Norwegian Disco Set For San Sebastian Festival

Disco, the second feature by Jorunn Myklebust Syversen, has been chosen as one of fourteen nominees to compete for the Kutxabank New Directors Award at the 67th San Sebastian Film Festival (20 – 28 September).

On the surface, everything seems perfect. 19 year old Mirjam (Josefine Frida Pettersen) is the stepdaughter of the charismatic pastor of an evangelical movement called The Freedom. As a world champion in disco freestyle dancing and leader of the youth group in the congregation, she is the pride of the church.

However, whilst defending her title, Mirjam collapses on stage and she starts to question her faith. Her family think that she should be a better believer, but Mirjam’s body continues to fail her. Frustrated and in search of answers, she is drawn to a a stricter, more conservative congregation and secretly leaves for their summer camp.

Joining Josefine Frida Pettersen (Skam) in her feature film debut are Nicolai Cleve Broch (Acquitted), Kjærsti Odden Skjeldal, Andrea Bræin Hovig and Espen Klouman Høiner.

Director, Jorunn Myklebust Syversen, said: “I am very pleased that Disco has been invited to the New Directors competition in San Sebastian. It’s a fantastic setting for the film’s first meeting with the audience. I want Disco to contribute to discussion and open conversations about faith and how religion affects us.”

Producer, Maria Ekerhovd, added: “This section of the festival highlights strong voices that they believe will represent international film in the future. Norwegian films are almost never invited here, so this bodes very well as Disco and Jorunn head out into the world.”

Decided by an international jury, the Kutxabank-New Directors Award is presented along with €50,000 for the film’s director and distributor in Spain, and films screened in this section will also compete for the Youth Award, to be decided by a jury of 300 students aged 18 to 25.