The Icelandic film Rams, by Grímur Hákonarson, has won the Prix Un Certain Regard, the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. This is the first time that an Icelandic feature film has won a prize at Cannes, so this is understandably a great honor for all involved in the making of the film and for the Icelandic film community in general.
Rams is set in a remote Icelandic farming valley, where two brothers who haven't spoken in 40 years have to come together in order to save what's dearest to them – their sheep. The film was shot in the remote valley of Bárdardalur in the north of Iceland this past winter.
Rams is an Icelandic/Danish co-production that has received support from both the Icelandic Film Centre and the Danish Film Institute. It was written and directed by Grímur Hákonarson, and produced by Grímar Jónsson for Netop Films. It was co-produced by Ditte Milsted and Jacob Jarek for Profile Pictures. Thor Sigurjonsson was one of the film's executive producers, and Eva Sigurdardóttir was the line producer. International sales are being handled by New Europe Film Sales. Rams stars Sigurdur Sigurjónsson and Theodór Júlíusson. It was shot by Sturla Brandth Grovlen and edited by Kristján Lodmfjörd. Atli Örvarsson composed the score.
For further information about Rams, visit the film's official website: http://www.netopfilms.com/ and the Icelandic Film Database.
For further information on writer/director Grímur Hákonarson, visit his page on the Icelandic Film Database.
-Edited by Vanessa McMahon; May 28, 2015.