Danish production outfits Per Holst Film and Victoria Film are being folded into parent company Nordisk Film & TV in an attempt to streamline production operations at the Scandinavian major.

The two companies, which merged prior to being acquired by Nordisk in 1991, have operated as stand-alone units since the acquisition. However although the well-known Per Holst brand will be used on some productions, the company will now no longer operate as an independent producer.

The move means that current Per Holst managing directors Thomas Lydholm and Peter Bose will quit the company. The founder of Per Holst Film, veteran producer Per Holst, left the outfit only last year to become creative director of Nordisk Film & TV.

"We used to have a lot of projects controlled by the managing directors, but in future we rather want the projects to be handled by the producers," said Nordisk managing director Soren E. Jakobsen. "In doing this we can free a lot of resources, cut down on administration, and focus on producing more films."

Nordisk will continue with its strategy to produce eight features this year in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, increasing to 12 a year by 2002, but this will now be achieved by fewer companies.

Per Holst Film is presently in post-production with Anna starring Pernilla August, while Victoria Film is set to produce new episodes in its popular TV and feature series Beck.

Rumle Hammerich, managing director of Nordisk Film Productions, will head the enlarged production arm of Nordisk Film & TV.