Oscar-nominated Danish director Susanne Bier (After The Wedding) is to make an international drama about a Holocaust survivor. Julius - the project's working title - is about a former prisoner at notorious death camp KZ who moves to Israel. Here, his past eventually catches up with him.

The producer of the film will be Sisse Graum for Zentropa. Trust will handle international sales on the project, which is being financed this spring and is likely to go into production in the autumn.

At present, Bier is in post-production on her first US studio picture, Things We Lost In The Fire, made for Dreamworks.

Julius isn't the only title from a big-name Scandinavian director on Trust's slate. The company is also handling the latest feature from revered Swedish director Jan Troell, a Golden Bear winner in Berlin way back in 1968 with Ole Dole Doff (Who Saw Him Die). The new film is called Maria Larsson's Everlasting Moment. The $7 million drama starts shooting later this month.

A period drama loosely based on the true story of one of Troell's close relatives, the film is set between 1907 and 1923. It is about a poor woman married to a drunkard. She finds solace for the misery of her life in photography. 'The description of how the art of photography can have a deep impact on a person, moved me, having been a passionate still photographer myself since the age of 14. The incredible gallery of characters was another ingredient that fascinated me,' Troell commented, referring to the 'Fellini-like' aura of the story.

Maria Larsson is likely to be ready for Cannes 2008. Trust is pre-selling on the basis of the script and of the director's reputation. All rights are available except for Scandinavia, where the film will be released by Sandrew Metronome.

Also new on Trust's slate is another Swedish title, Johan Brisinger's Suddenly, a completed film which has been released to strong reviews in Sweden.

The acquisition of the new titles come as Trust seeks to ramp up. The company recently launched its own distribution arm. This is expected to handle the Danish theatrical release of around five titles in its first year, although Trust's CEO Maja Giese has suggested the number of Trust releases could rise to as many as 15 a year.

'For now, the main focus is on [parent company] Zentropa and on films for which we have international sales rights,' Giese commented. She confirmed that Zentropa's long-standing partnership with production company Nimbus has now come to an end.

Meanwhile, several features from established names are in the pipeline. Lone Scherfig's new feature Hjemve is in post-production and will be ready for Cannes. The film is an ensemble comedy about a group of people in a small town where 'trust has gone'. Lars Von Trier is pushing ahead with Antichrist. The script is ready and Zentropa is in the process of financing the film with a shoot likely at the end of the year.

Here in Berlin, Trust is representing Panorama title When Darkness Falls and Kidz In DA Hood, which screens in Generation. Other Trust titles in the market include Island Of Lost Souls , Life Hits Jar City, How To Get Rid Of The Others, Skymaster - A Flying Family Fairytale and AFR.

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