SF Studios has acquired the film rights to the awarded novel Arctic Mirage by author Terhi Kokkonen
SF Studios announced today that it has acquired the film rights to the awarded psychological novel Arctic Mirage (Rajamaa, Otava 2020) written by the acclaimed Finnish author and vocalist Terhi Kokkonen. The Finnish production company Elokuvayhtiö Komeetta (Maria’s Paradise, Kikka!, Hit Big) will produce the film and the renowned Finnish actress Pihla Viitala (Deadwind, Latin Lover, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters) will make her feature film debut as a director. SF Studios will handle Nordic and International distribution.
The married couple Karo and Risto go on a holiday in Northern Finland to give themselves time to fix their stressful marriage. However, on their way home, they get into a car accident and are subsequently forced to stay at the only accommodation in the area; the luxurious Hotel Arctic Mirage. Once inside, they find that the hotel has a rather strange atmosphere, and it starts to have a peculiar effect on them. Karo begins to doubt her own memories and tries her best to escape the snowbound hotel holiday village whereas Risto starts to feel strange and refuses to leave. Will their relationship survive the next six days?
Arctic Mirage (Rajamaa, Otava 2020) has won the prestigious Helsingin Sanomat Literature prize for the best debut novel of 2020. The novel has become a bestseller in Finland and the book rights have been sold to Germany and Estonia. The author behind the successful book is Terhi Kokkonen who is also a vocalist known from the bands Scandinavian Music Group and Ultra Bra. The award-winning author Terhi Kokkonen is repped by Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.
"I'm really happy that Rajamaa is going to be a film! It's nice for a writer that one's work is adapted into a film, but what makes this project special is that the visionary and talented Pihla Viitala has been chosen as the director", says Terhi Kokkonen.
“Arctic Mirage is a strong-spirited, psychological novel about people in exceptional circumstances. It keeps the reader gripped and provides chills on every page. We are excited to turn this thrilling novel into a film together with Elokuvayhtiö Komeetta with talented Pihla Viitala directing”, says Yaba Holst, Head of Nordic Acquisition at SF Studios.
“I'm more than happy for this opportunity to direct a film adaptation about this extraordinary book written by a great author Terhi Kokkonen. The character driven story takes us into a unique world, where the border between sanity and insanity is unclear and time seems to disappear.” says Pihla Viitala, director.
For more information, please contact:
Yaba Holst, Head of Nordic Acquisition, SF Studios, yaba.holst@sfstudios.se, +46 73 411 95 35
Malin Strihagen, Vice President Brand & Communications, SF Studios, malin.strihagen@sfstudios.se, +46 70 780 39 35
About SF Studios
SF Studios, established in 1919, is one of the world’s oldest film companies. Today SF Studios is the leading film studio in the Nordic region with its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and offices in Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki and London. The company is producing and distributing feature films and TV series as well as providing the streaming service SF Anytime. SF Studios is part of the leading Nordic media company Bonnier.
About Elokuvayhtiö Komeetta
Helsinki based Elokuvayhtiö Komeetta is founded in 2014 by it’s producers Daniel Kuitunen and Kaisla Viitala. Komeetta’s films have screened in over 130 festivals globally, for example Sundance 2017 & 2020 and Tiff 2019, receiving several awards. In 2022 Komeetta will have two feature film premieres, Kikka! by Anna Paavilainen and Hit Big by JP Valkeapää.
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