11/07/2013 - Norwegian director Martin Lund's feature debut – and Crystal Globe winner in Karlovy Vary – is the first theatrical release from the new Brooklyn-based company

Danish international sales boutique LevelK has licensed Norwegian director Martin Lund’s second feature The Almost Man [+see also:
film review
film profile], to Big World Pictures for the US – the humorous drama will be the first theatrical release from the recently established, Brooklyn-based distributor, which will launch three-four specialised titles annually.

Produced by Ruben Thorkildsen for Ape & Bjørn, the film that won the Grand Prix-Crystal Globe at last year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, adding Best Actor for Henrik Rafaelsen in the lead, has previously been acquired by Vivarto (for Poland), Cirko Film (Hungary), RTV (Slovenia) and IFF Molodist (Ukraine).

“There is an increasing interest among foreign buyers for Norwegian cinema – new directors, good stories, high production value - another first feature, Anders Øvergaard’s Coming Home [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (2011), has so far been sold to 22 countries,” said CEO Tine Klint, of LevelK, who will also handle Johan Kaos’ feature debut Crack, Back & Sack with Norwegian premiere on July 19.

“The Almost Man is one of the finest—and most enjoyable—films I’ve seen in the past year. We’re proud to have it leading our inaugural slate,” said Big World Pictures’ Jonathan Howell of the film which has screened at 11 international festivals and was domestically released by SF Norge last September.

Scripted by Lund, it follows 35-year-old Henrik who faces the birth of his first child. He still parties with his high-school buddies like they were still in their 20s, an his mother cares for him like a child. But is maturity something he can rush into, including a serious job, a conform duplex and adult behaviour?