UK distributor Arrow Films Ltd. has acquired all rights of Norwegian thriller PIONEER.
Currently screening as a work in progress at the Marché du Film in Cannes, the film has also been sold to Benelux (Lumiere), Japan (Nettai Museum Ltd.) and Korea (Focus & Company).
Tom Stewart, Head of Acquisition at Arrow Films: "This film has got such a fantastic look and style, we're looking to fully "emerge" with this cracking film later this year and of course thrilled to be continuing our great release with everyone at TrustNordisk."
Fumiaki Ikeda, Chief Executive Officer at Nettai Museum: “PIONEER is a special thriller that includes the dynamic deep blue sea action. We are confident that the film will have success in Japan. The audience are no longer satisfied with ordinary action thrillers, they like to see visually strong scenes”
Previously attached distributors are Magnolia (US), Vertigo Media (Hungary) and Stars Media Internatial (Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia & Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia).
Director Erik Skjoldbærg gained international acclaim with his debut feature film INSOMNIA (1997), which sold to over 20 countries and later remade in Hollywood by director Christopher Nolan. In 2001 Skjoldbærg directed the American feature film PROZAC NATION.
Inspired by 70's classics such as THE CONVERSATION (1974), THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR (1975) and CHINATOWN (1974), high-octane conspiracy thriller PIONEER stars Aksel Hennie (HEADHUNTERS, 2011), Wes Bentley (THE HUNGER GAMES, 2012), Stephen Lang (AVATAR, 2009), are Stephanie Sigman (MISS BALA, 2011), Others starring in PIONEER are Jonathan LaPaglia (NCSI, 2003; COLD CASE, 2003-2010) along with Andre Eriksen, Jørgen Langhelle, Ane Dahl Torp, Eirik Stubø and David A. Jørgensen.
PIONEER is set in the early 80's, the beginning of the Norwegian Oil Rush. Enormous oil and gas deposits are discovered in the North Sea and the authorities aim to bring it ashore through a pipeline running at depths of 500 meters. Professional diver Petter is obsessed with reaching the bottom of the Norwegian Sea and has the discipline, strength and courage to take on the world's most dangerous job. But a sudden, tragic accident changes everything, and Petter is sent on a perilous journey where he loses sight of who's pulling which strings. Gradually he realizes that he is in way over his head and that his life is at stake.
Co-producers are Pandora Filmproduktion, Garagefilm International AB, Film i Väst, Les Films d'Antoine, MRP Matila Röhr Productions and Nordisk Film. The film is supported by Eurimages, Nordisk Film & TV Fund, Filmstiftung NRW, Filmförderung HSH, Norwegian Film Institute, Swedish Film Institute, Finnish Film Foundation, CNC - Aide aux Films en Langue Etrangère and MEDIA.
Budget is EUR 6.5m. PIONEER will be released September 2013. Nordisk Film is distributing the film in Scandinavia and TrustNordisk handles international sales.