Literary highlights from Iceland presented at the Books to Films

This year's Books to Films will feature one of the most captivating works from Icelandic literature

Loe edasi

About Books to Films

Black Nights Film Festival (POFF) is organizing a literary rights market – Books To Films. This one-day event takes place at the end of November, in Tallinn, Estonia, in the framework of POFF and a film market called Black Market.

Books To Films launched in 2009 with the idea to bring literature closer to the film world by introducing books for film adaptation. Every year it is accompanied by a relevant seminar program. Estonia’s relatively short film history has shown that the most powerful and most loved films have often been based on domestic literature. Estonian literary tradition is internationally relevant and can be compared to Estonian animation. However, Books To Films is not restrained to Estonian literature. It presents literature from at least 6 more countries with every year having a new focus on a specific country.

Altogether the event introduces 12 award-winning contemporary novels in the form of a moderated pitch for producers and publishers. After the formal event the participants are invited to take part of a networking event with a more informal atmosphere to engage in direct discussion with the rights holders and agents representing the material.

Although a rather young initiative, it has already proven its importance for the region. Several projects have raised interest among local and international producers, and a couple of them can now show a proven track record. Estonian book “Plane Spotter” by Holger Kaints was picked up by a well-known production company Allfilm and is already in development under the name of "Backyard". From lasts year’s selection, the Russian author Mikhail Elizarov’s book “The Librarian” was interestingly picked up by the biggest Estonian publishing house, Varrak.

Books to Films catalogue of 2011

Iceland

“The Blue Fox” by Sjón

Presented by Úa Matthíasdóttir,

literary agent, Forlagid Rights Agency

“The Ambassador” by Bragi Ólafsson

Presented by film rights holder Ingvar Thordarson,

Producer, Kisi Production.

“Untitled” by Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir

Presented by Úa Matthíasdóttir,

literary agent, Forlagid Rights Agency

Sweden

“A Probable Story” by Karin Alvtegen

Presented by Nina Tolstoy,

literary agent, Stilton Literary Agency

Estonia

“The First Year” by Mari Järve

Presented by Lauri Vanamölder,

publisher, Pegasus

“Tales of the Apothecary Melchior” by Indrek Hargla

Presented by film rights holder Peeter Urbla,

producer, Exitfilm

Finland

“The Midwife” by Katja Kettu

Presented by Meena Kaunisto, Head of Foreign Rights, WSOY

“The Buyout“ by Karo Hämäläinen

Presented by Elina Ahlback Literary Agency

“The Housewife” by Kreetta Onkeli

Presented by Maria Säntti,

literary agent, Burning Bridge Literary Agnecy

Russia

“The Psycho Agent” by Andrei Rubanov

Presented by Julia Goumen,

literary agent, Goumen&Smirnova Literary Agency

“Vongozero” by Yana Vagner

Presented by Natalia Banke,

literary agent, producer, OKNO Literary Agency

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