The Norwegian thriller PIONEER has been sold to US distributor Magnolia Pictures. Introduced to the international market for the first time, screening as promo for presales at a buyers-only event in Berlin, the film is produced by Christian Fredrik Martin from Friland Film, who was also behind the international hit HEADHUNTERS (Tyldum, 2011). The deal was negotiated between Magnolia's SVP of Acquisitions, Dori Begley and Director of Acquisitions, Peter van Steemburg and TrustNordisk's CEO, Rikke Ennis and Head of Sales, Susan Wendt.
"After the excellent reception to HEADHUNTERS here in the US, we´re very excited to be working with the producers and Aksel Hennie again on PIONEER, which is shaping up to be a terrific thriller," said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles.
Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Companies, a vertically-integrated group of media properties co-owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban that also includes the Landmark Theatres chain and AXS TV. Magnolia was the distributor of HEADHUNTERS (2011), and have been the US home for other great Norwegian films such as HAPPY, HAPPY (2010) and TROLL HUNTER (2010).
Starring Aksel Hennie (HEADHUNTERS, 2011), Wes Bentley (THE HUNGER GAMES, 2012) and Stephen Lang (AVATAR, 2009), PIONEER is a high-octane conspiracy thriller inspired by 70's classics such as THE CONVERSATION (1974), THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR (1975) and CHINATOWN (1974). Director of PIONEER, 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. Others starring in PIONEER are Stephanie Sigman (MISS BALA, 2011), 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 in the fall of 2013. Nordisk Film is distributing the film in Scandinavia and TrustNordisk handles international sales.