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Dir. Maximilian Hult with actors (sitting from left) Jóel I Sæmundsson, Þóra Karítas Árnadóttir and Björn Thórs. Photo: Sigga Ella, Copyright: LittleBig Productions.

SWEDISH DIRECTOR MAXIMILIAN HULT DIRECTS FEATURE WITH AN ALL-ICELANDIC CAST.

Maximilian Hult, director of award-winning feature HEMMA, now makes a romantic drama comedy Pity the Lovers, set in Iceland with an all Icelandic cast. The film, produced by Swedish LittleBig Productions, is currently in shooting on location in Reykjavík. Besides directing, Maximilian Hult also wrote the screenplay and original story about the somewhat dysfunctional brothers, their longing for love and their everyday struggles towards a balanced life.

Boasting some of Iceland's finest actors Pity the Lovers started principal photography in Iceland on the 24th of August and is planned for release in 2018. The film is shot in the Icelandic language and the main roles are held by Björn Thórs, Jóel I Sæmundsson, Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir, Sigurður Karlsson, Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Þóra Karítas Árnadóttir and  Hafdís Helga Helgadóttir.
Producer Anna G Magnúsdóttir says “The film was originally planned for production in Sweden but faced with the prospect of postponing the production for a whole year, waiting for the last bit of financing in Sweden, we opted for going to Iceland and bridge the financial gap with the 25% reimbursement for filming in Iceland.”

This is not the first time Hult directs a film in Iceland. His first film HEMMA, although set in Sweden was also shot in Iceland with Swedish cast. Director Hult says “I have to admit to a certain nervousness regarding directing Icelandic actors in a language I do not speak myself. But that concern disappeared as soon as the main cast was in place and we started working.”

Producer Anders Granström said “We're thrilled to be back in Iceland working with a highly professional, near all Icelandic production crew and all Icelandic cast.  It´s amazing to watch the project come to life through a combination of Maximilian´s directorial skills, the talented actor performances, a creative and professional contribution from the crew and, not to forget, the exceptional locations. It’s also wonderful to be able to in this way contribute to and further strengthen the ties between Swedish and Icelandic filmmaking.

Synopsis
Brothers Óskar (Björn Thórs)) and Maggi (Jóel Sæmundsson) are easy going but both have a hard time with close relationships, a problem they deal with in different ways. Óskar tries to stay clear of emotional ties while Maggi jumps into a series of short-lived relationships. Their absentminded father (Sigurður Karlsson) has similar problems but has miraculously managed to hold on to his relationship with Guðrún (Edda Björgvinsdóttir) whom he met after his first wife, the mother of his sons, died when the boys were young.
The veterinary Anna (Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir) is facing a life-changing decision, unwittingly influenced by Óskar. The young wanna-be artist Ingibjörg (Hafdís Helga Helgadóttir) tries to become a grown-up as fast as she can and the 13-year-old friends Danni T and Danni M plod on with their daily lives, which increasingly take place in Óskar’s house.

With Pity the Lovers, producers Anna G Magnúsdóttir and Anders Granström of Stockholm based LittleBig Productions AB join forces again with Icelandic producers, Guðrún Edda Þórhannesdóttir and Friðrik Þór Friðriksson of Spellbound Productions ehf, Reykjavík, repeating a successful cooperation on director Hult´s acclaimed first feature, award-winning romantic drama HEMMA (2013).
Distribution in Iceland is done by Sena ehf while International Sales & Distribution is taken care of by Swedish Green Lighting Studio AB.

About the Actors:
Björn Thors plays ÓSKAR the slightly depressed main character doing his best to avoid complicated relationships. He is known for Paris of the North (2014), The Deep (2012) and Þetta Reddast (2013).

Jóel Sæmundsson plays Óskar´s younger brother MAGGI, who on the other hand, unlike his brother, is an eager candidate for complicated relationships. Sæmundsson is known for Borgríki 2 (2014), Life in a Fishbowl (2014) and Astrópía (2007).

Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir plays veterinarian ANNA, Óskar´s childhood sweetheart who´s life he unintentionally does complicate somewhat. Ásgerisdóttir is known for Pressa (2007), Cold Light (2004).

Sigurður Karlsson plays ÁRNI, Óskar and Maggi´s absentminded father, a dedicated repairman more adept at dismanteling things than putting them together. Karlsson is known for Virgin Mountain (2015) Trapped (2015-16) Fangar (2017).

Edda Björgvinsdóttir plays GUÐRÚN, Árni´s caring second wife, who maybe took on a heavier burden than she expected marrying him. Björgvinsdóttir is known for Under the Tree (2017), Stella í orlofi (1986) and The Raven Flies (1984).

Hafdís Helga Helgadóttir plays INGIBJÖRG, a young wannabe artist in a big rush to grow up and become somebody. Helgadóttir is known for In Front of Others (2016), XL (2013) and Íslenski draumurinn (2000).

About the film HEMMA
Swedish/Icelandic Romantic Drama HEMMA (Home) by Maximilian Hult, received fine reviews and was awarded The South Korean 2013 Busan Audience Bank Award as Best Film, was Opening Film at Mannheim Heidelberg and awarded the Ecumenical Award as Best Film. The film was awarded the Grand Prix as Best Film in Febio Fest Prague, young Erik Lundqvist was awarded as Best Male Actor at Peace & Love Film Festival Sweden and actress Anita Wall won the Guldbaggen 2015 for Best Female Supporting Role. Icelandic Film Awards EDDAN 2015 also nominated Maximilian Hult as Best Director, as well as Valdís Óskarsdóttir and Sigurður Eyþórsson for Best Editing.

