That Time of Year and Before the Frost had their world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival

What are the two directors’ thoughts behind their films? The Danish Film Institute interviewed both.

That Time of Year

In That Time of Year, Paprika Steen tries to show the world audience that the Danes are more than what Nordic Noir depicts. Read the interview here. 

Paprika Steen’s That Time of Year is a quirky ensemble dramedy about a dysfunctional family gathered around Christmas time. Directed by Paprika Steen, the film features a cast of stars including Sofie Gråbøl, Jacob Lohman, Lars Brygmann, Karen-Lise Mynster, Lars Knutzon, Patricia Schumann, and Fanny Leander Bornedal. That Time of Year tells the story of a family united for Christmas Eve, a gathering that includes divorced parents, the youngest sister and her new husband, and the teenage daughter struggling for her mother’s attention.

That Time of Year is produced by Mikael Rieks for Nordisk Film Production, with support from TV2, FilmFyn v/Bo Damgaard, and the Danish Film Institute, and has Nordic distribution through Nordisk Film.

Before the Frost

Micheal Noer’s Before the Frost depicts the dilemma of an old farmer, Jens, as winter approaches in rural, 1850s Denmark. With his family facing the prospect of starvation, Jens is forced to make an unbearable choice. Forsaking his own moral and what is most precious to him, Jens must settle an agreement with a wealthy nearby farmer for the sake of his family’s survival and their pursuit of a better life. The dark drama features Noer’s return to his distinct visual style and philosophy of “reality rules,” as well as cinematography by the renowned Sturla Brandth Grøvlen.

Before the Frost is Micheal Noer’s take on a Danish Western, where one of the topics is the ego versus the collective. Read the interview here.

Before the Frost is produced by René Ezra, Matilda Appelin, and Tomas Radoor for Nordisk Film Production A/S, with Nordic distribution through Nordisk Film.

The Toronto International Film Festival takes place from September 6th – 16th. That Time of Year opens in Denmark on November 8th, while Before the Frost will be released on January 10th of 2019.