Film Legend Roger Corman and Actor Michael York Introduce New Generation of Swedish Filmmakers and Discuss Incentives to Film in Sweden.

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 2003

Sweden "On Location" Positioned as a Hot New

Production Site for Local Filmmakers

Legendary filmmaker Roger Corman and producer Julie Corman, along with acclaimed stage and film actor Michael York, will lead a discussion with key members of Sweden's talented new generation of filmmakers and outline opportunities for U.S. production companies to make feature films in Sweden at a symposium at the Swedish residence in Santa Monica (5:30-7:00 p.m.) on April 12.

The Consulate General of Sweden Los Angeles has organized the event in conjunction with the April 11-13 Locations 2003 tradeshow. Sweden is participating in Locations for the first time as a result of an innovative multi-year program spearheaded by Consul Anita Ekman to encourage production by U.S. filmmakers in Sweden, foster co-production between U.S. and Swedish film companies, promote Sweden's up and coming filmmakers in Hollywood, and develop new marketing and distribution opportunities in the United States for their productions.

The symposium, "Going Global," is an element of the program, which is being implemented in cooperation with the Sweden Film Commission, the Swedish Film Institute and the Swedish Film Industry. Sharon Waxman, entertainment correspondent for the Washington Post in Los Angeles, will be the moderator.

"Swedish filmmaking, which has held a respected place in the industry, has entered an exciting new era," says Anita Ekman. "We have a growing number of young, talented producers, directors, writers and actors who are breaking new ground in English-language feature films and action pictures that appeal to audiences worldwide. The Los Angeles consulate has been working hard with the Swedish film industry and the government to create a comprehensive program offering new incentives that not only encourage production in Sweden by U.S. filmmakers, but also open distribution and marketing channels in the United States for new Swedish feature films."

Roger Corman, who will look at new filming sites in Sweden this summer, is the producer of more than 550 films and director of 50 others. He's had a long association with Sweden, dating back to 1972 when he was the distributor for Ingmar Bergman's "Cries and Whispers." Corman is recognized as one of Hollywood's most gifted and influential filmmakers, having fostered the talents of such industry giants as Jack Nicholson, Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Fonda, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese. Julie Corman has produced more than 25 films and is the president and founder of Trinity Pictures. In 1996, the Academy of Family Film & Television named her "Producer of the Year." Two years ago, she was appointed Chair of the Graduate Film Department at NYU. Through their companies, New world Pictures and New Concorde, the Cormans together have produced and distributed hundreds of feature films, including prestigious international films by Francois Truffant, Ingmar Bergman, Volker Schlondorff, Federico Fellini and Akira Kurosawa. Michael York became widely known for his role as the boyish, impetuous D'Artagnan in THE THREE MUSKETEERS and its sequels. He is universally acclaimed for his many leading roles and prolific stage and screen career starting as a young man when he joined Sir Laurence Olivier's National Theater in London.

Swedish filmmakers participating at Saturday's event include Peter Possne, CEO and co-founder of Sonet Film, Sweden's foremost feature film production company and one of the leading distributors of quality feature films in Scandinavia; Tomas Eskilsson, head of Film I Vast which has helped bring several major projects to Sweden, including soon to be released "Dogville," starring Nicole Kidman; and Jack Ersgard, director, writer and producer ("INVISIBLE," "ACTS OF BETRAYAL," "LIVING IN PERIL"), is currently working on "RANCID," a new thriller set in New York City (being co-produced with Peter Possne and Sonet Film).

Sonet productions include recent Oscar contenders "SHOW ME LOVE," "TOGETHER" and "LILYA 4-EVER."

"Sweden offers state-of-the-art technology and post-production facilities, highly skilled film crews and casts, unique locations plus long hours of continuous summer filming, complemented by a long tradition of quality filmmaking," says Possne. "Because of the efficiency of its labor force and infrastructure, film crews working in Sweden are able to complete projects in far less time than comparable projects in other countries."

Other attendees will include independent filmmakers, major production company executives, production managers and actors, including Swedish actress Madeline Falk who stars in Corman's new film "KILLER WITHIN ME."

As a special incentive for U.S. filmmakers to film in Sweden, the Swedish Travel & Tourism Council is offering a SPECIAL FILM PACKAGE that includes a discount of 40 percent at leading hotels, free local transportation, restaurant discounts and other amenities. In cooperation with Scandinavian Airlines, they have also donated a deluxe trip for two to Stockholm that will be drawn at Sweden's LOCATIONS booth, along with crystal gifts from Orrefors, the latest Swedish music and more. All visitors to the booth are eligible to win. Other major sponsors include Swedish filmmaker Traktor, which has designed and equipped the Swedish Booth at Locations 2003 "Hooked on a Feeling" and the Swedish Trade Council.

Sweden's new film program was inaugurated following a feasibility study with filmmakers in California conducted in 2002 by the Swedish Consulate. The advantages of filming in Sweden will be presented in a series of seminars and symposia, networking receptions, film festivals and other major industry tradeshows.

The invitation-only symposium April 12 will be followed by cocktails and dinner.