LAMB shortlisted for International Feature Film Oscar
The Icelandic feature film Lamb, directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson, is one of 15 films shortlisted for the 94th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category. A total of 92 films qualified in the category.
Lamb is a supernatural drama about an Icelandic couple who live with their herd of sheep on a beautiful but remote farm. When they discover a mysterious newborn on their land, they decide to keep it and raise it as their own. This unexpected development, and the prospects of a new family, brings them much joy before ultimately destroying them.
Lamb had its world premiere last summer in the Un Certain Regard program at the 74th Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded the Prize of Originality. It has since gone on to an impressive festival and awards run, including two nominations at the European Film Awards, one for the European Discovery 2021 – Prix FIPRESCI, and the other for the European Excellence Award for Visual Effects, which it recently won.
The film also had a strong theatrical debut in North America, where it opened on more than 800 screens and has become one of the most-viewed Icelandic films of all time. The film was also recently released in the UK and Ireland. Current worldwide box office for Lamb is almost $3 million.
Lamb was directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson, written by Jóhannsson and the acclaimed Icelandic poet, novelist, and screenwriter Sjón (who also co-wrote Robert Eggers' upcoming The Northman), and stars Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snær Gudnason, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, and Ingvar E. Sigurdsson. It was shot by Eli Arenson and edited by Agnieszka Glińska. The sound was designed by Ingvar Lundberg and Björn Viktorsson, and the score was composed by Thórarinn Gudnason.
The film is an Iceland/Sweden/Poland coproduction. It was produced by Hrönn Kristinsdóttir and Sara Nassim at Iceland's Go to Sheep, Piodor Gustafsson and Erik Rydell at Sweden's Black Spark Film & TV, and Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska and Jan Naszewski at Poland's Madants. It was coproduced by Film i Väst, Chimney Sweden, and Chimney Poland, in association with Rabbit Hole Productions and Helgi Jóhannsson. The film was supported by the Icelandic Film Centre, the Swedish Film Institute, the Polish Film Institute, Iceland's Ministry of Industries and Innovation, Eurimages, and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond.
International sales for Lamb are being handled by New Europe Film Sales (jan@neweuropefilmsales.com).
Additional credits for the film can be found here.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the five nominated films on February 8, 2022, and the 94th Academy Awards will take place on March 27, 2022.