Empire (2023 film)

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Empire
Empire (2023 film).jpg
Directed byFrederikke Aspöck
Written byAnna Neye
Produced by
  • Nina Leidersdorff
  • Meta Louise Foldager Sørensen
  • Pernille Munk Skydsgaard
Starring
  • Anna Neye
  • Sara Fanta Traore
CinematographyLinda Wassberg
Edited byMartin Schade
Music by Rasmus Bille Bahncke
Production
companies
  • Meta Film
  • Brain Academy
  • Seven Islands Film
Release date
Running time
93 minutes
CountryDenmark
LanguageDanish

Empire (Danish : Viften) is a 2023 absurdist period drama film directed by Frederikke Aspöck from a screenplay by Anna Neye. It stars Neye and Sara Fanta Traore.

Contents

The film had its world premiere on 29 January 2023 at the 2023 Gothenburg Film Festival. It won the 2023 Nordic Council Film Prize.

Premise

In the Danish West Indies in 1848, Anna Elizabeth Heegaard, a wealthy "free colored" woman, maintains a close friendship with Petrine, her housekeeper who is enslaved. Meanwhile, rumors of a slave rebellion begin to circulate.

Cast

Production

The idea of the film was conceived during Neye's trip to Saint Croix in 2015, where she filmed a documentary about the history of black Danes. [1] [2] In January 2021, the project received €144,700 funding from the Nordisk Film & TV Fond. [3]

The principal photography took place in Canary Islands in May and June 2021. [2]

Release

Empire had its world premiere on 29 January 2023 at the Gothenburg Film Festival, competing for the Dragon Awards. [4] REinvent acquired the film's international sales shortly after the world premiere. [5]

The film was released in Danish theatres on 20 April 2023. [6] Netflix acquired its distribution rights, releasing it on 23 October 2023. [7]

Accolades

AwardDateCategoryRecipientResultRef.
Gothenburg Film Festival 4 February 2023Dragon AwardEmpireNominated [8]
Nordic Council Film Prize 1 November 2023Nordic Council Film PrizeWon [9]
Robert Awards 3 February 2024 Best Danish Film Nina Leidersdorff, Frederikke Aspöck, and Anna NeyeNominated [10]
Best Actress in a Leading Role Anna NeyeNominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Sara Fanta TraoreNominated
Best Original Screenplay Anna NeyeNominated
Best Cinematography Linda WassbergNominated
Best Costume Design Charlotte MoeNominated
Bodil Awards 16 March 2024 Best Danish Film EmpireNominated [11]
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Sara Fanta TraoreNominated
TV 2 Talent PrizeNominated
Best Screenplay Anna NeyeNominated

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References

  1. Ludvigsen, Jacob (17 April 2023). "Ny Film om Dansk Slavefortid Blander Brutalitet og Humor: »Det Var Ekstremt Voldeligt Bare at Skulle Sidde og Tage Imod Alt Det Lort«". Soundvenue. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  2. 1 2 Ntim, Zac (13 February 2023). ""We've Been Told A Completely Different Story About Danish History": How Frederikke Aspöck & Anna Neye Crafted Göteborg Colonial Satire 'Empire'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  3. Abbatescianni, Davide (13 January 2021). "The Nordisk Film & TV Fond announces the recipients of its January round of funding". Cineuropa . Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  4. Balaga, Marta (27 January 2023). "Göteborg Film Fest Champions New Nordic Talent, Addresses Colonialism With Screenings of 'Godland' and 'Empire'". Variety . Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  5. Ntim, Zac (9 February 2023). "'Empire': Danish Satire From 'The Wife' Producer Gets Sales Deal After Goteborg Debut — EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. Hansen, Laura Dalgård (18 April 2023). "Se billederne: Kendte gæster til premiere på filmen Viften". Billed Bladet . Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  7. "Den danske film 'Viften' får premiere på Netflix". Flixfilm. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  8. Balaga, Marta (4 February 2023). "Goteborg Film Festival Prizes: Malou Reymann's 'Unruly' Named Best Nordic Film". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  9. Mitchell, Wendy (1 November 2023). "Denmark's 'Empire' wins $45,000 Nordic Council Film Prize". Screen International . Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  10. "Robert Prisen 2024: Her er de nominerede". Idoart. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  11. Didriksen, Karina (26 January 2024). "Se listen: Her er de nominerede til Bodil-prisen 2024". Billed Bladet. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.