Berlin 2016: Two new Icelandic films produced by Baltasar Kormákur’s (pictured) RVK Studios including his own film The Oath are being pitched to buyers for the first time at the European Film Market that kick started on Thursday.

The Oath in which Kormákur plays the title role is repped by LA based XYZ Films. The sales deal was confirmed this week. The drama thriller penned by the director with Ólafur Egill Egilsson is executive produced by Film 4’s David Kosse and RVK s’ Agnes Johansen. The film will be delivered late 2016.

Mules by newcomer Börkur Sigþórsson is sold by London-based West End Films. Johansen told nordiskfilmogtvfond.com: “Sigþórsson has done some short films (including the 2012 EDDA winner Come to Harm) and directed two of the ten episodes of Trapped and we are extremely pleased with his work”. The noir thriller set in the aftermath of Iceland’s economic meltdown in 2008 is inspired by real life criminal cases. The film is co-produced by Sweden’s Garage Film and Denmark’s Good Company Films. Production start and cast & crew will be announced soon.

Meanwhile Kormákur’s crime series Trapped has just opened on Monday in France to excellent ratings. Aired on pubcaster France 2’s new foreign language prime time slot, the first episode was watched by more than 5 million French people (18.5% share) making it the second most popular programme that evening after the new French drama Le secret d’Elise shown on TF1. “It seems like Scandinavian noir is really becoming established with viewers and we’re really pleased to be part of that with Trapped,” said Johansen.

In Iceland the series kick started on RUV on December 27 with 132,000 viewers/ 90% share and the second episode increased to 141,000/91% share making it Iceland’s highest rated series ever. Trapped is currently airing on NRK, YLE Fem and will start on BBC Four tomorrow February 13.