Both debut features in post-production received NOK 200,000 (around €20,000) each in development support as part of Nordisk Film & TV Fond’s former special scheme Nordic Genre Boost.

Valdimar Jóhannsson’s supernatural drama Lamb (Dýrið) starring Noomi Rapace, was pre-sold at Cannes Market online by New Europe Film Sales to distributors in France (The Jokers), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Benelux (The Searchers), Germany (Koch Films), Austria (Filmladen), Denmark (Camera Film), Poland (Gutek Film), Czech Republic (Artcam), Slovakia (ASFK), Hungary (Vertigo), ex-Yugoslavia (Five Stars / Demiurg), Estonia (Must Käsi), Latvia (Kino Bize) and Lithuania (Scanorama).

The film written by Jóhannsson and renowned author, poet Sjón tells the story of an Icelandic couple, María (Rapace) and Ingvar (Hilmir Snaer Gudnason), who live on a beautiful but remote sheep farm. When they discover a mysterious new-born on their farmland, they decide to keep it. But the initial joy of parenthood turns into a nightmare.

Top crew members include VFX supervisor Peter Hjorth (Border, Melancholia) and production designer Snorri Freyr Hilmarsson (Woman at War).

The film was produced by Hrönn Kristinsdóttir (Summer Children) and Sara Nassim at Go to Sheep, in co-production with Sweden’s Piodor Gustafsson (Border, The Wife) and Erik Rydell at Black Spark Productions, and Poland’s Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska (Mr. Jones, High Life) and Jan Naszewski at Madants/NEM Corp, with support among others from Nordisk Film & TV Fond. The premiere is set for 2021.

Hanna Bergholm’s Hatching ((Pahanhautoja) was snatched by leading US distributor IFC Films for its genre label IFC Midnight after a bidding war.

The deal was negotiated by Wild Bunch International and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers. The twisted coming of age horror based on a script by Ilja Rautsi tells of Tinja, a 12-year-old gymnast who tries desperately to please her mother, a woman obsessed with presenting the image of a perfect family life to the world through her popular blog. Then, one night, Tinja finds a strange egg. She hides it, keeps it warm. When it hatches, what emerges is beyond belief.

Newcomer Siiri Solalinna plays Tinja and Sophia Heikkilä (Invisible Heroes) is the mother. Top animatronic designer Gustav Hoegen who worked on the Hollywood films Jurassic World-Fallen Kingdom and Star Wars-episode IX has created the film’s striking imagery.

Hatching was produced by Finland’s Mika Ritalahti and Niko Ritalahti of Silva Mysterium, in co-production with Sweden’s Hob AB and Norway’s Evil Doghouse Productions.

Commenting on the deal with IFC Midnight, Bergholm said: “I’m extremely honoured that Hatching has been picked up by an U.S. distributor, and especially by such a prominent label like IFC Midnight. We had an amazing international crew during our production, and I’m very happy that all their work will receive the recognition it deserves. This partnership just further proves to us that the story of Hatching is truly universal.”

The film will premiere early 2021.