Les Arcs to present Norwegian focus

Les Arcs European Film Festival will present a special program of Norwegian films at its seventh edition, running Dec 12-19.

In partnership with the Norwegian Film Institute and the Norwegian Embassy in Paris, the focus will showcase Norwegian projects and work-in-progress films as well as conferences and case studies on Norwegian issues.

Frédéric Boyer, Les Arcs artistic director, commented: “This focus will combine recent films, to discover the new generation of talents, as well as more confirmed directors through 14 feature films and a program of short films.”

Norwegian music will also be showcased during the new Music Village, an electro-pop music festival taking place during the festival.

“In a few years Les Arcs has become an important European film festival and a gateway to the French market, so we pleased that Norway is this year’s theme country,” added executive director-promotion & international relations Stine Helgeland of the Norwegian Film Institute.

“The program will strengthen Norway’s position in France, and our collaboration with the French film industry at all levels,” said the institute’s CEO Sindre Guldvog.

Norwegian State Secretary Bjørgulv Vinje Borgundvaag has met with representatives of the institute and Les Arcs in Berlin and emphasised that the focus is in line with government’s aim to increase the international interest for Norwegian cinema, adding that “France is an important market for Norwegian films, and the initiative in Les Arcs is a good basis for a further step, while at the same time showing off the acme of Norwegian film and music.”