Valerie Edwina Saunders

Valerie was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. With a B.A. in Political Science and Aesthetics & Culture from Aarhus University, Denmark, her introduction to the film world began at The Royal Theater in Copenhagen in the early 1990's. Soon after, she became the Director of Postgraduate studies for dance in Denmark, under the auspices of the Danish Theater School in Copenhagen. In 1995 she arranged a dance film festival in collaboration with The Danish Film School, and her curiosity for filmmaking began.While participating in courses at The University of Copenhagen's Film and Media Studies and post-graduate courses at the National Film School of Denmark, Valerie directed her first documentary in 1998, Cowboy & Angel. She then directed and produced the short film Sophies' Heart, as well as Ballerina, an animated short in collaboration with Greenlandish director, Kunuk Platou. The creative development of storytelling for children's animation soon became her passion.Valerie joined Zentropa in 2007 for a brief engagement, and in the fall of 2008 she agreed to run our Norwegian company Fjellape Film. On January 1, 2009, the company was renamed and Zentropa International Norway took on a new profile under her management. By May 2009, prominent directors such as Petter Næss (Elling), Jens Lien (The Brothersome Man) and Unni Straume (Music for Weddings and Funerals) had signed with the company. Added to the list since then, is Morten Tyldum (Varg Veum- Fallen Angels), Magne Pettersen (Parat) and Anit Killi (Sinna Mann). Valerie will develop and produce Norwegain feature films for Zentropa with these directors, with the goal of bringing them into the international arena. Show less «