Un Certain Regard’s Icelandic entry Rams by Grímur Hákonarson was one of the buzziest Nordic films during the Cannes Film Festival and media and buyers alike fell for the compelling brotherhood drama produced by Netop Films in co-production with Denmark’s Profile Pictures.

“It's been an unbelievable experience to be here with Grímur and approximately 30 crew members from Iceland and Denmark. It's a dream come true for me and a good start for my company Netop Films,” said producer Grímar Jónsson (pictured). 

The first foreign distributors who picked up the film early in the festival and triggered interest amongst their peers were the well-known French couple Michèle Halberstadt and Laurent Pétin from ARP Sélection. They described Rams as ‘warm, funny, touching, heart-breaking, and exquisitely shot film’. “The bare Icelandic landscapes, the sweet rams, and the two unpredictable brothers at the centre of Rams are impossible to forget,” they added.

New Europe Film Sales that promoted the film heavily in the trade press throughout the market and festival, sealed further deals with Scandinavia (Scanbox), Norway (Arthaus), Japan (Gaga), Benelux (Imagine), Germany and Austria (Arsenal), Switzerland (Xenix), Australia (Palace), ex-Yugoslavia (Demiurg), and Turkey (Filmarti), with further deals pending with the UK and the US. The film is set to open in Iceland on May 27.

Netop Films’ Jónsson is already preparing a new project, the documentary feature The Pirate of Love to be directed by Árni Sveinsson and Sara Gunnarsdóttir (Student Academy Awards nominated). “It’s about a mysterious CD full of original love songs that unveils an even greater love story. With the unconventional mixed approach of animation, dramatisation and conventional documentation the film tells a dreamlike story of love, hope and compassion," explains Jónsson.