Magnusson Focused On Keeping Short Film Genre Alive

Academy Award-nominated IVALU is produced by Rebecca Pruzan and Kim Magnusson. Rebecca Pruzan is an independent producer who was previously commissioning editor of Children’s Programming at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. The short is the first film Pruzan has produced.

Pruzan comments, “IVALU is a strong and poetic film that sheds light on a very important and sensitive subject. Abuse is the children’s problem but the adults’ responsibility. Regardless of culture and nationality. I hope IVALU will open the eyes and hearts of all who see it”.

Kim Magnusson founded M&M Productions with his father, Tivi Magnusson in 1995. He was later headhunted to run Nordisk Film’s Film Division. He has produced and executive produced more than 150 films, and TV series. He has been Oscar® nominated in the category “Live Action Short Film” seven times and won the coveted award two times, in 1999 for Election Night and in 2014 for Helium. Magnusson has been the chairman of the Danish Producers Association for nine years, as well as chairman of the Danish Film Academy for 20 years. He recently co-founded a new pan-Nordic distribution company Scandinavian Film Distribution. IEM had the chance to interview Magnusson prior to awards night.

How did you select the lead young actors in Ivalu? - Mila Heilmann Kreutzmann (Pipaluk) and Nivi Larsen (Ivalu)

by Nicole Goesseringer Muj

Due to Covid we had to do the casting via Zoom. The production company Polarama helped with finding different girls that fit the description and also made sure that they came from good families that were able to support the girls as they were going to deal with such a sensitive subject matter. Rebecca, Anders and I felt very sure when we choose Mila and Nivi as the two sisters. And they more than lived up to our hopes when we started shooting. Both girls have lifted their roles in such an impressive and mature way even though they were novices.

Kim Magnusson

What do you want audiences to take away from the film? What is the main message?

First of all, it was important to us that we told the story from the perspective of Pipaluk (the younger sister). Also we knew that we had a responsibility to those who have been affected by incest and other domestic violence. These are difficult conversations, but we must have them to break the taboos that are associated with that kind of violence.

Often children who are in this situation are surrounded by shame and think that what they are victims off is their own fault. I think it is important to tell them that it’s not their fault without making them feel guilty. To make them feel seen. They need to have trust in themselves and with the people around them. Hopefully enough so that they can share what they are going through with peers, family, or friends. They are not alone!

You have been nominated for an Oscar in the short film category seven times and have won two times, while your company has had four nominations and two wins. Why are the Oscars important to you?

The Oscars per say, is not important to me or us, but important to the films, since the Oscars are the highest honor you can receive in our industry, and the films will get a worldwide audience and in the shorts-format, it’s so important to get the film out wide. With IVALU, for example, more than being a tremendous acknowledgement for every person who has contributed to the film, it has also enabled us to start a conversation with people all over the world about the subject matter.

How do you decide to be involved with new projects? How did you come to work with Anders Walter and Pipaluk K. Jorgensen.?

I get involved, or try to, in projects that make me feel something when first introduced to them – I also say – if it makes me cry, then we’re on to something (I cry easily). Anders Walter and I have worked together since he started making films. Rebecca Pruzan, who is the lead producer on the film - and is also my wife - joined our IVALU team and we produced it together.

IVALU is based on the graphic novel, with the same name, and takes place in Greenland. As we were going to shoot it there we knew from the beginning that we had to team up with a local production company in order to make it right. So we worked together with Pipaluk K. Jørgensen and her production company Polarama Greenland. Rebecca Pruzan worked closely together with Polarama who helped in finding the local crew and made sure all things was dealt with in an orderly manner. Also, Pipaluk assisted Anders Walter as a co-director as the film is shot in Greenlandic.

Why do you prefer the short film genre vs. feature films?

I don’t prefer short films to features. However, I do like the short format, since it doesn’t have the economically consequences of a feature film. It gives the short filmmakers a “free playing field”, without looking to please a certain audience, financing scheme, cinemas or streaming services needs. And for us, the short film format has always been a talent-building part of our business, and you will quickly learn, if there are talent, and if it’s someone you want to continue working with. I used to compare it with a relationship, where short film is the dating period, where you easily can stop if it doesn’t work out, but a feature is a baby, since even though you divorce, you will always have you child, that needs to be co-parented.

Can you tell us more about Scandinavian Film Distribution and why you founded it?

We (Christian Bévort, Michael Fleischer and I) felt there was a need in the marketplace (The Nordics) for a more producer-oriented distribution company that has more time to the individual film, since our company only distributes local titles in the Nordics.

Can you tell us about any new projects you are working on?

We’re distributing a slate of 8-10 films that will hit the big screen over the next 12-18 months.