Just Betzer
Encyclopedia
Just Betzer is a Danish
Oscar
winning producer
. Born in Åbyhøj, Denmark.
Betzer began his career managing the candy concession and as an alternate projectionist at his father's theater in Aarhus
, Denmark
, in 1955. In 1960, Betzer founded Panorama Film production/distribution company in Denmark
, which has since made over 30 feature films. He later opened a chain of 13 theaters throughout Denmark
. In 1985, Betzer moved to England
, and started the London based Panorama Film International company with offices in Copenhagen
, Denmark
and Los Angeles
, USA. In 1987, the film Babette's Feast
, produced by Betzer, was released.
It went on to win Betzer the Best Foreign Film Oscar, and the BAFTA Best Foreign Film award, in 1988. Two years later, he opened the Los Angeles
based production company, Just Betzer Films. His other films include Winterborn, Assassination, And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird
, Nobody’s Perfect, The Misfit Brigade and the erotic The Girl in a Swing
, with Meg Tilly. Betzer died of a heart attack
at age 59 on November 6, 2003, in Lumsaas, Denmark
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
winning producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. Born in Åbyhøj, Denmark.
Betzer began his career managing the candy concession and as an alternate projectionist at his father's theater in Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, in 1955. In 1960, Betzer founded Panorama Film production/distribution company in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, which has since made over 30 feature films. He later opened a chain of 13 theaters throughout Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. In 1985, Betzer moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and started the London based Panorama Film International company with offices in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, USA. In 1987, the film Babette's Feast
Babette's Feast
Babette's Feast is a 1987 Danish film directed by Gabriel Axel. The film's screenplay was written by Axel based on the story by Isak Dinesen , who also wrote the story which inspired the 1985 Academy Award winning film Out of Africa...
, produced by Betzer, was released.
It went on to win Betzer the Best Foreign Film Oscar, and the BAFTA Best Foreign Film award, in 1988. Two years later, he opened the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
based production company, Just Betzer Films. His other films include Winterborn, Assassination, And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird
And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird
And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird is a 1991 science-fiction family film written and directed by Tony Cookson; foreign language releases were titled RoboDad.-Plot:...
, Nobody’s Perfect, The Misfit Brigade and the erotic The Girl in a Swing
The Girl in a Swing (film)
The Girl in a Swing is a 1988 supernatural thriller film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Richard Adams. The plot concerns a British art dealer, who travels to Copenhagen where he falls in love with a beautiful and mysterious woman. The film was directed by Gordon Hessler, and stars Meg...
, with Meg Tilly. Betzer died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 59 on November 6, 2003, in Lumsaas, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.