Berlin 2012: 'A Royal Affair' Sells to Russia and Japan

BERLIN — Danish sales giant TrustNordisk closed sales on Japan and Russia for period drama A Royal Affair just ahead of the film’s world premiere in competition at the Berlin film festival on Thursday.

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New Select Co. in Japan and Volga Film in Russia picked up the costume epic, which stars Mads Mikkelsen, Alicia Vikander and Mikkel Folsgaard and is directed by Nikolaj Arcel, the screenwriter of the original The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Based on the most famous scandal in Danish royal history, the film is set in the 18th century royal Danish court and centers on a freethinking German doctor (Mikkelsen) who starts an affair with the Danish queen (Vikander). The film was produced by Zentropa Entertainment’s Louise Vesth, Sisse Graum Jorgensen and Meta Louise Foldager with Lars von Trier, Zentropa head Peter Aalbaek Jensen and Peter Garde as executive producers.

Trust also closed sales for Taiwan and Columbia (Cineplex) and Latin America (LAP TV) in Berlin.

A Royal Affair already has been picked up in most international territories, with Metrodome taking U.K., Madman handling Australia/New Zealand, MFA buying for Germany and Golem taking Spain, among some 30-odd territories sold. Magnolia will bow the film stateside.

A Royal Affair will have its theatrical debut in Denmark March 29 via Nordisk Film.