The Greatest Illusion

Original Title: Den største illusjonen

Runtime: 100'

Expected Release: May 2027

Production Stage: Production

1st Feature: No

Looking for: Festivals, Sales Agent / Distributors, Buyers

Synopsis:

The popular magician Alexx repressed what happened when he was young, when his father killed his mother and was later convicted for it. Alexx’s three siblings were minors, and he took on great responsibility for them in the aftermath. His solution to the pain was to turn to the stage, to the freedom he finds there. With magic as a metaphor, the audience is presented a story of memory, loss and forgiveness.

Director’s Profile:

Benjamin Ree is a Norwegian documentary film director. His newest release is The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (2024). It won the Audience Award and the Directing Award at Sundance Film Festival in 2024 as well as numerous other awards and was shortlisted for an Oscar. After it’s Sundance premiere it was bought by Netflix and released worldwide. In 2020 he directed The Painter and the Thief which sold to 80 countries and won more than 30 awards. The film was named one of 2020’s best films, by BBC, Boston Globe, Washington Post and the New York Times, and it has been named an important film in film history by several media outlets. The film was also shortlisted for an Oscars. Benjamin’s debut feature was Magnus (2016) It sold to 64 countries and won awards at film festivals around the world. It’s a coming of age sports documentary about the world’s best chess player Magnus Carlsen.

Producer’s Profile:

Ingvil Giske has worked in documentaries for more than 25 years. Among her latest releases are the Sundance-winner The Remarkable Life of Ibelin that received a place on the Oscar shortlist in 2024 and the DOX:AWARD-winner 2022 The Eclipse, that later was part of the documentary selection at the European Film Academy and nominated for the EUFA-award. The Painter and the Thief from 2020 received a special jury award for creative storytelling at Sundance, was on the shortlist for an Oscar and won more than 30 film awards, including a Grierson award.
She has produced several docs for younger audiences, Todd & Super-Stella (ECFA-winner 2024), Kid’s Cup (2022), Tongue Cutters (2017) and the short doc The School by the Sea. Ingvil is a Peabody award winner, and the films she has produced have received in total 7 awards and 18 nominations at the national Amanda awards.