LevelK, the Copenhagen-based sales and aggregation company, has boarded the Norwegian psycho-thriller "Anathema," directed by newcomers Ea Johanne Sandberg and Alpha Nord. The project is one of 21 in development being pitched at the Nordic Co-Production Market in Haugesund, and marks the feature debut of both the young directing duo and Empathitude Pictures, the Oslo-Copenhagen production banner set up in 2025 by producers Janne Hjeltnes and Anne Borgaard Sørensen. LevelK says the film fits its strategy of expanding into genre titles and getting involved earlier in projects, from script through to worldwide release.

The story follows Dafne, who lives in a valley with her mother and a man named Bror; when he vanishes and later returns drowned and zombie-like, the community descends into collective denial, insisting on celebrating his wedding regardless. Billed as an exploration of "repression, denial and collective madness," the low-budget film (around $1.7 million) is being financed as a three-way co-production between Empathitude Pictures in Norway and Denmark and Germany's Junafilm, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute. Its producers are seeking further co-financiers and distributors at New Nordic Films, the industry sidebar of the ongoing Norwegian Film Festival.