New Nordic Films, the Norwegian International Film Festival’s industry confab in Haugesund, has announced the program for its first ever French Focus, set up to foster partnerships and co-productions between France and the Nordic countries. The event, due to run Aug. 25-28, is organised by New Nordic Films in partnership with the Institut Francais de Norvège, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France’s National Center for Cinema (CNC) and promotional body Unifrance.
Headlining the French Focus is a pitching session on Aug. 26 at the Nordic Co-Production Market of four French films in development, of which two are produced by pedigreed producer Les Valseurs, a Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury Prize winner this year for “Elephants in the Fog” and Un Certain Regard top prize winner in 2025 for “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo.” Produced by Les Valseurs co-founder Damien Megherdi, “Borderline” is the feature length spin-off of Yves Piat’s Oscar and César nominated short film “Nefta Football Club,” while “All the Softness in the World” is an ambitious animation project by Turkish artist Ayçe Kartal whose short film “Wicked Girl” was the first animation short to scoop the Grand Prix in Clermont-Ferrand in 2018.
