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Two powerhouse British talents, Tuppence Middleton (Downtown Abbey) and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings) are teaming up to bring us a horror-drama series titled Blood Cruise. Middleton leads the series, which features an ensemble of European stars, including Björn Bengtsson (The Last Kingdom), Kolbjörn Skarsgård (the youngest of the Skarsgård actor brothers), Jessica Grabowsky (8-pallo), Marika Lagercrantz (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), as well as newcomers, Orlando Wahlsteen and Lissa Edil. The series is produced under Serkis's Imaginarium Productions in collaboration with Northern Fable and CBS Studios. Blood Cruise is set to launch at Series Mania later this week, and ahead of that launch, some new images have been released.

Blood Cruise is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Mats Strandberg,with the author collaborating with Malin LagerLöf to write the series, while Jonas Alexander Arnby is the director. The story unfolds aboard...

Exclusive: Here’s your first-look at Tuppence Middleton in Blood Cruise, the Svt and CBS Studios horror-drama launching this week at Series Mania.

The pics we have for you today also include shots of Downton Abbey and Sense8 star Middleton and An Ordinary Family and The Last Kingdom actor Björn Bengtsson, plus co-star Kolbjörn Skarsgård, and ensemble cast members Marika Lagercrantz, Orlando Wahlsteen and Lissa Edil.

Björn Bengtssen in ‘Blood Cruise’

Blood Cruise (aka The Cruise), made for Swedish pubcaster Svt, follows the story of a cruise ship whose passengers and crew have to unite to survive a terrifying evil that is unleashed on board.

It is based on Mats Strandberg’s novel and comes from Sweden’s Northern Fable and Imaginarium Productions, the UK-based production house lead by Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis, and is being made in association with Scandi pubcasters Dr, Nrk, Ruv and Yle,...

A new Finnish thriller, Icebreaker, is coming to Sbs On Demand as a complete box set on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The six-episode series is created by Mia Ylönen, known for Codename: Annika. Here’s the Lowdown: Icebreaker centers on Coast Guard officer Sanna Tanner, played by Jessica Grabowsky (Midnight Sun), who responds to a distress […]

Icebreaker: New Finnish Thriller Hits Sbs On Demand on March 20...

In case you’re in any doubt as to how you should respond when your hitherto mild-mannered husband announces plans to lead a religious sect — the answer is to run, very fast and very far — the Swedish drama “Raptures” should prove both engrossing and instructive. Even if you aren’t, writer-director Jon Blåhed’s film remains both those things, though the trajectory of its fictional narrative isn’t altogether surprising. Focused on a principled Christian woman in a remote northern village in 1930s Sweden, losing grip on her marriage and her social standing as her husband becomes an abusive cult guru, Blåhed’s script was inspired by the Korpela movement that spun off from a particularly pietistic branch of Lutheranism in the 1920s, eventually devolving into misogynistic hedonism — facts to which the film adheres with minimal luridness.

Still, “Raptures” indulges enough morbid fascination with its characters’ unhinged behavior to draw a curious arthouse audience,...

Of what use is devotion when it swerves from the healing to the corrosive? Jon Blåhed’s unflinching film Raptures swoops on the excesses of belief, surveying the fallout of its most blinded avatar. It becomes a solipsistic affair, shutting out reason and dancing to the beat of its own deluded, twisted logic.

Set in the 1930s and drawing from real events, the film draws us to the vicelike grip the ‘Korpela movement’ had on northern Sweden. The religious sect is successful in exerting its presence and influence, despite resistance and threats from the Church. After the proponent of the sect leaves the village, Teodor takes charge as the religious authority.

Teodor doesn’t strike as an individual who’s aware he’s doing harm. He is so sunk in his private, alternative faith he sanctifies all his base desires as endowed by the light of the sect itself. He...

Finland’s Helsinki-filmi is ready to hear “Dead Women Talking” in a new series set to be directed by Jojo Erholtz.

Based on the original concept by Johanna Holvikallio – with Tua Harno as head writer – it will see two ambitious reporters, Olivia and Noora, hosting a podcast about crimes against women. But a decades-old case of small-town beauty queen murders might cost them their lives.

“I believe original ideas are still worth investing in. Stories with unique but relatable hooks will continue to put bums in the seats,” said Head of Drama Mia Ylönen.

“Finns have grown to strive in the field of unique ideas, just look at Nordic Noir and ‘Finnish Weird.’ As a production company, we also want to highlight new voices and marginalized communities, while ensuring the film or series still attracts a wide mainstream audience.”

