Sagafilm sets up in Stockholm

Icelandic production company Sagafilm has set up a Swedish arm to develop projects with international partners.

CEO Kjartan Thor Thordarson told Nordisk Film & TV Fund he opened Sagafilm Nordic in Stockholm in a bid to grow the firm’s roster of TV dramas, documentaries and films.

“Our focus remains TV drama, but chances to grow domestically have been hampered by the national stations’ inability to pay the full production cost for local series,” Thordarson said.

“At the same time, there is a huge appetite from foreign broadcasters for original scripted drama and remake opportunities. Iceland is very attractive for foreign shoots, with its 20% tax rebate, and we can board projects as coproducers, which is why we have opened Sagafilm Nordic.

“Our goal is to up the game by accessing different markets from Stockholm where we will develop more ambitious projects with international partners and handle our remakes around the world.

Sagafilm projects in various stages of development include Case (9×45’), a spin-off from IcelandicTV drama Réttur (The Court), which begins filming in April; Stella (6×45’/3×90’), an adaptation of a best-selling crime novel written by Stella Blomkvist; The Minister, a political drama developed for RUV; and The Press (Pressa).

Meanwhile, its comedy drama The Nightshift is being reworked for audiences in Sweden, Germany, France, the UK and US.