Erik Leijonborg is to direct the Swedish remake of Nic Balthazar's award-winning feature debut, Ben X. Principal photography is set to start on 26 March in the Stockholm region. Balthazar's second feature, Time of My Life, receives its international market premiere this Saturday at the EFM in Berlin.
Ben X won the Grand Prix des Amériques as well as the Audience Award and the Ecumenical Jury Award at the 2007 Montréal World Festival. The film was also the very first to win the Black Pearl at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Film Festival. Besides touring festivals around the globe, including the 2008 edition of Generation 14+ at the Berlinale, Ben X also sold to over 50 territories. Producers of the Swedish make-over are Martin Söder and Tomas Bäckstrom for Eyeworks Film & TV Drama AB. Alex Haridi (Departure, Miss Kicki) adapted the original screenplay written by Balthazar.
Balthazar's second feature, Time of My Life, opened in Belgium at the end of January and registered close to 65,000 admissions in its initial 10 days of release. A film about friendship, love and life, it's the story of a remarkable man who was instrumental in legalising euthanasia in Belgium. He also became the first to make use of the new law. Starring Koen De Graeve (The Misfortunates), Geert Van Rampelberg (Hotel Swooni) and Viviane De Muynck (Hotel Swooni), the film is produced by Peter Bouckaert of Eyeworks. Films Distribution, which represents both Time of My Life and Ben X, will unveil Balthazar's new feature at this year's EFM on Saturday 11 and Tuesday 14 February.
Erik Leijonborg is the director of such features as Not Even The Past (2011) and Brothers – The Return (2007), as well as a string of hit TV series in Sweden. Ben X tells the story of Ben, a mildly autistic teenager who is a sitting duck for the school bullies. He wants to cry out his hurt to his tormentors and all the silent bystanders. Inspired by his mystery girl on the web and fuelled by his signature video game, he takes his revenge. As well as a book and a stage play that has been performed in French, German and English (USA and Australia), Ben X is also being adapted as a musical which is to receive its premiere in September 2012 in Belgium.