12/11/2012 - The English-language version of Norwegian directors Espen Sandberg and Joachim Rønning's action-adventure sold for "a record (undisclosed) price" for a Norwegian film

US distributor The Weinstein Company (TWC) will release Norwegian directors Espen Sandberg and Joachim Rønning's Kon-Tiki [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] in the US, Canada, the UK and Italy, after having clinched a deal with UK co-producer Jeremy Thomas's sales outfit, HanWay Films.

According to Norwegian producer Aage Aaberge, of Nordisk Film Production Norway, TWC paid the highest price ever for a Norwegian film so far - he would not disclose the actual figure, though. Domestically the action-adventure has exceeded 860,000 admissions.

After the first version mainly with a Norwegian dialogue (for subtitling) was launched at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hanway Films licensed the film to more than 40 territories, but major markets - the US, the UK - have been waiting for the English-language edit.

"We are extremely honoured to bring this epic story to audiences everywhere," said TWA President Harvey Weinstein, who has scheduled the American release for next year. "Rønning and Sandberg have captured a very special story, with incredible performances from the cast."

The Kon-Tiki deal will be registered in the Norwegian Film Institute's export statistics for 2012; meanwhile international sales in 2010 set a preliminary record in the 2010 report, when they were valued at €7.6 million, up from €2.2 million in 2005.

"The financial results are usually delayed by two years, but judging from what we already know about the performance of Norwegian films in 2011 and 2012 the increase of export earnings will continue," said the institute's Managing Director Nina Refseth.