The Icelandic Film Academy has nominated three of Pity the Lovers's great and very accomplished team, for the EDDAN awards 2020. We are very proud and congratulate Björn Thors to his nomination as best Main Actor, Jóel Ingi Sæmundsson as Best Supporting Actor and Stefanía Thors for Best Editing!

Romantic drama comedy Pity the Lovers, directed by Maximilian Hult, was first released on the 27th of January 2019 at the International Film Festival in Gothenburg in the Nordic Comedy section. The film was theatrically released in Reykjavík, Iceland on the 14th of February 2019 and has since been screened at various festivals, such as Seattle International Film Festival, Victoria International Film Festival in Canada, Glasgow International Film Festival and is due on more in the year to come.

LittleBig Productions AB har optionsrätt till filmatiseringen av författaren Mikael Strömbergs skräckroman De förjagade.

Filmmanus är skrivet av Jonas Tarestad och regissör blir Anders Banke som bl.a. regisserade den svenska genrefilmen Frostbiten (2006) och nu senast Enemy Lines (2020) som utspelar sig i Polen under andra världskriget.

Produktionsstart för De förjagade beräknas bli under vårvintern 2021.

Boken De förjagade handlar om en grupp svenska soldater som under första världskriget skickas till en utpost i Norrbotten där en hemlig transaktion med Ryssland ska äga rum nära gränsen till Finland. Det dröjer inte länge efter deras ankomst innan de förstår att något är fel och att ett okänt hot lurar i skogarna.

Mer om författaren:
Mikael Strömberg (f. 1976) är uppvuxen i Norrtälje och bor i dag i södra Stockholm med sin fru och deras två barn. Efter mångårigt musicerande där han skrev ca tvåhundra låttexter, många med skräcktema, debuterade han 2011 med den kritikerhyllade skräckromanen Vätten och har sedan dess kommit ut med flera böcker i samma genre. Den militärhistoriska skräckromanen De förjagade kom ut i september 2017.
Förutom sina böcker har Strömberg även medverkat med novellen Flockdjur i antologin 13 Svarta Sagor, utgiven av Swedish Zombie, samt fått de två skräcknovellerna Stenfoster och Isadora Cordée inlästa i en av Sveriges populäraste podcasts – Sveriges Radios Creepypodden, som även finns på Spotify.

Mer om filmbolaget:
Filmbolaget LittleBig Productions AB med delägarna Anna G. Magnúsdóttir och Anders Granström har bl.a. producerat den svensk/isländska dramakomedin Stackars älskande/Pity the Lovers (2019) som spelades in på Island hösten 2017, genrefilmerna American Burger (2014) och Operation Ragnarök ( 2018), samt det prisbelönta romantiska dramat Hemma (2014). LittleBig Productions är även en av initiativtagarna och grundarna av Nordic Genre Invasion, ett nätverk för nordiska filmproducenter i syfte att profilera och marknadsföra nordisk genrefilm på den internationella marknaden.

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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

Horror comedy American Burger takes part in 2015 Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival in Ljutomer,  Slovenia 14th-18th July.

The Grossmann festival is dedicated to the more dangerous and funny side of cinema, that pulls no punches, wallows in excess, political incorrectness and goes all the way and beyond. But, in order to fully understand it, one must take time, enjoy the adrenalin-ridden ride and equip their most extreme sense of humour. And this is much easier with a glass of good wine...

American Burger travels wide and far. The campy horror comedy has been chosen for screenings in the World Fantastic Cinema category at the prestigeous 19th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival  July 16th - 26th, in South Korea. We are very much looking forward to meet our Korean friends.

Amercian Burger screened at the  Night Visions International Film Festival 2015 in Helsinki, Finland.  The screening took place on April the 17th. Great screening, great festival, great audience and the party afterwards rocked to say the least!

The second film in the 3-film horror comedy franchise will go into production in the summer of 2016 and be released in 2017. The film is included in the slate of Nordic Genre films presented by the collaboration platform Nordic Genre Invasion. Interntional Sales & Distribution is taken care of by Movieboosters AB.

Swedish/Icelandic Romantic Drama and Award Winning Feature HEMMA (Home) by Maximilian Hult, has been nominated for Icelandic Film Awards EDDAN in the Categories Best Director - Maximilian Hult and Best Editing - Valdís Óskarsdóttir and Sigurður Eyþórsson. HEMMA was shot in Iceland in the summer of 2012, with support from the Icelandic Film Centre and a wonderful mixture of Swedish and Icelandic Cast & Team. HEMMA. The film is produced by  Swedish Producers Anna G Magnúsdóttir & Anders Granström and Co-produced by Icelandic Guðrún Edda Þórhannesdóttir & Friðrik Þór Friðriksson.

Earlier the film has been awarded The South Korean Busan Audience Bank Award, Opening Film at Mannheim Heidelberg, Eucomenical Award as Best film in Mannheim-Heidelberg, Grand Prix Best Film Febio Fest Prague, Best Male Actor Erik Lundqvist at Peace & Love Film Festival Sweden and Guldbagge for Best Female Supporting Role Anita Wall.

Actress Anita Wall was Awarded a Guldbagge for her role as Frida Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Maximilian Hult's international award winning feature Home / Hemma.

The Guldbagge Awards ceremony was held 26 January 2015 at Cirkus in Stockholm and broadcasted live by Swedish Television (SVT).

"Awarded annually since 1964, the Guldbagge ("Golden Beetle") is the name of the Swedish Film Institute's award for achievements during the previous year. The award itself, in the form of a flower chafer beetle, was designed by the artist Karl Axel Pehrson." - Swedish Film Institute