On Demand movie channel eurocinema (eurocinema.com) has joined forces with Nordisk Film & TV Fond (nordiskfilmogtvfond.com) and Diva.AG to create the first ever On Demand film festival, The First Annual Scandinavian On Demand Film Festival, set to debut to North American television audiences beginning May 1st, 2011. The announcement was made today by Eurocinema founder and CEO Sebastien Perioche.
Now available in 36 million TV homes in North America, eurocinema has been delivering gems from international and European cinema since 2005 on top platforms, including Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, Cablevision, RCN, Verizon and DirecTV. The First Annual Scandinavian On Demand Film Festival marks the first time ever a film festival can be celebrated and enjoyed nationwide, accessible to cable and satellite viewers across North America, on demand on eurocinema.
“eurocinema is passionate about making the very best of international cinema accessible to film fans in all cities and towns across the US and Canada,” said Perioche. “With the creation of this first on demand film festival, we can begin to achieve this goal to unite film lovers everywhere, as we celebrate and explore the world of Nordic cinema.”
“Our partnership with eurocinema marks a wonderful collaboration,” added Hanne Palmquist, CEO, Nordisk Film & TV Fond. “We have been actively looking for a platform to showcase to North American audiences the award-winning but often overlooked film titles from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. eurocinema proved to be the perfect fit.”
The festival underscores the recent surge in popularity of Scandinavian films, including the blockbuster titles surrounding the Millennium Trilogy by Swedish author Stieg Larsson, which has received worldwide attention and acclaim. Films from the trilogy, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” (BAFTA Award 2011, Best Foreign Language Film) “The Girl Who Played With Fire” and “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest” have grossed hundreds of millions in worldwide box office sales. Additionally, soon to open in American cinemas is the Oscar-winning Best Foreign Film “In a Better World” by director Susanne Bier.
Beginning May 1st, eurocinema will premiere four critically acclaimed, contemporary Scandinavian titles, featuring such top names in global cinema as Lena Endre and Michael Nyqvist (THE GIRL WITH THE 
DRAGON TATTOO), Bryan Brown (F/X, AUSTRALIA), Tuva Novotny (EAT, PRAY, LOVE; SLIM SUSIE) and Thure Lindhardt (ANGELS AND DEMONS). Eight additional titles will be added in June and July, direct from their debuts on the international festival circuit. Films can be enjoyed on eurocinema On Demand for $4.99 – $6.99 US per title.
Event sponsor Nordisk Film & TV Fond will provide marketing and PR support for the festival. Eurocinema will develop a special online promotion at eurocinema.com, where film fans can vote for their favorites of the festival, and have the chance to win special prizes. More details regarding the promotion to be announced soon.
Perioche added, “”This is the new generation of film festivals, representing incredible opportunities and exposure for both filmmakers and sponsors.”
The festival offers brand sponsors a unique platform to reach a targeted audience of foreign film lovers. Additional sponsors will be announced shortly.
At launch, films will include:
LIMBO, Norway, 2010, Sonia with her two children arrive in Trinidad to join her husband Jo who is working as an oil engineer. She is introduced to a homeless class of men who have the whole world as their workplace – and their wives, who follow them wherever their contracts take them. On the surface these women live lives in luxury with large houses and servants. The days are uneventful and blend together into an everlasting holiday, where the women nurse their superficial relationships over cocktails poolside – the perfect climate for self-delusion. LIMBO is a film about love, betrayal and desperation in a country far from home – in a “coming-of-age” story for grown-ups. An international cast including, Lena Endre (THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO), Australian actor Bryan Brown (F/X, AUSTRALIA). “Limbo features one of the strongest performances I’ve seen in quite a while”. James McNally, Toronto (Film Festival) Screenshots.
SUDDENLY, Sweden, 2006. Overcome by grief and misplaced guilt, a father and his teenage son are living in the aftermath of the car accident that claimed the lives of the mother and youngest son. On a peaceful island resort the two seek support and explanation, each in their own way, to the incomprehensible that has happened to them. SUDDENLY portrays the complicated relationship between father and son, and follows their path to reconciliation. An all-star cast including Michael Nyqvist (THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO), Anastasios Soulis, Moa Gammel, Winner of 2 International film awards. “SUDDENLY hooks the viewer from start to finish. In a year that saw plenty of new Swedish films but 
few of real quality, this assured feature debut by writer-director Johan Brisinger, opened on an encouraging note.” Gunnar Rehlin, Variety. SUDDENLY was a box-office hit in Sweden as well as in Germany.
KINGS GAME, Denmark, 2005. Starting a new job as a political journalist at a leading newspaper, Ulrik Torp (Anders W. Berthelsen – starring in acclaimed Dogma films; MIFUNE’S LAST SONG and ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS, by Oscar nominated director Lone Scherfig, AN EDUCATION) witnesses a brutal struggle for power in the Midparty´s ranks a struggle that coincides with the party’s charismatic leader’s involvement in a near fatal car accident. A flurry of lies and media speculation surround the incident. Gradually, Ulrik unearths a ruthless conspiracy involving the incumbent prime minister and becomes obsessed with bringing the truth into the light. But neither his colleagues nor the politicians are willing to listen to him, and as Election Day draws near, Ulrik finds himself alone, battling against the powers that be. Winner of 12 international film awards. Matt McNally of BBC calls it a “..an immensely watchable Danish conspiracy thriller.”
TRUTH ABOUT MEN, 2010, Denmark, Mads moves into a house with his lovely girlfriend Marie, when a sudden pang of doubt strikes him. Is this the meaning of life? Has he lived out all his dreams? Is he truly happy? Mads drops everything, moves away from Marie and throws himself into a desperate quest to live out his greatest dreams; a quest to find the meaning of life and the one and only. It’s a quest that includes friends from the gang, Louise and Peter, dates, a new and younger girlfriend break-ups, meetings with in-laws, nights on the town, frustrating hours working on the perfect screenplay, and an eternal search for a happy life. TRUTH ABOUT MEN is a moving and heartfelt dark comedy about men, the meaning of life, dreams, and love. A wonderful cast lead by Tuva Novotny (EAT, PRAY, LOVE; SLIM SUSIE) and Thure Lindhardt (ANGELS AND DEMONS).