Zaida Bergroth: Last News

Marta Balaga Despite teasing his retirement in 2017, “Le Havre” director Aki Kaurismäki will follow his Berlin Silver Bear winner “The Other Side of Hope” with a new feature film under the working title of “Dead Leaves” (“Kuolleet lehdet” in Finnish).The new project was announced on Friday by Helsinki-based company B-Plan Distribution.The film will star Alma Pöysti, who recently starred in Zaida Bergroth biopic “Tove,” about Moomins creator Tove Jansson — a film that won her a Jussi award for best actress in 2021. Jussi Vatanen, known for the drama “Forest Giant” and smash hit trilogy “Lapland Odyssey” has also joined the cast.

The Witcher star Freya Allan is set to play Marianne Faithfull in the upcoming Zaida Bergroth-directed biopic, Marianne.A stalwart of the Swinging London arts and music scene in the 1960s, Faithfull became one of the leading female artists during the British Invasion era, and died last month, aged 78.Tributes poured out for the late singer, who had her first hit with the Mick Jagger–Keith Richards composition ‘As Tears Go By’, with Blur‘s Graham Coxon, The Charlatans‘ Tim Burgess, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Ed Harcourt, Warren Ellis, Ronnie Wood, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sir Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Metallica and more all penning personal tributes.Finnish director Zaida Bergroth (Tove) is now set to direct a biopic, titled Marianne, chronicling the life of the London singer. The project is now in pre-production, and British actor and musician Jojo Macari (Sex Education) is attached to star as Jagger.“From angel-innocent pop icon, actress of stage and screen and long-time muse and girlfriend of Mick Jagger, to homelessness, addiction, and ignominy,” a synopsis for the film reads, per Variety.“Marianne will depict Marianne Faithfull’s rollercoaster ride from the brightest lights of the wild 1960s of her youth, to fallen golden girl and then her remarkable phoenix-like rise and resurgence” that “establishes her as one of the great icons and true artists of our time.”The film is being produced by Julia Taylor-Stanley – who had previously worked on a Faithfull biopic that fell apart – and Finnish producer Roosa Toivonen.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Finnish director Zaida Bergroth (“Tove”) is set to direct a Marianne Faithfull biopic titled “Marianne” with “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” star Freya Allan playing the swinging London pop star who passed away in January. British actor and musician Jojo Macari (“Sex Education,” “Those About to Die”) is attached to star as Mick Jagger. The project, now in pre-production, is being pitched to buyers by the U.K.’s Altitude Film Sales at the European Film Market in Berlin.

Marta Balaga Welcome to “The Wednesday Club,” where even good friends hide dark secrets. The film, eyeing a 2026 shoot, will be directed by “Tove” helmer Zaida Bergroth and written by Ville Virtanen and Birthe Wingren. An established actor, Virtanen is known for Netflix’s “Bordertown” and will be seen next in Klaus Härö’s upcoming drama “Never Alone.” Based on Kjell Westö’s award-winning novel, the story takes place in 1938 Helsinki.

Annika Pham More than 250 international guests, including 53 buyers from 18 countries, have signed up for the Norwegian International Film Festival’s three-day industry event New Nordic Films in Haugesund, which will fête its 30th anniversary and kickoff with Charlotte Sieling’s drama “Way Home.” Some of the strongest filmmakers from the region and beyond – including Erik Poppe, Dag Johan Haugerud, Selma Vilhunen, Zaida Bergroth, Rúnar Rúnarsson – will be screening or pitching their next projects, next to scores of rising talents. “Our DNA hasn’t changed,” said Line Halvorsen, who joined New Nordic Films four years ago and is serving as acting director, temporarily filling in for Gyda Velvin Myklebust.

Marta Balaga As the industry starts paying closer attention to Finnish films and talent – following the Cannes success of Juho Kuosmanen’s “Compartment No. 6” and Zaida Bergroth’s crowd-pleasing “Tove” – Finnish TV drama is next in line, argued the participants of the Berlinale Series Market Focus on Finland drama showcase.

Finnish author Tove Jansson is most known for creating the enduringly popular children’s characters the Moomins, which have spanned comics, books and TV series since she first came up with them in the 1940s. She is now the subject of a biopic, Tove, which is Finland’s submission for the International Feature Oscar this year.