AGNES JOY is Iceland's Oscar entry in 2021
The Icelandic Film and TV Academy has selected Silja Hauksdóttir's Agnes Joy as Iceland‘s entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the 2021 Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the ten shortlisted films on February 9 and the five nominated films will be announced on March 15. The 93rd Academy Awards will take place on April 25, 2021.
Agnes Joy was directed by Silja Hauksdóttir and written by Hauksdóttir, Rannveig Jónsdóttir and Jóhanna Fridrika Sæmundsdóttir. The film was produced by Birgitta Björnsdóttir and Rannveig Jónsdóttir for Vintage Pictures and coproduced by Mikael Torfason and Gudbjörg Sigurdardóttir.
The film won a total of six awards at the Icelandic Edda Awards which took place last October, including the Edda Award for Feature Film of the Year. The film won Screenplay of the Year, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Katla Margrét Thorgeirsdóttir), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Björn Hlynur Haraldsson), Best Editing and Best Sound.
Agnes Joy tells the story of Rannveig who is experiencing burnout in all aspects of her mundane suburban life. She's stuck with a job she hates and a marriage that is slowly dying. On top of that, she's constantly fighting with her rebellious daughter, Agnes, and can't face the possibility of Agnes growing up and leaving her behind. When a new neighbor, Hreinn, shows up at their doorstep, Rannveig and family face new challenges that are beyond their control.
International sales for Agnes Joy are being handled by Media Move (justyna.koronkiewicz@mediamove.pl).