HEMMA was shot in Iceland in the summer of 2012, with support from the Icelandic Film Centre and The Ministry of Industry. The film is produced by Swedish Producers Anna G Magnúsdóttir & Anders Granström and co-produced by Icelandic Guðrún Edda Þórhannesdóttir & Friðrik Þór Friðriksson. The Film was released in cinemas in Sweden and Iceland and has been sold to various territories in Europe and Asia.

Contact:
Anna G Magnúsdóttir, anna@littlebig.se
0046 70 261 6465 / 00354 779 1656
LittleBig Productions AB, www.littlebig.se

Prestigefylld internationell debut!

American Burger får sin internationella premiär under SITGES International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (3-12 okt. 2014) där den är uttagen till tävlan i kategorin Midnight X-treme – som skyltar med ”...ett urval av de bästa internationella skräckfilmerna. Filmerna i denna kategori tävlar om Midnight X-treme priset som tilldelas av Carnet Jove Juryn”

Filmens handling:
En busslast amerikanska elever, hormonstinna sport-jocks, cheerleaders och nördar, är på klassresa i Europa med sin lärare som förtvivlat försöker förmedla Europeisk kultur. Djupt inne i skogen dyker plötsligt en mystisk hamburger kiosk upp, med löfte om 100% American Burgers. När eleverna tas på studiebesök till hamburger fabriken upptäcker de till sin fasa att människorna här har en skrämmande uppfattning om amerikanska hamburgare.

Mer om filmen:
Filmen skriven och regisserad av det långfilmsdebuterande regissörsparet Bonita Drake & Johan Bromander som kommenterar sin debutfilm på följande vis: ”Vi hoppas filmen har samma effekt på hamburgare som filmen JAWS hade på hajar”.

AMERICAN BURGER är en komedi i skräckfilmsgenren, producerad av LittleBig Productions AB, är klar för distribution 2014. Filmen är inspelad i Sverige på engelska och presenterar en blandning av engelska och svenska skådespelare och statister. Filmen säljs och distribueras av Movieboosters AB.

Mer om Sitges:
SITGES – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is the number one fantasy film festival in the world and represents, at the same time, the cultural expression with the most media impact in Catalonia. With a solid experience, the Sitges Festival is a stimulating universe of encounters, exhibitions, presentations and screenings of fantasy films from all over the world.

Born in 1968 as the 1st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, today the Festival is an essential rendezvous for movie lovers and audiences eager to come into contact with new tendencies and technologies applied to film and the audiovisual world.

Sitges’ status as the number one fantasy film festival in the world allows it to receive visits from top-level movie stars, directors and producers. http://sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng

Om distributionen:
Filmen släpps den 17 oktober via Movieboosters egna plattform i alla länder. Filmens engelska version strömmas direkt till publik och erbjuds också för nedladdning över internet. Den egna plattformen drivs genom distributionsplattformen VHX. Filmen kan redan nu förbeställas från filmens hemsida.

Från den 17 oktober kommer filmen kunna ses på bio, finnas på lokala VOD plattformar, samt på DVD till köp och uthyrning från den 22 oktober.

Filmen vänder sig till den publik som älskar komedier i skräckfilmsgenren och de får tillgång till filmen världen över oavsett var de befinner sig.

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För ytterligare information kontakta:
Anna G Magnúsdóttir, 070 2616465, anna.g@littlebig.se
Anders Granström, 070 736 5106, anders@movieboosters.com

Prestigious International Debut!

American Burger has been selected for competition at SITGES – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (3-12 okt. 2014) in the Midnight Extreme – a section which boasts ”...a selection of the best independent horror movies. The films in this section are candidates for winning the Midnight X-treme Award, presented by the Carnet Jove Jury.”

Synopsis
A busload of American students, all jocks, cheerleaders and nerds, are on a culture trip in Europe when they stumble upon a mysterious Hamburger stand in the deep European woods, selling 100% American Burgers. A visit to the Burger Factory behind the stand, renders them trapped in this unknown territory, and they are about to realize that European notion of American Hamburgers is terrifyingly different from what they’re used to...

More about the Film:
American Burger is written and directed by debuting couple Bonita Drake and Johan Bromander who comment on the level of ambition for their first production: “We hope to do for Burgers what JAWS did for Sharks”.
AMERICAN BURGER is a Campy Horror Comedy, produced by LittleBig Productions AB and will be released 2014. The English language film is shot in Sweden with a mixed cast of English and Swedish actors and extras. Sales & distribution goes through Swedish Movieboosters AB.

More on Sitges:
SITGES – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is the number one fantasy film festival in the world and represents, at the same time, the cultural expression with the most media impact in Catalonia. With a solid experience, the Sitges Festival is a stimulating universe of encounters, exhibitions, presentations and screenings of fantasy films from all over the world.

Born in 1968 as the 1st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, today the Festival is an essential rendezvous for movie lovers and audiences eager to come into contact with new tendencies and technologies applied to film and the audio-visual world.

Sitges’ status as the number one fantasy film festival in the world allows it to receive visits from top-level movie stars, directors and producers. http://sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng

On the release:
The English version of the Film will be internationally released on October 17th through Movieboostes (through VHX) platform from where the film can be streamed or downloaded to own.

The audience is already now invited to join the AMERICAN BURGER fan base as well as to pre-buy streaming or download to own tickets in different packages from the film’s website.

From the 17th of October and onwards the film can be seen in cinemas, be found on local VOD platforms and will be released on DVD on the 22nd of October.

The film is aimed at an audience that loves pop culture and comedies in the horror genre and they will be able to access the film from all over the world, wherever they are.

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För ytterligare information kontakta:
Anna G Magnúsdóttir, 070 2616465, anna.g@littlebig.se
Anders Granström, 070 736 5106, anders@movieboosters.com