Iceland’s submission to the Best Foreign-Language Film category will be Grímur Hákonarson’s Rams.

Rams

Iceland has selected its entry for the 2016 Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar: Rams, a drama about two brothers who haven’t spoken in 40 years reuniting with a common goal – to save their sheep.

Written and directed by Grímur Hákonarson (A Pure Heart), the film stars Sigurður Sigurjónsson (Brave Men’s Blood) and Theodór Júlíusson (Jar City) as the two brothers.

The film premiered at Cannes in May, where it won the Un Certain Regard prize. Since then, it has played Karlovy Vary and Telluride, and will screen in Toronto next week. It was also a competitor for this year’s Lux Prize.

International sales are being handled by New Europe Film Sales, who have sold the film to 40 countries worldwide, with releases scheduled between November 2015 and February 2016. Cohen Media Group are handling US distribution.

Iceland’s only previous Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign-Language Film category was for Children of Nature in 1992.