Don Films

As published on The Finnish Film Foundation’s newsletter, May 2017.

Photo from Lake Bodom

This year's Scandinavian horror hit Lake Bodom is touring festivals at a hectic pace prior to its US release on May 18th. AMC Network's brand new genre flagship Shudder has high hopes for Taneli Mustonen's award-winning genre bender, fueled by rave reviews in Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Screen Daily, to mention a few.

We spoke to director Taneli Mustonen after he just landed back home from the much-hyped Overlook Film Festival, set in one of horror's most iconic hotels, Timberland Lodge – the setting of Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece The Shining.

“What an awesome experience! Like a little gem among festivals. The scenery, the people, the selection of exceptional films... just couldn't get enough of it! And even if I did, I could have just opened the door and hopped on my skis for a fun day in the mountains. Definitely one of my favourite festivals!”

Overlook festival / Photo: Taneli Mustonen

Ever since Taneli and his co-writer, producer Aleksi Hyvärinen launched Lake Bodom as a project in Cannes in 2014, Finland's first horror film in ten years has been garnering international attention. After being coined by Variety as "one of Scandinavia's most anticipated genre exports" even before it started shooting, the pressure to succeed has been evident. Now, after making a splash at the Finnish box office and selling to multiple territories such as Japan, China, Spain, Germany, France, Poland, UK, Australia and North America, it's time to ask Taneli what he thinks makes Lake Bodom click with so many audiences in various parts of the globe?

“I'm sure there are as many reasons as there are people. Personally I'm hoping they value our effort to bring something new to the genre, to freshen it up a bit”, Taneli says. “But most important, I'm just so grateful for all these opportunities for the film to travel and find new audiences. All of this is made possible by the long-term co-operation of a lot of different organisations and people, including the Finnish Film Foundation, as well as Nordic Film & TV Fund, The Nordic Genre Invasion, and others... We've received so much help and support along the way. It's unbelievably humbling, really."

Even though the film's festival run has taken him all around the globe ever since its launch at Sitges and BFI London Film Festival late last year, Taneli is still up for another jet lag.

“A couple of months ago we were at SXSW in Austin, Texas, where Lake Bodom was playing in the Midnighters section. And with our friends from Shudder and Film Constellation, our UK-based sales agent, we decided we should get together in New York to celebrate our U.S. release. One thing led to another, and now we're getting ready for a gala screening at the Scandinavian House in Manhattan – with a big bunch of dear friends from all around North America. Can't wait to show them the film!"

Director Taneli Mustonen / Photo: Petri Mast

Lake Bodom was the first feature for Don Films, the production company co-founded by Taneli and Aleksi. The boutique company built on the writing duo's original story concepts has now released its first finished products, and gained nominations for both Finland's national TV awards as well as the local Academy Awards. Last year, Taneli also released the successful sequel to his massively popular comedy feature The Reunion, produced by the prolific Finnish production conglomerate Solar Films. After a hectic few years, what do Taneli and Aleksi and their team at Don Films have next up their sleeves?

"Obviously, Lake Bodom's run doesn't end here. Even if our focus has lately been in North America, now we're also working really hard on our Asian distribution. Just received the first draft of our Japanese poster – loving it, by the way – and getting ready for our festival premiere in South Korea this summer. Our sales agent, Film Constellation, has been doing stellar work."

"As for next projects, we're now in financing phase with a couple of real cuties. That's pretty much all I can say at this point. But we're really excited to be working with whom we consider the best agents and managers in the business, ICM's Daniel Cohan and Magnolia Entertainment's Shelley Browning and their awesome teams. Shelley put it well – 'the dream machine runs on sweat'. In other words, a lot of work ahead!"

Fabien Westerhoff's new sales & financing shingle Film Constellation has acquired international sales rights to 'LAKE BODOM', the buzzed-about Scandinavian genre film now in post.

Taneli Mustonen's elevated horror was nabbed by Film Constellation hot off the 'Frontières Goes to Cannes' event at Cannes Film Festival, where producer Aleksi Hyvärinen of Helsinki-based Don Films presented work-in-progress material from the film.

"It's a great opportunity for us to have someone who is fresh and energetic, but at the same time seasoned due to his years at Hanway and Westend, to spearhead the international sales of the film".

BODOM, inspired by real events, tells the story of four teens who travel to the site of a legendary unsolved murder, to reconstruct the events that really took place there more than 50 years ago, hoping to solve the case once and for all. But as night falls, it turns out not all of them are there to play.

