Iceland submits UNDER THE TREE for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar
The Icelandic Film and TV Academy has selected Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson‘s Under the Tree as Iceland‘s entry for the 2018 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Under The Tree is the third film by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson after Paris of the North and Either Way (remade as Prince Avalanche by David Gordon Green).
The film world-premiered in Venice Orizzonti to great reviews and screened at TIFF's Contemporary World Cinema section. Magnolia acquired the North American rights to the film and BAC and Scanbox pre-bought France and Scandinavia back in 2016. Further sales and festivals in USA and around the world are confirmed. The film has done well in cinemas in Iceland, sitting at the top of the box office with 18.000 admissions after two weeks.
Under the Tree centers around a conflict between next-door neighbors over a tree in the backyard and the shadow it casts. The conflict begins as a typical suburban spat but soon begins to spiral unexpectedly and violently out of control.
The film is written by Huldar Breidfjörd (Paris of the North) and Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson. It stars Steindi Jr., Sigurdur Sigurjónsson (Rams), Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Thorsteinn Bachmann and Selma Björnsdóttir and was lensed by the Polish DOP Monika Lenczewska (Sundance-selected Difret and Imperial Dreams).
Produced by Grímar Jónsson, Sindri Páll Kjartansson and Thor Sigurjonsson for Iceland's Netop Films (Rams) in co-production with Poland's Madants (High Life), Denmark's Profile Pictures (In the Blood) and Germany's One Two Films (The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki). It has been supported by the Icelandic Film Centre, Danish Film Institute, Polish Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Eurimages and ZDF/Arte.
International sales for the film are being handled by New Europe Film Sales (jan@neweuropefilmsales.com).