Magnolia Picks Up U.S. Rights to Cannes Best Actor Winner 'The Hunt'

COLOGNE, Germany - Magnolia Pictures has acquired Thomas Vinterberg's Cannes Competition title The Hunt for U.S. distribution from sales group TrustNordisk.

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Mads Mikkelsen won Cannes' Best Actor prize for his starring role in the film as a quiet kindergarden teacher falsely accused of sexually abusing a child. Critics, including THR's, have praised The Hunt as a return to form for Vinterberg, best known for his acclaimed debut, The Celebration (1998).

"Thomas Vinterberg demonstrates his directorial mastery in his finest work since The Celebration," said Magnolia Pictures president Eamonn Bowles. "Mads Mikkelsen's performance more than validates his Best Actor Award at Cannes."

Magnolia has become a go-to U.S. partner for TrustNordisk. Recent deals between the U.S. distributor and the Scandinavian sales giant include ones for Lars Von Trier's Melancholia and Nikolaj Arcel's A Royal Affair, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February.

“We are so thrilled to have Magnolia on board with The Hunt," said TrustNordisk sales head Susan Wendt. "They are a great and dedicated team and will do a fantastic job for the film, just as they have for some of our previous films.”

Trust has nearly sold out The Hunt since its Cannes debut. New deals signed include ones for Germany/Austria (WildBunch), Spain (Golem), Canada (Mongrel Media), Australia (Madman), Japan (Kino Films) and Brazil (California Filmes). Arrow Films picked up the title for the U.K., with Pretty Pictures snatching French rights and Bim Distribuzione taking Italy.