Copenhagen-based LevelK has pounced on world sales rights to the Swedish suspense thriller “Hunters on a White Field,” toplining stellar acting trio Jens Hultén (“Skyfall”, “Mission Impossible Rogue Nation”), Magnus Krepper (“The Promised Land,” “Queen of Hearts”) and Ardalan Esmaili (“The Charmer,” “Snabba Cash”).
The pic will bow as an exclusive market screening at Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market, running Jan. 31-Feb 2.
Making her feature debut as writer-director is Sarah Gyllenstierna, a former assistant producer and director to artists including Spike Lee and Matthew Barney.
The suspense thriller, based on a novel by Mats Wägeus, follows three men – Alex, Greger and Henrik – who get together a weekend to go hunting in the woods. The novice Alex learns how to hunt from his experienced partners. An initial spell of hunting success sharpens their instincts and stirs a sense of rivalry. One day, all animals vanish and the forest turns eerily quiet, yet for the men-the hunt must go on.
“I started developing this film in 2020 when I fell in love with Mats’ book and optioned the rights,” Gyllenstierna told Variety. “The trigger for me was the chance to tell a psychological suspense story in the context of a hunting weekend, where the hunters begin to identify with the prey. I was fascinated by the idea of a bond between hunter and prey and how the hunt unleashes strong feelings in the men.”
“Hunting is about more than survival; it’s also about facing our own mortality,” stressed the helmer who took inspiration from Robert Altman’s “3 Women,” Peter Weir’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock” and David Lynch “for a mood of mystery and menace.”
Discussing her pick up, LevelK’s CEO Tine Klint said: “I love Sarah’s approach to the drama and sense for details. The performances are superb and I enjoy the entertaining surprise she delivers. We look forward to sharing the film with the world.”
“Hunters on a White Field” was produced by Maria Larsson Guerpillon and Charlotte Most for MostAlice Film, a co-producer on “Flee.” with co-financing from Film i Väst, SVT and the Swedish Film Institute. The Swedish release via TriArt is set for April 19.
LevelK’s eclectic slate at the Göteborg Film Festival also includes Icelandic thriller “Cold”, the Estonian kung fu comedy “The Invisible Fight,” and “Milk Teeth,” a Swiss dystopian pic competing in Rotterdam’s Big Screen competition.
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