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Copenhagen-based international film sales and aggregation house LevelK has acquired world sales rights to Gunnbjörg Gunnarsdóttir’s “The Pension Heist,” the first feature to benefit from the company’s strategic partnership with audience-insight company Publikum.
“The Pension Heist” follows three ageing women as they pull off the seemingly impossible task of robbing the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Norwegian release is set for Oct. 16 via SF Studios.
LevelK and Publikum sealed their partnership last year to invest in the strengthening and refining of sales and marketing tools for a selected number of titles. The collaboration is looking to maximize the audience potential of the LevelK slate, with Publikum having already worked with LevelK on major titles such as Berlinale main competition film “Dust,” by Anke Blondé.
“The Pension Heist” is written by Peder Udnæs (“Milk”) and produced by Jørgen Storm Rosenberg for 74 Entertainment. The film first finds 65-year-old Annema in the aftermath of discovering her husband’s affair. Desperate for money, she enlists two equally broke friends – Nina recently got fired for being too old and Mona needs money for a crucial operation – to concoct a plan to rob the Norwegian Oil Fund. “The Pension Heist” stars Hege Schøyen (“Thomas Vs. Thomas”), Anne Marie Ottersen (“Sex”) and Anette Hoff, who previously collaborated on Gunnarsdóttir in “Victoria Must Go.”
LevelK CEO Tine Klint said she “adores” Gunnbjørg’s “colorful directing style and talent for choosing projects that entertain while still carrying a spark of truth.” “‘The Pension Heist’ is a perfect example. It is an action comedy that invites us to laugh with respect and genuine affection at the way we see age and ageing. It’s also a real pleasure to collaborate with Jørgen and Publikum on optimizing all elements surrounding the film.”
To Rosenberg, mature viewers present both a growing market and “an exciting opportunity.” “‘The Pension Heist’ is set to tap into this demographic by offering relatable, entertaining content that appeals to their interests and experiences.”
Publikum CEO Niels Alberg said he believes that “one of the greatest untapped potentials for European film lies in a more seamless collaboration between the film’s artistic and commercial interests and stakeholders.” “We are very pleased that ‘The Pension Heist’ has provided such a strong first experience with this approach. We have greatly valued the collaboration so far and look forward to the next phase of work, which will bring the film even closer to audiences across multiple territories.”
Director Gunnarsdóttir is also a writer and editor known for her bold, character-driven storytelling. Her 2018 feature debut “Forever and Never” established her as a distinctive new voice in Nordic cinema. Gunnarsdóttir also directed the 2018 doc “The Art of Fallism” and 2024’s “Victoria Must Go.” Icelandic-Norwegian, she brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to her films, blending emotional precision with visual flair and colour.
“The Pension Heist” is produced by 74 Entertainment, in co-production with Påfilm in Norway, and supported by the Norwegian Film Institute, SF Studios, LevelK, Publikum and Mediefondet Zefyr AS.
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