Another Czech Christmas for Norwegian cinema
- Thale Persen’s The Christmas King – In Full Armour finishes its two-week shoot at Prague’s Barrandov Studios
Norwegian director Thale Persen’s feature debut, The Christmas King – In Full Armor [+see also:
trailer
film profile], a spin-off of her 2012 24-part series for Norwegian pubcaster NRK, has finished a two-week shoot in the Czech Republic, where Norwegian director Nils Gaup also filmed parts of his Journey to the Christmas Star [+see also:
trailer
film profile] in 2012.
A film and TV graduate from Norway’s Volda University College, Persen has been working for NRK since 1998, directing films for children and young audiences. In 2012, she made the popular Christmas calendar series The King of Christmas, and when NRK decided not to stage another season, Norwegian production outfit Storm Films offered her the chance to direct a feature sequel.
Scripted by Norwegian writers Harald Rosenløw Eeg and Lars Gudmestad, who also supplied the scripts for the TV series, The Christmas King – In Full Armour is a fairy-tale comedy about the Gran family, who save Christmas in the magical Valley of Knights. Kevin has found a secret path to the valley and befriends the king, whose brother yearns to take over the throne; but before all ends well, the heroes will again have to prove their courage.
Taking advantage of the Czech Republic’s film incentive system (a 20% reduction of production expenditure in the country), Storm Films producer Frederick Howard, the cast and the crew filmed at locations near Prague’s Barrandov Studios, as well as on Stage 4 of the studio itself. Howard attached the Czech Republic’s Film Kolektiv as a co-producer, to deliver production services in collaboration with the studios.
Starring such names as Vetle Qvenild Werring, Bjarte Tjøstheim, Kyrre Hellum, Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, Kalle Hennie and André Eriksen, the €2.9 million feature, which is benefiting from €1 million in backing from the Norwegian Film Institute, is scheduled for a domestic premiere in November through Nordisk Film Distribusjon.
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