Following the critically acclaimed and award-winning SUBMARINO, Thomas Vinterberg is now ready to start shooting his next feature film, the modern drama THE HUNT.
The film is produced by Zentropa and features Mads Mikkelsen in the lead. Vinterberg is reteaming with SUBMARINO co-writer Tobias Lindholm for THE HUNT which will be filmed over seven weeks from November 4th to December 21st in Denmark. Theatrical release is expected at the end of 2012.
The story
THE HUNT unfolds in a small provincial town just before Christmas. We follow 40-year-old Lucas, who is finally getting his life under control. After a tough divorce, he´s got himself a new girlfriend, a new job and is in the process of reestablishing his relationship with his teenage son, Marcus. But things go awry. Not a lot. Just a slight comment. A random lie. And as the snow falls and the Christmas lights are lit, the lie spreads like an invisible virus. The shock and mistrust gets out of hand, and the small community suddenly finds itself in a collective state of hysteria, while Lucas fights a lonely fight for his life and dignity.
The Hunt is a disturbing depiction of how a lie becomes truth - a modern tale of a witch hunt, injustice, guilt and forgiveness. A tale of how fragile a community is when gossip, doubt and malice are allowed to flourish. The Hunt is a stirring portrait of a man struggling to exonerate himself, and a father and a son reaching out for one another as their world crumbles.
Cast and crew
Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, who is to receive the European Film Academy´s honorary award of European Achievement In World Cinema 2011, will play the lead as Lucas. Mads Mikkelsen is well known and highly acclaimed for his international roles in films such as CASINO ROYALE, COCO CHANEL & IGOR STRAVINSKY, CLASH OF THE TITANS and THE THREE MUSKETEERS.
THE HUNT is produced by Morten Kaufmann and Sisse Graum Jørgensen for Zentropa. Morten Kaufmann also produced Vinterberg´s SUBMARINO and Sisse Graum Jørgensen produced Susanne Bier´s Golden Globe and Oscar-winner IN A BETTER WORLD.
THE HUNT is budgeted at EUR 2.7 M and is produced by Zentropa Entertainments19 with support from the Danish Film Institute by Steen Bille as well as the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. The film´s co-producers include Zentropa International Sweden and Film i Väst with support from the Swedish Film Institute and Sweden´s Television. The film is also supported by the Nordic Film & TV Fund, Eurimages and the EU´s MEDIA programme.
THE HUNT will be distributed by Nordisk Film Distribution while TrustNordisk handles international sales.