The helmer of the Finnish-language elevated horror, Taneli Mustonen, is currently shooting a sequel to his local hit comedy 'The Reunion', the most successful Finnish movie at the local box office in more than a decade, produced by Solar Films.

'BODOM' is co-written by Mustonen and his producing partner Aleksi Hyvärinen, both represented by Magnolia Entertainment.

Screen International: Constellation aligns over lake

Upcoming horror film BODOM has been selected for the brand new Frontières Goes to Cannes. The event represents a new major genre industry alliance which links the Cannes Film Festival with Montreal’s Fantasia Festival and its Frontières International Co-Production Market for the first time.

BODOM is one of four genre films that have been selected for a Sunday 15th May works in progress showcase, with potential buyers, sales agents and industry decision-makers in attendance. The upcoming campsite horror film inspired by true events has previously been coined by Variety as “one of Scandinavia’s most anticipated elevated genre imports”.

Currently in post-production, BODOM is the third feature by director Taneli Mustonen, whose previous film The Reunion became the most successful Finnish feature at the domestic box office in more than a decade. And last year, Mustonen was named by Variety as one of the 10 Nordic Talents to Track. Mustonen and the film’s producer Aleksi Hyvärinen co-wrote the screenplay.

Produced by Helsinki-based DON FILMS, world sales for BODOM will also be launched at the Cannes Film Festival.

See Variety’s article on Frontiéres Goes to Cannes.

The rooftop terrace of the prestigious restaurant Palace in Helsinki offers famously gorgeous views over Helsinki… but today, all this gorgeuosness was topped by our cast for ‘BODOM’ - the four smoking hot young actors whom we presented to the press for the first time!

It’s an unlikely pact whose chemistry can’t be bypassed: Mikael Gabriel, the hottest Finnish rapper of today, Mimosa Willamo, appraised and awarded for her feature debut last year, Nelly Hirst-Gee, a young actress and a World-Cup-level cheerleader, and Santeri Mäntylä, a multi-talented actor and musician.

These four young heros are about to enter the dark woods of Lake Bodom… as we start shooting in less than four weeks!

The legendary entertainment publication Variety has picked our co-founder Taneli Mustonen on its list of “Ten Nordic Talents to Track.” Wow! What an honour!

Unfortunately, Taneli’s tracks will be difficult to follow, as he is about to enter the woods of Lake Bodom to shoot his next feature. But no reason to get worried: we promise to make sure that he comes back alive and kicking - and with a movie that will be right on track!

Everybody knows this - if you travel to Norway, make sure to pack a warm sweater and your umbrella. But this year, the annual “New Nordic Films” event in the pictoresque coastal town of Haugesund, was boiling hot!

And, even though the sun was shining from clear blue skies, ‘Bodom’ and its fellow ’Nordic Genre Boost’ participants took the town by storm. The opportunity to pitch our movies to a crowd of buyers and sales agents from around the world was a great way to wrap up the NGB initiative set up by the Nordic Film & TV Fund. Thanks to everyone at NGB, NFTF and the festival - we’ll come back next year, with a ready made film!

Our co-founder Taneli Mustonen’s latest film ’THE REUNION” is racking up more admissions than any Finnish film in over a decade. It’s now the second most succesful local film in 25 years. Big congratz to Taneli and our friends at Solar Films!

Today, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place! Finnish Film Foundation granted our upcoming survival horror film ‘BODOM’ production financing. Which means - all systems are go!

Taneli Mustonen’s ‘BODOM’ is now officially in production, and we’re hectically prepping the shoot. The whole film will be wrapped in November right before the American Film Market!

Our producer and co-founder Aleksi has been selected to Inside Pictures 2015. Aleksi is truly honoured to be the first Finn ever given this opportunity to become part of such an amazing group of future leaders, and learn from the industry heavy-weights. Exciting times ahead!

It’s been a well kept secret for almost a decade… but soon it’s coming out with a bang! As the most important part of our prep for this year’s MipCom, we just wrapped two challenging but rewarding days of shooting at the notorious, abandoned Patarei prison in Tallinn. What a great experience and opportunity to work with such an amazing team of professionals - including the Estonian army. And soon, Don Films is about to bring you a concept to remember…

Our 24-episode TV-series for Finland’s national broadcaster YLE wrapped today in Estonia! Congratz and a big cheer go to our fantastic team, with a special honorary mention to the acclaimed, ever so talented and skillfull director Samuli Valkama. Great work, on and off the set! And then, back to work to prep our December release…

Nordisk Film and TV Fund announced this morning that our upcoming horror feature BODOM has been chosen as one the seven projects in their NORDIC GENRE BOOST initiative. Wow! What an honour! BODOM and six other projects, selected out of a record number of 113 applications, will receive a development grant of NOK 200 000 each. And even better, we get to hang out with a bunch of super cool and talented genre friends from around Scandinavia!

