The New Pioneers and US Demand For Creative Danish Content

The visual creative industry is in a good fast-moving place – new formats and cross-media productions are tried out as audiences around the world demand creative innovative immersive content. Even more so in the US, where the large streaming and gaming platforms scout for productions to capture and engage audiences.

So, the million dollar question is: How can you shape your content, productions, and business strategy to attract US audiences, platforms and investors?

This session, curated by the Danish Trade Council in New York, will give you insights into current US creative market trends and demands for content. The panel includes five professionals who will each contribute with their unique perspective in the debate.

US film industry executive, Richard Lorber, President and CEO of Kino Lorber, will talk about how the US-demand for Nordic Art House content has developed through the years and what storytelling and which genres are in demand now.

Creative producer and director Vassiliki Khonsari, known for the productions “1979 Revolution” and “Blindfold”, will let us in on the demands and sentiments of the new generations and how producers from our part of the world have to adapt and create immersive content that resonate with them in order to be successful.

CEO of Bright Star Studio, Mark Laursen will let you in on the virtual gaming land he’s already making millions of dollars from.

Simon Lajboschitz from the award winning VR and AR production studio Khora will talk about their latest projects and clients’ demands.

Lastly, Head of Trade at the Danish Trade Council in New York, Martine Gram Barbry, will finish the session with a talk on Dos and Don’ts on producing and working in the US.

INFO

Date
October 28, 2021

Time
01:15 PM – 02:45 PM

Venue
Filmby Aarhus, Studio 1

MEET

Martine Gram Barbry, Head of Trade, Danish Trade Council, NYC

Mette Bom, Digital Creative Advisor, Danish Trade Council, NYC

And panel:

Vassiliki Khonsari, Creative Producer & Director

Richard Lorber, President & CEO, Kino Lorber

Mark Laursen, CEO, Bright Star Studio

VASSILIKI KHONSARI

Vassiliki Khonsari is a creative producer and director, whose recent original titles 1979 Revolution, Fire Escape, Hero, and Blindfold have garnered the industry’s top honors for converging rich documentary style storytelling with a distinctive artistic vision for worldwide commercial audiences. She is the co-founder of iNK Stories and a visual anthropologist. In addition, she holds the titles PGA Women’s Impact Network’s Culture Shift contributor, Guild Of Future Architects member, fellow and consultant for Sundance Institute New Frontier Story Lab, among others. Notable awards include BAFTA finalist to wins at the Tribeca Film Festival, Lumiere Award, Facebook’s Game of the Year, Finalists for Best Game at Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (DICE), Game Awards, NY Game Critics, Telly Winner.

RICHARD LORBER

Richard Lorber is the President, CEO and a principal owner of Kino Lorber, Inc. An industry pioneer with over forty years’ experience, Mr. Lorber was the co-founder and head of Fox Lorber for 20 years. He later served for 6 years as President of Koch Lorber Films, partnered with Entertainment One. He acquired Kino International in 2009 to form Kino Lorber. He served for 9 years as Chairman of the Board of Film Forum, America’s pre-eminent non-profit art-house cinema. He is a member of the Producers’ Guild of America and a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science (OSCARS), Executives branch.

MARK LAURSEN

Mark Laursen, CEO of Bright Star Studios, is a Danish game developer, entrepreneur, award winning venture founder, tech creator as well as keynote speaker and advisor – in other words, Laursen has a great amount of experience within the field of game and tech development. Aside from this, he has been involved in eSports in its early days by playing as well as co-creating succesful organisations, such as Nihilum and Ensidia. Furthermore, he has been part of several start-ups within the fields of game, eSport and other technology; among other things, he co-founded the Danish game development company PlayOn in 2016. In 2018, Laursen and game developer Joris Huijbregts founded Bright Star Studios, which is currently working on Ember Sword.

METTE BOM

As Digital Creative Advisor at the Trade Council in NY, Mette Bom works to strengthen creative Danish gaming, XR, VR, animation, film and visual communications companies’ strongholds, market positions and networks in the US. Mette has an extensive background as Campaigner and Communications Advisor for the last five Danish ministers of culture. She is also a freelance writer on tech and culture and has been an advisor to THIS since its beginning.

MARTINE GRAM BARBRY

Martine Gram Barbry is Head of Trade at the Trade Council in NY. Martine has extensive management experience within the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, having been Consul General in Hamburg and Executive Director for Innovation Centre Denmark in Hong Kong. Martine has in-depth knowledge of the workings of global public affairs, international trade and trade diplomacy. Martine and her teams work strategically to help and enhance Danish companies’ competitiveness and market entry efforts in North America, ensuring the promotion of Danish products and solutions.