Handling the Undead

Håndtering av udøde

TIFF65: Greek Premiere

On a hot summer day in Oslo, the dead mysteriously awaken, and three families are thrown into chaos when their deceased loved ones come back to them. Who are they, and what do they want? A family is faced with the mother’s reawakening before they have even mourned her death after a car accident; an elderly woman gets the love of her life back the same day she has buried her; a grandfather rescues his grandchild from the gravesite in a desperate attempt to get his daughter out of her depression. Handling the Undead is a drama with elements of horror about three families, a story about grief and loss, but also about hope and understanding of what we can’t comprehend or control.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Thea Hvistendahl

Script: John Ajvide Lindqvist, Thea Hvistendahl

Cinematography: Pål Ulvik Rokseth

Editing: Trude Lirhus, Thomas Grotmol

Sound: Bent Holm, Andreas Franck, Nils Viken

Music: Peter Raeburn

Actors: Renate Reinsve, Björn Sundquist, Bente Børsum, Anders Danielsen Lie

Production: Einar Film

Producers: Kristin Emblem, Guri Neby

Co-production: Zentropa, Filmiki, Nordisk Film, Film i Väst, Oslo Filmfond

Co-producers: Lizette Jonjic, Kristina Börjeson, Leif Holst Jensen, Dimitris Logiadis

Costumes: Bente Ulvik

Production Design: Linda Janson

Executive producer: John Ajvide Lindqvist, Sveinung Golimo, Nicholas Alavanos, Pathy Katsoufi, Rasmus Krogh, Nick Shumaker, Susan Wendt, Jason Wald, Emily Thomas, Sarah Colvin

Make Up: Live Becker Knudsen

Format: DCP

Color: Color

Production Country: Norway, Sweden, Greece, Denmark

Production Year: 2024

Duration: 98'

Distribution in Greece: Filmiki Productions

Contact: Norwegian Film Institute

Awards/Distinctions: Original Music Award (World Cinema Dramatic section) – Sundance FF 2024, Narcisse Award for Best Feature Film – Neuchâtel International Fantastic FF 2024, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound Design, Best Makeup – Amanda Awards 2024

Thea Hvistendahl

Thea Hvistendahl grew up in Norway and first had her eyes opened to film through David Lynch’s masterpiece Mulholland Drive and absolutely stunned by what she had seen, she had to watch the film six times in a row. Not realizing it was possible to work in film, Thea began her studies in history and Spanish, but after experiencing a classic lightbulb moment, where she understood she could become a director, her new path was set, and she hasn't ever looked back. Hvistendahl has established herself as a creative and sharp storyteller with a strong visual style and has won several prizes for her shorts and music videos. Her credits include Virgins4Lyfe (short, SXSW), Children οf Satan (short, Winner of the Méliès d’Argent Award at Sitges), and her long-form hybrid film The Monkey and the Mouth (Göteborg International Film Festival) which premiered in Norwegian cinemas in 2017 to rave reviews. The film blends concert, fiction, and music video, and marked the end of a big musical project from Norway’s leading rap duo, Karpe. Handling the Undead is her debut feature.