Reedland Dutch Oscar entry
Reedland by director and screenwriter Sven Bresser and producer Marleen Slot has been selected as the Netherlands’ official entry to the 98th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category.
Still: Reedland - Sven Bresser
The Dutch feature world premiered in competition at Critics Week in Cannes and was recently presented at the Sarajevo International Film Festival and the New Zealand International Film Festival, and will screen in numerous other festivals the coming months including the Busan International Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival. The film will be released domestically by Cinéart and in France by The Jokers, and has been sold broadly internationally including to Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Brazil, India and Indonesia.
Reedland, the debut feature by Sven Bresser, is produced by Marleen Slot for Viking Film (NL) and co-produced by Dries Phlypo for A Private View (BE) and broadcaster VPRO (NL). Paris-based The Party Film Sales is handling international rights. The film is produced with the support of the Netherlands Film Fund and Netherlands Production Incentive, Eurimages, VAF, Belgian Taxshelter, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance, VPRO and CoBO.
Reedland tells the story of reed cutter Johan who, when he discovers the lifeless body of a girl on his land, is overcome by an ambiguous sense of guilt. While he takes care of his granddaughter, he sets out on a quest to track down evil. But darkness can thrive in unexpected places. The film stars Gerrit Knobbe in the lead role, a non-professional actor appearing for the first time on screen, alongside the very young newcomer Loïs Reinders.
Sven Bresser’s short film L’été et tout le reste (2018) premiered at Venice in Orizzonti competition and TIFF, and went on to receive multiple national and international awards. Sven’s feature debut Reedland is set in the same rural landscape he grew up in himself.