In its major first announced acquisition of the Cannes Market, Neon has snapped up U.S., Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand rights on Romanian director Cristian Mungiu’s first English-language picture Fjord.
The feature co-stars Romanian-born U.S. actor Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice) opposite Norwegian Cannes Best Actress winner Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World).
Goodfellas is handling worldwide sales on the film, which has wrapped production in Norway.
Fjord is a Norway-Sweden-Denmark-Finland-France-Romania coproduction, produced by Mobra Films, Eye-Eye Pictures, Why Not Productions and Goodfellas, alongside Snowglobe, Aamu Film Company, Garage Film, FilmGate Films and Film i Vast (supported by Eurimages and Creative Europe MEDIA).
The deal was negotiated by Sarah Colvin for Neon and Eva Diederix for Goodfellas.
The drama follows the Gheorghiu family – Romanian father (Stan), Norwegian mother (Reinsve) – as they settle into new life in a remote Norwegian village, the mother’s birthplace.
They quickly bond with the Halbergs, who live in the neighbouring house near the bay and despite their very different upbringings, the children of both families soon become close friends. When the Gheorghius are suspected of disturbing behavior, their lives are thrown into chaos as they become the center of small town scrutiny.
Acclaimed director, Mungiu has previously been awarded the Palme d’Or for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days as well as been honored with Best Director for Graduation and Best Screenplay for Beyond the Hills at the festival.
Neon, enjoyed a high-profile Cannes last year with is behind Sean Baker’s Anora, which won the Palme d’Or and then clinched Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress.
The company is back this year with Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value and Julia Ducournau’s Alpha as well as Raoul Peck’s Orwell: 2+2=5 and Michael Angelo Covino’s Splitsville starring Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona which Neon also produced.
Stan is represented by Brookside Artists Management, CAA, Sloan Offer Weber and Relevant. Reinsve is represented by CAA and Narrative.