Don Films’ co-founder Taneli directed a movie for our good friends at Solar Films, and it’s now out with a bang this week! ‘The Reunion’ has racked up the biggest opening of all time at the Finnish box office. Congrats Taneli, and the whole team!

Back in Europe after full ten days of California sun! And yes, the trip was a success, especially for our upcoming campsite horror flick BODOM. We set our blood-stained tent at Venice Beach more than a week ago, and the American Film Market 2014 was taking place just a few miles up north, along one of the coolest beach-side bike trails in the world!

So it was a lot of biking, a lot of meetings, a lot of nice people, and a lot of learning. And a few kills, it seems. We totally plead guilty and will confess all the details later on, but now what remains as evidence…

…is this article on VARIETY: Finnish Producers Prep Stylish ‘Bodom’ Slasher

P.S. And the most fun part was hanging out with our cool new friends at NORDIC GENRE INVASION!

We are proud to announce our co-operation with Night Visions, the entertainingly cool and creepy horror film festival taking place in Helsinki this weekend. The promo teaser for our upcoming horror pic BODOM will premiere at the festival! So stay alert and keep your eyes open - it’ll be lurking around the corner when you least expect it…

More info about this notorious, utterly lovable genre film fest: www.nightvisions.info

P.S. And if you happen to miss our Official Theatrical Surprise Premiere for the promo, your next opportunity will be the American Film Market, taking place in LA next week.

Today, the Finnish Film Foundation decided to take a refreshing dip in the lovely Lake Bodom…. and join the group of investors backing the development of our upcoming horror pic BODOM. All the more reason for us to continue working our behinds off to make the film as horrifying and entertaining as we possibly can!

The logical next step for BODOM will be the American Film Market taking place in LA next week. Set for a 2015 shoot, the slasher/survival pic is well on its way towards a 2016 theatrical release. More info: facebook.com/bodommovie

The teaser of our upcoming horror pic BODOM has crossed over 32,500 views on YouTube in a few days! We published it at Cannes Film Festival last week and the media buzz in Finland really took us by surprise. But what we’re even more excited about, is the recognition of one of our favourite reads… Twitch!

What a great garden party last night! The fresh out of the oven promo teasers of OLD BLOODOLD BLOOD and BODOMBODOM sure made a killing. A big thank you goes to all the happy campers at Don Films’ Murder Site Cocktail at Cannes Film Festival 2014. Be sure to stick around and keep your eyes open… we just might return to the scene of the crime!

It was a cold, sunny morning when our film crew hit the lonely Lake Bodom in Espoo, Finland. The beautiful landscapes hid a terrible secret: more than 50 years ago a group of teenagers was brutally slashed to death in an incident which later became the most legendary unsolved murder in the history of Finland. Our upcoming horror feature BODOMBODOM is inspired by these shocking true events, and our job today was to finish off the teaser shoot. It took a while for the whole crew to overcome the grim aura of the site, but the pros they are, everyone did an amazing job and we actually had time to shoot another teaser as well! A special thanks goes to our heroes Karri and Torsti from Angel Films, who did their magic and teleported the Super Technocrane to our challenging lakeside location, as well as the kind people of the City of Espoo who lended their bigger-than-life tractor to teleport our grip truck away from the sandy beach…

Our friends at Angel Films slipped us in to their massive green screen studio for a fun night of indoor camping! Our exciting evening activities included setting up a tent and shooting bits and pieces of a loooooong composite shot that will later become part of the upcoming teaser for our BODOMBODOM horror movie. Thanks to our amazing crew, the kind people of Angel Films, and especially our wonderful actress Alina Tomnikov, everything went smoother than ever - apart from the surpise attack of the grumpy old vampiregrumpy old vampire!

Our ‘Nordic Noir’ tv series project THE GATEKEEPERS took a big step forward as the Finnish Film Foundation granted us a truly meaningful amount of development support. It’s a massive concept that requires loads of research and we’ve been developing it in all secrecy… but give us a year or so and we guarantee: when you least expect it, it will hunt you down and take you by surprise!