Norwegian thriller [pictured] was introduced to the international market in Berlin, with Magnolia Pictures picking up US rights.

Erik Skjoldbærg’s Pioneer has been picked up by Magnolia Pictures for US distribution.

Skjoldbærg’s conspiracy thriller, produced by Christian Fredrik Martin from Friland Film, stars Aksel Hennie, Wes Bentley and Stephen Lang and is set in the early 80s at the beginning of the Norwegian Oil Rush.

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.

The €6.5m budgeted Pioneer is co-produced by 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.

Pioneer will be released in the fall of 2013. Nordisk Film is distributing the film in Scandinavia and TrustNordisk handles international sales.