Iceland submits SPARROWS for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar
The Icelandic Film and TV Academy has selected Rúnar Rúnarsson‘s Sparrows as Iceland‘s entry for the 2017 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Rúnarsson has previously had his short film The Last Farm nominated for Best Live Action Short Film Oscar in 2006.
Sparrows was written and directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson. It stars Atli Óskar Fjalarsson, Ingvar E. Sigurdsson, Rakel Björk Björnsdóttir and Kristbjörg Kjeld. It‘s score was composed by Kjartan Sveinsson and the film was produced by Nimbus Iceland and Pegasus Pictures. International sales are handled by Versatile Films.
Sparrows has had a strong festival run. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2015 and has since won a total of 20 international awards, including the Golden Shell award for Best Film at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and for Best Film in the 1-2 Competition at the Warsaw International Film Festival.
For more information about Sparrows and its festival wins, visit the Icelandic Film Database.
Sparrows is among the 50 films the European Film Academy recommends for nominations for the European Film Awards 2016. It is also Iceland‘s contribution to the Nordic Council Film Prize 2016.
In Sparrows, sixteen-year-old Ari, who has been living in Reykjavík with his mother, is suddenly sent back to the remote West Fjords to live with his father. His relationship with his father has become difficult, and his childhood friends have changed. In these seemingly hopeless surroundings, Ari must step up and find his way.