Jelenček Niko / Niko & The Way to the Stars / Niko - Lentäjän poika

Jelenček Niko / Niko - Lentäjän poika

Finska/Danska/Nemčija/Irska, 2008, 35mm, barvni, 80'
Sinhroniziran v slovenski jezik; primeren za otroke.
Režija: Kari Juusonen, Michael Hegner
Scenarij: Hannu Tuomainen, Marteinn Thorisson
Montaža: Per Risanger
Glasba: Stephen Mckeon
Glasovi: Olli Jantunen, Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Vuokko Hovatta, Vesa Vierikko
Produkcija: Animaker Oy, Anima Vitae Oy, Cinemaker Oy
Koprodukcija: Ulysses GmbH, A. Film, Magma Film
Distribucija v Sloveniji: Karantanija Cinema

Glavni junak animirane pustolovščine, primerne za vso družino, je jelenček Niko, ki trdno verjame, da je njegov očka eden izmed slavnih junakov Božičkove letalske flote. Čeprav očeta nikoli ni spoznal, ga občuduje in sanja, da bi letel tako kot on. Nekega dne se skrivoma odpravi iz varne doline, v kateri živi, da bi vadil letenje. Opazi ga zlobni Črni volk in mu sledi do njegove črede. Po napadu volkov se Niko zave napake in pobegne v divjino, da bi poiskal očeta in postal heroj kot on. Na nevarni poti ga spremljata zvesti prijatelj, štorasta leteča veverica Julius in drzna pojoča podlasica Wilma. Pogumni trio pa kmalu ugotovi, da na tej poti niso sami ...

Kari Juusonen (1967) se kot režiser animiranih filmov že od začetka svoje kariere ukvarja s stop-motion animacijsko tehniko, nedavno pa se je podal tudi v računalniško animacijo. Njegovi kratki filmi so bili prikazani na 120 filmskih festivalih, prejeli pa so številne nagrade, vključno z nagrado žirije v Cannesu leta 2001. Po triletnem delu je bil decembra 2008 premierno prikazan njegov celovečerni animirani prvenec Jelenček Niko. Film, ki ga je Juusonen režiral z Michaelom Hegnerjem iz danskega studia A.Film, je odkupilo že več kot sto držav, ogledalo pa si ga je že 1,5 milijona gledalcev. Letos bo doživel med drugim svojo premiero v Nemčiji, Španiji, Italiji, Sloveniji in vrsti drugih držav. Poleg tega je Jelenček Niko eden treh nominirancev za najboljši evropski animirani celovečerec leta 2009, ki jo podeljuje Evropska filmska akademija. Kari se trenutno v svoji domači garaži posveča novemu kratkemu filmu, za marec 2010 pa že načrtuje snemanje novega animiranega celovečerca.

Michael Hegner (rojen leta 1964 na Danskem) je začel svojo kariero kot animator pri televizijski seriji Quark (1987-88). Kasneje je delal reklame za podjetja Lego, Fazer, Carlberg, Coca Cola in Tuborg. Režiral je televizijski oglas Organ Donation, za katerega je prejel Grand Global Award v kategoriji oglaševanja in komunikacij na svetovnem zdravstvenem področju. Njegov prvi celovečerni animirani film Na pomoč! Jaz sem riba (Hjælp! Jeg er en fisk, 2000) v sorežiji s Stefanom Fjeldmarkom je bil na Danskem prava festivalska in kino uspešnica, pa tudi zmagovalec festivala v Chicagu. Leta 2006 je sledil drugi animirani celovečerec Grdi raček in jaz (The Ugly Duckling and Me).

Izbor festivalov in nagrad: Cinekid Amsterdam 2008 (Cinekidov lev - nagrada žirije in publike), Mednarodni festival otroškega filma Oulu 2008 (posebna omemba žirije), Cinemagic Severna Irska 2008, MFF Hongkong 2009, Stuttgart ITFS 2009, Filmski festival Giffoni 2009, KidsFest Džakarta 2009, Festival evropskega filma Dar es Salaam 2009, Filmski festival Gdynia 2009
www.nikomovie.com

Niko & The Way to the Stars / Niko - Lentäjän poika

Finland/Denmark/Germany/Ireland, 2008, 35mm, colour, 80'
Dubbed in Slovene language; suitable for children.
Directed by: Kari Juusonen, Michael Hegner
Screenplay: Hannu Tuomainen, Marteinn Thorisson
Editing: Per Risanger
Music: Stephen Mckeon
Cast: Olli Jantunen, Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Vuokko Hovatta, Vesa Vierikko
Production: Animaker Oy, Anima Vitae Oy, Cinemaker Oy
Co-Production: Ulysses GmbH, A. Film, Magma Film
Distribution in Slovenia: Karantanija Cinema

An adventure animation for the whole family, Niko & The Way to the Stars, is about a reindeer boy called Niko who believes his father is one the world famous heroes of Santa's Flying Forces. He has never met his father but his greatest wish is to learn to fly like him. He sneaks out to do his own flight rehearsals beyond the safety of the home valley. But the notorious Black Wolf pack notice Niko and he accidentally leads them to his herd. Following the wolves' attack, Niko heads off on a desperate, dangerous mission through icy blizzards and across wild terrain to find his father and save Christmas. On his heroic journey he is accompanied by his constant friend and surrogate father, the clumsy flying squirrel called Julius and a sassy young singing weasel called Wilma. But soon the brave trio realizes they are not aloe on this journey …

Kari Juusonen (1967) is an animation director who started with stop-motion and has more recently worked with computer animation also. His short films have been seen at 120 festivals and have received numerous awards, including Prix de Jury in Cannes 2001. After a three years' work his first animated feature, Niko & the Way to the Stars, had its premiere in December 2008. Niko was a co-direction with Michael Hegner from A.Film, Denmark. The film was sold to more than 100 countries and has so far attracted 1,5 million viewers. In 2009 Niko will premiere in Germany, Spain, Italy, Slovenia and several other countries. The film is also one of the three European Film Academy nominees for Best European Animated Feature 2009. At the moment Kari is making another short film in his garage, and starting with a new animated feature in March 2010.

Michael Hegner (born in 1964 in Denmark) began his animation career as assistant animator on the TV series Quark (1987-88). He then went on to make commercials for Lego, Fazer, Carlsberg, Coca Cola and Tuborg. He was the director of the TV spot Organ Donation, which won the Grand Global Award in the category Best Healthcare Communications Worldwide. His first feature animation Help! I'm a Fish (Hjælp! Jeg er en fisk, 2000) was co-directed with Stefan Fjeldmark. It was a domestic box office and festival hit, and winner at Chicago.  His next feature-length animation The Ugly Duckling and Me was released in 2006.

Selected Festivals and Awards: Cinekid Amsterdam 2008 (Cinekid Lion Jury Award and Audience Award), Oulu International Children´s Film Festival 2008
(Jury Special Mention), Cinemagic Northern Ireland 2008, Hong Kong IFF 2009, Stuttgart ITFS 2009, Giffoni Film Festival 2009, KidsFest Jakarta 2009, Dar es Salaam European Film Festival 2009, Gdynia Film Festival 2009
www.nikomovie.com