Xilam and Knudsen Pictures join Mikrofilm’s horror film ‘Pesta’
Skwigly
The romantic folk horror Pesta sparked attention during Marche du Film in Cannes in May, where it was pitched at Frontières Platform. The Norwegian Oscar winning studio Mikrofilm is thrilled to announce that the ambitious project will be co-produced with the renowned animation companies Xilam Films (France) and Knudsen Pictures (Germany).
Pesta (Image courtesy of Mikrofilm)
We are delighted to have Xilam and Knudsen Pictures on board for Pesta. Both companies represent artistic integrity, innovation, and commitment to quality. Their expertise in international financing and distribution is invaluable for Pesta and will enable us to create a grand cinematic experience with broad international appeal.
-Lise Fearnley and Tonje Skar Reiersen (producers, Mikrofilm)
CEO of Knudsen Pictures, Kristine Knudsen, is delighted to come onboard:
We are beyond excited to be part of Pesta! A Nordic, animated genre film – what’s not to love? Telling a story about hope in times of crisis to a young adult audience is meaningful and inspiring. With a strong female director and an all-female pan European producing team, I can’t wait to get started and to bring this gem to German speaking audiences!
About the film
Set in Norway during The Black Death, Pesta is a haunting romantic horror film about the pious noble girl Astrid (18) who falls in love with the pagan outlaw Eilev (18), whose blood is believed to hold a cure for the deadly disease. When Eilev is captured, Astrid faces a devastating dilemma: lose him or become the monster she fears most – the plague itself: Pesta.
The film has been developed with support from the Norwegian Film Institute and three other Norwegian funds and is now looking for European co-development financing. It will be directed by Hanne Berkaak, one of Mikrofilm’s most talented in-house filmmakers. Berkaak conceived the original idea and story – inspired by Norwegian folklore, Medieval gore, contemporary Nordic horror, and tales of young, forbidden love – during the covid-19 pandemic.
Pesta carries a seed of hope, as Berkaak revealed in an interview with Variety:
In Norway, the Black Death wiped out big parts of clergy and nobility, clearing the path for a more equal society. The poor got access to free land, women improved their position. For a while, people were more accepting.
Berkaak finds this transformative aspect of the darkest chapter in European history inspiring, and she hopes this will resonate with young people in our post pandemic times marked by war and the climate crisis.
The film is in development and is expected to start production financing next year.