'Kon-Tiki' to Launch Nordic Film Days

Norwegian box office hit - and the country's candidate for the 2013 Foreign Language Oscars - Kon-Tiki will kick off the 54th Nordic Film Days in the German city of Lubeck on Oct. 31.

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The adventure drama, from directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, has topped the Norwegian charts since its release August 24, earning more than $10 million in the territory so far. The film traces the real-life voyage undertaken by Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl (played by Pal Sverre Valheim Hagen) in 1947 when he crossed the Pacific Ocean from Peru to Polynesia in 100 days traveling on a wooden raft. The film's title refers to the name of the raft.

Heyerdahl's documentary of the journey won an Oscar in 1951.

Kon-TIki also stars Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Odd-Magnus Williamson, Tobias Santelmann and Gustaf Skarsgard, son of Stellan Skarsgard and younger brother of True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard.

Kon-Tiki had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.

The Nordic Film Days, which run Oct. 31-Nov. 4, are Europe's largest film festival for Nordic cinema. This year's full lineup will be announced in early October.