30/01/2025 - Seven films, including the world premieres of Late Shift and Home Sweet Home, highlight the Danish sales agent's presence at the Berlinale and its accompanying market

Danish international sales agent TrustNordisk is showcasing seven films at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (13-23 February) and the accompanying European Film Market (EFM, 13-19 February). Among these, two world premieres stand out: Late Shift and Home Sweet Home.

In the Berlinale Special Gala section, Late Shift by Swiss-Italian filmmaker Petra Volpe explores the relentless pace of the healthcare sector. The film stars Leonie Benesch as Floria, a dedicated nurse in a surgical ward, who struggles with the pressures of understaffing while maintaining her compassion for patients. As the day escalates into a time-sensitive crisis, the film builds in suspense, leading to a captivating climax. Known for The Divine Order [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Petra Volpe
film profile], Volpe brings her empathy for complex professions into the spotlight with Late Shift, creating a resonant tribute to the selfless dedication of the nursing community. Produced by Reto Schaerli and Lukas Hobi at Zodiac Pictures, the film is slated for release in Germany, Switzerland and Austria in February.

In the Panorama section, Home Sweet Home by Danish writer-director Frelle Petersen (Forever [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Frelle Petersen and Jette S…
film profile]) offers an intimate portrayal of the emotional burdens of caregiving. The film follows Sofie, a single mother juggling her job as a home care aide in rural Denmark and the task of raising her young daughter, Clara. When a complaint from a family member forces Sofie to confront the complexities of her dual roles, the film dives deep into her emotional struggles, as portrayed by actress Jette Søndergaard. Produced by Zentropa, Home Sweet Home is set for a Danish release in June.

In addition to the world premieres, TrustNordisk is showcasing a diverse array of films that have already premiered. Sauna [+see also:
film review
interview: Mathias Broe
film profile] by Mathias Broe, set in Copenhagen, explores love, identity and sexuality within the LGBTQ+ community. The film follows Johan, a young gay man whose life changes when he meets William, a transgender man. It had its world premiere at the ongoing Sundance, in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. Acts of Love by Jeppe Rønde, bowing as a world premiere at IFFR, tells the story of Hanna, a woman living in a New Age Christian community in rural Denmark, whose world is upended when her brother returns, forcing her to confront past trauma (see the news). Meanwhile, Safe House by Eirik Svensson examines moral dilemmas against the backdrop of the 2013 civil war in the Central African Republic. The film follows Linn, the leader of an aid team at a field hospital, as she faces the decision of whether or not to protect a Muslim man from a threatening mob, raising powerful questions about survival, sacrifice and the human cost of war. Safe House recently opened the Göteborg Film Festival (see the news).

As for TrustNordisk’s upcoming projects, the EFM market slate features a diverse collection of films and series exploring a range of emotional, thrilling and thought-provoking themes. Highlights include The Last Viking, a dark comedy by Anders Thomas Jensen, starring Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Lie Kaas as brothers embarking on a journey to uncover buried money, despite one of them suffering from an intellectual disorder (see the news). Another intriguing title is Special Unit - The First Murder by Christoffer Boe, a crime-drama set in Denmark in 1927, where a police officer investigates a dark murder mystery entwined with corruption and power struggles (see the news).

In the action-thriller genre, Kraken by Pål Øie features a marine biologist encountering monstrous creatures in Norway’s fjords (see the news), while My First Love by Mari Storstein tells the poignant story of a young woman with a disability navigating life's struggles and discovering love for the first time. Other notable films include The Last Resort by Maria Sødahl, a family drama about trust and safety when helping a stranger, and Home by Marijana Janković, a powerful story about the immigrant experience, and the emotional divide between Maja and her parents as they try to build a new life in Denmark.

Additionally, TrustNordisk is bringing a series to the market: My Brother, based on Karin Smirnoff’s novel. This mystery-thriller, set in Sweden, follows a woman as she unravels dark secrets about her family's past and falls into a tangled relationship. Finally, Fighter, a feature-length documentary directed by Sunniva Sundby, tells the powerful story of a 30-year-old MMA fighter facing a life-altering injury and seeking transformation through physical and emotional healing.