Thirteen of the best and most exciting examples of Nordic family films have traversed the globe to join the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival.
Sure to delight the hearts and minds of audiences with their creativity and artistry, this broad variety of films will provide Chinese audiences and introduction to contemporary Scandinavian cinema. The exciting line-up kicked off yesterday with a press conference and opening screening of the adventure film - "Niko and the Way to the Stars" as part of the special "Global Village" section dedicated to the ongoing Expo.
The participation of the films to the film festival is part of the Nordic cooperation at Expo 2010 and is supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
During the film week, which runs till June 20, audiences of children and adults alike will be enchanted by a wide array of Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic and Danish family films.
Among the films, Giacomo Campeotto\'s "Storm" (Denmark), the story of a 12-year-old boy who saves a dog from his volatile owner, and Teresa Fabik\'s "Staring Maja" (Sweden), which follows a 18-year-old Maja realize her dream of becoming an actress on her own terms, both make their Asian premiere at the fest.
Also, screening in China for the first time are Ole Bornedal\'s family thriller "The Substitute" (Denmark) and Ari Kristinsson\'s "No Network" (Iceland), which traces the adventures of young Kalli as he moves from a connected city life to the countryside.
The opening film "Niko and the Way to the Stars" (Finland) follows a young reindeer boy, on a quest to find and save his absent father, whom he believes to be a memeber of the world famous Santa\'s Elite Flying Forces. The film\'s beautiful illustration, vivid colors and dynamic sound-scape are indicative of Nordic cinema\'s strength in animated features that are also able to form connections with the audience.
"It is an honor to have the opportunity to show the film at the film festival in Shanghai," said Kari Juusonen, one of the film\'s directors and Cannes award winner. "We believe that the characters and messages expressed in this film are universal and will strongly resonate with audiences here. Additionally, from a wider perspective, China\'s arts scene is really blossoming at the moment and this festival is a fantastic platform for Scandinavian film makers to deepen ties with our counterparts in the Chinese film industry."