new CEO.
Zik Zak’s former CEO Skúli Malmquist is now managing director of the Iceland Dance Company.
Erlingsdóttir previously oversaw legal and business affairs for the London-based sales, production and finance company Rocket Science. She is an Iceland native who worked as a producer there (on films including Xl and Rainbow Party) before moving to the UK for four years.
Zik Zak’s current slate – also overseen by producer Arnar...
- 8/31/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Iceland’s Pegasus Pictures and sales agent Alief have just dropped a first trailer for “Cop Secret,” a full-on pulse pounding cop actioner that world premieres in main competition at the 74th Locarno Film Festival.
Alief President Brett Walker will introduce the propulsive, high testosterone movie to buyers at Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s robust industry program which kicks off Friday.
The movie tips its hat to ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action classics in its action set-ups, characters and shots – as when the camera swoops over blue Icelandic water to a rather bathetic non-“Miami Vice” skyline at the get-go.
“Cop Secret” is not, however, popcorn escapism. It turns on Bussi, a tough “supercop” played by Audunn Blöndal (“The Garden”), who shoots people and destroys stuff, “Bad Boys”-style.
But when Bussi assigned a new partner – the suave, cultured and self-declaredly pan-sexual Hordur Bess, played by “Black’s Game...
Alief President Brett Walker will introduce the propulsive, high testosterone movie to buyers at Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s robust industry program which kicks off Friday.
The movie tips its hat to ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action classics in its action set-ups, characters and shots – as when the camera swoops over blue Icelandic water to a rather bathetic non-“Miami Vice” skyline at the get-go.
“Cop Secret” is not, however, popcorn escapism. It turns on Bussi, a tough “supercop” played by Audunn Blöndal (“The Garden”), who shoots people and destroys stuff, “Bad Boys”-style.
But when Bussi assigned a new partner – the suave, cultured and self-declaredly pan-sexual Hordur Bess, played by “Black’s Game...
- 8/4/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Alief, the London-based sales agent and production outfit, has swooped on bad ass action comedy “Cop Secret” in the build up to the movie’s world premiere at August’s Locarno Film Festival.
Brett Walker, Alief president, will introduce the propulsive, high testosterone movie to buyers at Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s robust industry program, where it is sure to get tongues wagging.
While big fests are embracing genre, few selections to date offer such full-on entertainment as “Cop Secret,” which plays, moreover, in main competition. That action comes often tongue-in-cheek as Icelandic director Hannes Þór Halldórsson recasts an ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action movie model in Icelandic capital Reykjavík – in an opening sequence, the camera wings “Miami Vice” style over surprisingly blue waters toward the Icelandic capital’s (limited number of) high rises as an orchestra thunders in tense excitement on the soundtrack.
“Cop Secret” follows Bussi,...
Brett Walker, Alief president, will introduce the propulsive, high testosterone movie to buyers at Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s robust industry program, where it is sure to get tongues wagging.
While big fests are embracing genre, few selections to date offer such full-on entertainment as “Cop Secret,” which plays, moreover, in main competition. That action comes often tongue-in-cheek as Icelandic director Hannes Þór Halldórsson recasts an ‘80s and ‘90s buddy cop action movie model in Icelandic capital Reykjavík – in an opening sequence, the camera wings “Miami Vice” style over surprisingly blue waters toward the Icelandic capital’s (limited number of) high rises as an orchestra thunders in tense excitement on the soundtrack.
“Cop Secret” follows Bussi,...
- 7/30/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
A national hero at the 2018 soccer World Cup 2018 after famously blocking a penalty shot from Argentine star Lionel Messi, Icelandic-born professional goalkeeper and filmmaker Hannes Þór Halldórsson is poised for another daunting challenge – pitching his first feature as a director, “Cop Secret,” at Sweden’s Göteborg Nordic Film Market.
Picked by Göteborg head of industry Cia Edström as one of 16 works in progress’ discoveries to watch, the Icelandic action drama is based on an original idea by Halldórsson and actors Auðunn Blönda (“The Big Rescue”) and Egill Einarsson (“Black’s Game”) who topline the cast, next to “Trapped”’s Björn Hlynur Haraldsson and Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir.
Nína Petersen, Sverrir Þór Sverrisson (“The Big Rescue”) and Halldórsson co-wrote the screenplay. The movie is produced by “Arctic” co-producer Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir of Pegasus Pictures, one of Iceland’s leading production services outfits, having worked on “Game of Thrones”, “Succession”, and “Fortitude,” among others.
Picked by Göteborg head of industry Cia Edström as one of 16 works in progress’ discoveries to watch, the Icelandic action drama is based on an original idea by Halldórsson and actors Auðunn Blönda (“The Big Rescue”) and Egill Einarsson (“Black’s Game”) who topline the cast, next to “Trapped”’s Björn Hlynur Haraldsson and Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir.
Nína Petersen, Sverrir Þór Sverrisson (“The Big Rescue”) and Halldórsson co-wrote the screenplay. The movie is produced by “Arctic” co-producer Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir of Pegasus Pictures, one of Iceland’s leading production services outfits, having worked on “Game of Thrones”, “Succession”, and “Fortitude,” among others.
