One young audience film per decade, and each time a trendsetting masterpiece like MIRACLE and FIGHTER. Now Natasha Arthy’s new film HONEY was presented in the Work in Progress session at the festival in Kristiansand.
The festival hosted an excellent selection of mostly Norwegian projects during an enthralling Work in Progress. But the film snatching the most attention came from Denmark. HONEY, by Natasha Arthy (a Toolbox Film production) tells of the 13-year-old Honey, who has just started in a new school. Shy and slightly ashamed about her dysfunctional family, she finds it hard to show who she really is. Like, she loves playing music and is really good at it, but hardly anyone knows. That is why she isn’t asked to play in her classmate Liam’s band. When Honey finds out that her music-loving grandfather Marcel might not be dead after all, she decides to find him. Maybe Marcel is exactly what she needs to learn to stand up for herself.
The film pitch received huge praise for its warm family feel, convincing lead actress, modestly humoristic dialogues and its delicate handling of death as a sub-topic. HONEY, made for a €2.4 million budget, is expected to be ready in October 2024.
Other titles in the Kristiansand Work in Progress included THE BADGERS, LAND OF LOST LAUNDRY, and THE POLAR BEAR PRINCE, all from Norway.