Directorial Duo Mårlind & Stein Join Motion Theory

From Motion Theory press release:

Marina Del Rey, CA -- Commercial production company Motion Theory [1] (MTh) has added Swedish team Mårlind & Stein to their directorial roster. Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein have worked together as a team for ten years on commercials, television programming and feature films. Their latest film and biggest project to date, Underworld Awakening starring Kate Beckinsale, is slated to open in theaters January 20, 2012 and has brought much attention to the talented pair stateside.

"We considered several different commercial production companies in America, but felt an instant connection to the people at Motion Theory and their close relationship and access to Mirada [2] as a creative resource," said Mårlind. "We knew that Motion Theory was the right place for us to be able to do the work we do best, and we're looking forward to directing more spots for US audiences."

"Not only do they come from a feature background, but they have made tons of commercials so Mårlind & Stein really know how to craft a compelling, visual cinematic story within a short form frame," said Executive Producer/Partner, Javier Jimenez of MTh. "They understand the demands of commercial production timeframes and constraints -- but also have experience managing feature film budgets and working with high-profile actors."

Mårlind & Stein specialize in nuanced comedy and high-octane drama, which is quickly apparent from their body of work. They began directing commercials together at Stockholm-based production company Camp David in 2006, helming spots for UNICEF, Reebok, Nike, IKEA and Toyota. Their debut feature, Storm, was critically acclaimed and was followed up by Shelter, starring Julianne Moore and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. Motion Theory is the first company to jointly represent Mårlind & Stein as a directorial duo in the U.S.

Though now professional partners for more than a decade, Mårlind & Stein were first brought together by an interest in cinema as young children and started making their own movies at age 15. Mårlind attended the American Film Institute after completing his Ph.D. in Sweden while Stein began a successful career editing trailers upon his graduation before the two started to work together. After working on parallel paths for over six years, Mårlind and Stein began collaborating on projects, resulting in their award-winning work for television, film and commercial productions in Sweden. Most recently the crime drama series "The Bridge" that the two created for Swedish television has been bought by the BBC under the title, "The Tunnel," and is now being co-produced in France and the UK.

About MTh
Motion Theory is a creative home for directors with a sharp visual and narrative focus. The company's talent roster ranges from award-winning veterans to emerging filmmakers, all sharing extraordinary visual style and the storytelling ability to transform creative potential into compelling viewer experiences across advertising and entertainment. http://www.motiontheory.com [1]