True crime podcasts have proven to be “incredibly popular” among young women,...

The eagerly anticipated TV Drama Vision showcase in Göteborg has unveiled its 2025 program, where 50+ series from some of the best Nordic and European creatives will be showcased over Jan. 28-29, next to a full program of inspiring talks.

“Our curated program is a true team effort. We’ve worked hard and enjoyed every bit of it and I hope our 700+ industry delegates from 30 countries will enjoy it,” said Cia Edström, founder and head of Scandinavia’s biggest drama market.

Shortlisted by TV Drama Vision’s strong selection committee, a record high number of series in development from 14 countries were selected, and the nine series in the works in progress were picked “from the most relevant and captivating stories coming up,” said Edström.

Host country Sweden is out in force, with four projects in post-production, backed by top-tier platforms and broadcasters and stellar talents on both sides of the camera.

In...

Jon Blåhed found a timely story in 1930s period drama “Raptures.”

“Some of these things happen today as well,” he says.

Inspired by the so-called “Korpela Movement” – a controversial religious sect that first emerged in Northern Sweden and was later known for its apocalyptic beliefs and unorthodox rituals, as well as sexual practices – he wasn’t looking to spread gossip.

“It wasn’t just about taking the juiciest stories, but staying true to what I thought was important. I grew up in that region. I’m a son of the village preacher and I’ve heard whispers about this movement when I was a kid. It always felt a bit wrong, like something you weren’t supposed to discuss.”

Later in life, Blåhed found himself questioning religious dogmas.

“I was forced to go to church as a kid, and I didn’t like it. It was weird, hearing your own...

The votes are in: Atmospheric (and claustrophobic) Finnish mystery thriller “Icebreaker,” already one of the most buzzed of projects hitting the competition, has been crowned the winner of the 8th edition of MipDrama, receiving its Coup de Coeur award.

Sold by About Premium Content, created by Mia Ylönen, who exec produces with Aleksi Bardy, the Elisa Viihde-commissioned show “Icebreaker” is set on a stranded boat.

As its crew members start to disappear, one by one, coastguard Sanna Tanner (Jessica Grabowsky) is trying to find answers – but what she is dealing with goes way beyond rational explanations.

“We wanted to build up slowly, like a classic whodunnit, but you get a sense there is something else going on. Something is lurking on this ship, but we don’t know whether it’s human or not,” creator Mia Ylönen previously told Variety. The show is produced by Helsinki-filmi, an independent subsidiary of Aurora Studios.

Be afraid, be very afraid: Finnish mystery thriller “Icebreaker” has just revealed exclusive first-look photos.

Set on a stranded icebreaker, it sees coast guard Sanna Tanner (Jessica Grabowsky) leading a rescue team. She comes across a group of survivors – and a frozen body – but over the course of six days, crew members start to disappear. And a vindictive spirit might have something to do with it.

“Icebreakers’” backers have shared a set of first-look stills in exclusivity with Variety.

Created by Mia Ylönen, who exec produces with Aleksi Bardy following their collaboration on “Codename: Annika,” “Icebreaker” is produced by Helsinki-filmi, an independent subsidiary of Aurora Studios.

Commissioned by Elisa Viihde and distributed by About Premium Content (Apc), the series boasts an impressive cast, with “Border” lead Eero Milonoff and “Compartment No. 6’s” Seidi Haarla joined by Mikko Leppilampi, Karim Rapatti, Roderick Kabanga or Johannes Holopainen.

“We wanted to build up slowly,...

Exclusive: Picture Tree International (Pti) has boarded sales on religious cult drama Raptures (Rörelser) about the notorious real-life Korpela Movement which took hold in the remote Torne Valley on the border of Sweden and Finland in the 1930s.

Written and directed by Swedish filmmaker Jon Blåhed, the film is inspired by true events captured in the novel Dagning; röd! by award-winning minority Meänkieli language author Bengt Pohjanen.

The drama, which is currently in the second half of its shoot in northern Finland and Sweden, will be the first feature shot in Meänkieli, which is spoken by some 70,000 people in the Torne Valley but was suppressed by the Swedish state for decades.

Blåhed took further inspiration from his own family history connected to the strict Læstadian movement in the Torne Valley region where he grew up.

The drama revolves around Rakel, a devout Christian believer whose husband Teodor forms a liberal...

