Set under Ingrid Bergman’s favourable aegis, the 68th Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24) will be a vintage year for the Nordic region. For the first time in 36 years Norway is vying for the Palme d’or with Joachim Trier’s (pictured) Louder than Bombs, and ten years after Dagur Kári’s Dark Horse, Iceland is back at Un Certain Regard with Grímur Hákonarson’s Rams.

Rounding up the Nordic selection are the student films Tsunami by Danish director Sofie Nørgaard Kampmark and To Return Until (Ainahan ne palaa) by Finnish talent Salla Sorri, both screening at Cinéfondation, as well as the previously announced Swedish documentary Ingrid Bergman-In Her Own Words by Stig Björkman, Cannes Classics pièce de résistance. Both the tribute to the legendary Swedish actress and Trier’s first entry into the big league of Palme d’or contenders were supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

“With altogether five projects in the Cannes official selection, it feels like winds have really changed and that the Northern breeze blows stronger than ever. Congratulations to the teams of all the selected films, representing all the five Nordic countries,” said Petri Kemppinen, CEO of Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Commenting on his Cannes selection, Trier said: “My grandfather Erik Løchen participated with his first film The Hunt (Jakten) in Cannes in 1960, in the same programme as Antonioni, Fellini, Buñuel and Bergman, and Cannes has always meant something special to me on a personal level. Cannes is the perfect place for my film to meet the world.”

Trier’s English speaking Louder than Bombers stars Isabelle Huppert, Gabriel Byrne, Jesse Eisenberg and Devin Druid. The story of breakaway and unity in a modern family is co-written by Trier’s long-time collaborator Eskil Vogt. The Norwegian film was produced by Thomas Robsahm for Motlys, in co-production with Denmark’s Nimbus Film and France’s Memento Films that also handles world distribution. SF will release it domestically in October.

Hákonarson’s second feature Rams is set in a secluded Icelandic valley. Two estranged elderly brothers have to put their differences aside in order to save their beloved rams. In the title roles are Iceland’s popular comedian Sigurdur Sigurjónsson and Volcano star Theodór Júlíusson. The film was produced by Grimar Jónsson for Netop Films, in co-production with Denmark’s Profile Pictures. New Europe Film Sales handles world sales.