Vinterberg plans Swedish shoot for new drama The Formula

The new feature will be the first Vinterberg has directed apart from Danish production outfit Nimbus Film, of which he was, until recently, a long-time partner.

Set in a remote, rural village in Sweden, The Formula (working title), written by Vinterberg and Submarino co-writer Tobias Lindholm, explores how a lie unravels and infects a community. The story is based on real case studies of such scenarios recorded across Europe in the 1990s.

Vinterberg said that the shoot would probably take place in March 2011.

Speaking to ScreenDaily at the Les Arcs Film Festival in France, where he is presiding over the festival jury, the former Dogme co-founder described The Formula as a “Nordic film, inspired by Fanny and Alexander and my own films. It will be set during Christmas, but it’s not the Disney version of Christmas. It’s about how lies can spread like a virus, how a small society can fall apart from one fracture.”

Casting is yet to get underway, while regional funds Film I Vast of Sweden and FilmFyn of Denmark, as well as the Nordic Film and TV Fund and the Swedish Film Institute, are expected to contribute to the estimated budget of $4.6m (€3.5m).

Of his move away from Nimbus, Vinterberg explained: “We had been together since film school, but thought it was the right time to diverge. We simply needed a break. I really respect these people; there is no conflict. We all just needed fresh air.”

Sisse Graum Jorgensen, producer of Susanne Bier’s Brothers and In A Better World and Lone Scherfig’s Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself and Just Like Home, produced Vinterberg’s 2005 drama Dear Wendy.

Tobias Lindholm’s directorial debut R is currently screening in competition at the Les Arcs Film Festival.