Tom Of Finland Kino Lorber Director: Dome Karukoski Written by: Aleksi Bardy based on a story by Aleksi Bardy and Dome Karukoski Cast: Pekka Strang, Lauri Tilkanen, Jessica Grabowsky, Taisto Oksanen, Seumas Sargent, Niklas Hogner, Jakob Oftebro, Kari Hietalahti Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 10/7/17 Opens: October 13, 2017 Given that Norway and Denmark were […]

The post Tom of Finland Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

"Conquer America for me." Kino Lorber has debuted an official trailer for the Finnish indie drama Tom of Finland, a fictional feature film profile of the Finnish man who became known as "Tom of Finland". After returning home from WWII, Touko Laaksonen fled to America to escape homosexual persecution. There he established himself as one of the most influential and celebrated figures of 20th century gay culture. "Tom of Finland" drew erotic art of gay men, most often wearing leather outfits, which became a symbol of gay culture at the time. Pekka Strang plays "Tom of Finland", with a cast including Lauri Tilkanen, Jessica Grabowsky, Werner Daehn, and Kari Hietalahti. This premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, and played at numerous other film festivals. It looks like it has a strong lead performance at least. Here's the first trailer (+ poster) for Dome Karukoski's Tom of Finland,...

Author: Linda Marric

Once an illegal homoerotica and porn artist, Touko Laaksonen became symbolic of his native Finland when his controversial artwork was awarded the highest accolade an artist could ever dream of receiving. After years of being derided, mocked and persecuted by the authorities for subverting younger men, his now iconic artwork became the first of its type to appear on a national postage stamp. In Tom of Finland, a pseudonym under which Laaksonen became known, acclaimed Finnish director Dome Karukoski tells the story of how a war hero from Helsinki came to symbolise gay liberation in America and around the world, some even crediting him with inventing the concept of “leather bars” and “the Castro clones”, two aesthetics which have become emblematic of Lgbt history.

After fighting in WWII and returning home a decorated war hero, Touko Laaksonen (Pekka Strang) is still shellshocked by his harrowing experiences serving his country.

Separately, Tribeca selections Elián goes to Gravitas Ventures while From The Ashes lands at National Geographic. Factory 25 takes Tribeca 2016 entry Icaros: A Vision.

Kino Lorber has acquired all North American rights to Tom Of Finland, Dome Karukoski’s biopic about the life and work of Finnish artist and gay icon Touko Laaksonen.

Laaksonen was a pioneer in postwar erotic art whose work inspired the early days of the gay liberation movement and became a symbol for generations of Lgbtq people worldwide.

Pekka Strang, Lauri Tilkanen, Jessica Grabowsky, Taisto Oksanen, Seumas Sargent, Jakob Oftebro and Niklas Hogner star in the Helsinki Film production.

The film’s screenwriter Aleksi Bardy produced alongside Miia Haavisto and Annika Sucksdorff of Helsinki Film.

Gunnar Carlsson of Anagram Väst in Sweden, Miriam Nørgaard of Fridthjof Film in Denmark, and Ingvar Thordarson and Sophie Mahlo of Neutrinos Productions Germany were co-producers, in collaboration with Mike Downey and Sam Taylor of Film and Music Entertainment...

Lauri Tilkanen, Jessica Grabowski and German Werner Daehn also added to cast.

Pekka Strang (Producing Adults) will lead Dome Karukoski’s Tom Of Finland, which has also added Lauri Tilkanen, Jessica Grabowski and German Werner Daehn to its cast.

Aleksi Bardy wrote the screenplay for the film, which tells the life story of Touko Laaksonen, a man who would become known around the world by his nom de guerre “Tom Of Finland”.

Finnish production outfit Helsinki-Filmi is producing the project in co-production with Sweden’s Anagram Väst, Denmark’s Fridthjof Film and Germany’s Neutrinos Productions.

The cast were revealed during a press conference at the Berlinale, at which director Karukoski stated: “It’s incredible to think that this person from a small country like Finland could change the world.

“When Aleksi said we should do Tom of Finland - I started reading about him, talking to people who knew him, and for me...

Things promise to get rather dark in upcoming Finnish crime drama 8 Ball. A multi faceted affairdirected by Aku Louhimies and backed by Blind Spot Pictures (Iron Sky), 8 Ball looks to be a more encompassing view of the narcotic underground than normal, one that includes not only gangsters and guns but also addicts and their families in a package that promises to be edgy and provocative in a way we haven't seen out of the region since the Pusher films and Ole Christian Madsen's Angels In Fast Motion (Nordkraft). Jessica Grabowsky, Eero Aho, Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, and Mikko Leppilampi star.We ran the first teaser for this one back in October but now a full trailer has arrived. Take a look below....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...