Intramovies Boards Norwegian Dramedy ‘My Uncle Jens,’ About Family Ties and Cultural Clash (EXCLUSIVE)
Rome-based sales outfit Intramovies has picked up international rights to “My Uncle Jens,” the directorial debut of Norwegian helmer of Kurdish origin Brwa Vahabpour, credited for the hit series “Countrymen.”
Renée Hansen Mlodyszewski, associate producer on “The Worst Person in the World,” is producing for True Content Production, the Oslo branch of Scandi group True Content Entertainment, headed by Yellow Bird founder Ole Søndberg.
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Anda Ionescu of Bucharest-based Tangaj Production serves as co-producer.
Crew members include cinematographer Jørgen Klüver (“Nudes”) production designer Kristian Lahn Vestby (“Nach”) and seasoned Romanian editor Cătălin Cristuțiu (“Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn”) who collaborated with the Norwegian Brynjar Lien Aune.
Vahabpour first caught festival attention with his 2020 short film “Silence”, selected for the Palm Spring International ShortFest. He went on to direct two episodes of the Norwegian award-winning series “Countrymen”.
Known earlier as “Europa”, the feature about family ties and cultural identity stars Peiman Azizpour (“Midsummer Night,” “Furia,” “Fortress”) as a young teacher whose peaceful life in Oslo is upended when his Kurdish uncle (Hamza Agoshi) unexpectedly arrives. He soon realises that there is more to his uncle’s visit than what he initially thought.
“‘My Uncle Jens’ is a multi-layered journey, both inward and outward. Beginning as a sophisticated comedy of cultural and social differences, it gradually transforms into a profound social drama,” said Geremia Biagiotti, Intramovies’ sales, marketing and acquisitions manager, who adds: “This is an impressive debut, with the power to resonate with audiences worldwide, offering a glimmer of hope through cultural, generational, and social diversity.”
With this new pick up, Intramovies widens its roster of emerging Scandinanian talents led by Mika Gustafson, multi-awarded for her debut “Paradise is Burning,” and the Finn Inari Niemi (“Light, Light, Light”).
“My Uncle Jens” will be released in Scandinavia by Norsk Filmdistribusjon. Intramovies is kickstarting sales on the film at the Cannes Film Market.
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