- 1/19/2021
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Black’s Game aka Svartur á leik
Written by Óskar Thór Axelsson, based on the novel Svartur á leik by Stefán Máni
Directed by Óskar Thór Axelsson
Iceland 2012 Fantasia imdb
It would be easy to describe dismiss Black’s Game as an Icelandic crime thriller, but that would be short changing this stylish film that zags every time you expect it to zig, making choices that make sense but are completely opposite to the choices made in other, similar crime films.
As a prime example, in the middle of the film, the crime gang performs a daring daylight bank robbery. When they count up their ill-gotten gains, the co-leader of the gang, Tóti (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson) complains that they make more money in one day selling drugs with much less risk and without doing the dirty (criminal) work themselves. In most films, drugs are what topples a successful criminal empire; in Black’s Game,...
Written by Óskar Thór Axelsson, based on the novel Svartur á leik by Stefán Máni
Directed by Óskar Thór Axelsson
Iceland 2012 Fantasia imdb
It would be easy to describe dismiss Black’s Game as an Icelandic crime thriller, but that would be short changing this stylish film that zags every time you expect it to zig, making choices that make sense but are completely opposite to the choices made in other, similar crime films.
As a prime example, in the middle of the film, the crime gang performs a daring daylight bank robbery. When they count up their ill-gotten gains, the co-leader of the gang, Tóti (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson) complains that they make more money in one day selling drugs with much less risk and without doing the dirty (criminal) work themselves. In most films, drugs are what topples a successful criminal empire; in Black’s Game,...
- 8/5/2012
- by Michael Ryan
- SoundOnSight
(How to look composed while your high-profile debut film has its world premiere at an international festival, lesson 1...) On Wednesday the 1st of February 2012, the Icelandic crime thriller "Svartur á Leik" aka. "Black's Game" had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the last of this year's Tiger Award nominees to do so. Which turned out to be some pretty excellent planning on the festival's behalf, but more about that later... One day after the event I was lucky enough to interview its director Óskar Thór Axelsson. We discussed his approach of the story, the casting, the real-life events on which the book and the movie have been based, some bits about himself... What we did Not discuss was the paying...
- 3/13/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Voice of My Father
The International Film Festival Rotterdam, opening on January 25 and running through February 5, has announced two lineups today, the Tiger Awards Competition 2012 for first and second feature films — 15 films in all — and the Tiger Awards Competition for Short Films 2012 with 21 films. Straight from the release:
Tiger Awards Competition 2012
De jueves a domingo (Thursday Till Sunday), Dominga Sotomayor, Chile/Netherlands, 2012, 96’, World premiere, Hubert Bals Fund-supported film. Sotomayor’s feature film début, expertly shot by Barbara Alvarez, is a Chilean road movie set in and around the car belonging to a middle-class family. Seen through eyes of the kids in the back, they embark on a four day holiday trip to the north, while the marriage is falling apart. Dominga Sotomayor’s short film Videojuego was screened in Rotterdam in 2010. De jueves a domingo was selected for the Cannes Cinéfondation Résidence 2010.
Babamin sesi (Voice of My Father), Orhan Eskiköy and Zeynel Dogan,...
The International Film Festival Rotterdam, opening on January 25 and running through February 5, has announced two lineups today, the Tiger Awards Competition 2012 for first and second feature films — 15 films in all — and the Tiger Awards Competition for Short Films 2012 with 21 films. Straight from the release:
Tiger Awards Competition 2012
De jueves a domingo (Thursday Till Sunday), Dominga Sotomayor, Chile/Netherlands, 2012, 96’, World premiere, Hubert Bals Fund-supported film. Sotomayor’s feature film début, expertly shot by Barbara Alvarez, is a Chilean road movie set in and around the car belonging to a middle-class family. Seen through eyes of the kids in the back, they embark on a four day holiday trip to the north, while the marriage is falling apart. Dominga Sotomayor’s short film Videojuego was screened in Rotterdam in 2010. De jueves a domingo was selected for the Cannes Cinéfondation Résidence 2010.
Babamin sesi (Voice of My Father), Orhan Eskiköy and Zeynel Dogan,...
- 1/12/2012
- MUBI
Based on a controversial book about Iceland's seedy underbelly, which is largely based on real events and people, the film Black's Game (Svartur á Leik) revolves around how a young man is pulled in to the world of organized crime. Far from being glamorous the film directs its eye on the dark and the gritty reality of drug trafficking and casts a light on what many Icelanders refuse to even believe it exists in their picture perfect country. The film is produced by Zik Zak, producers of Noi the Albino and The Good Heart and commercial production house Filmus and is executive produced by Nicholas Winding Refn and Chris Briggs, producer of the Hostel films. The film is written and directed by first time feature director...
- 12/27/2011
- Screen Anarchy
I haven't talked about this film much as it's been in the pipeline for seems like ages but only recently got the go ahead to start filming. Based on a controversial crime novel by Stefán Máni Black Curse revolves around the Icelandic underworld and is based on actual events that took place in the 90's as the author spent time riding along with thugs and generally bad people to get his material. Director Oskar Thor Axelsson makes his feature film debut based on his own script. The film is being produced by Zik Zak the people behind The Good Heart and Noi Albinoi along with production outfit Filmus and executive produced by Nicolas Winding Refn and Hostel's Chris Briggs and is slated to be released...
- 5/13/2011
- Screen Anarchy
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