WINNER EUROPEAN ACTOR 2023

In 1755, the impoverished Captain Ludvig Kahlen sets out to conquer the harsh, uninhabitable Danish heath with a seemingly impossible goal; to build a colony in the name of the King. In exchange, he'll receive a desperately desired Royal name for himself. But the sole ruler of the area, the merciless Frederik de Schinkel, arrogantly believes this land belongs to him. When de Schinkel learns that the maid Ann Barbara and her serve husband have escaped for refuge with Kahlen, the privileged and spiteful ruler swears revenge, doing everything in his power to drive the captain away. Kahlen will not be intimated and takes up the unequal battle - not only risking his life, but also the family of outsiders that has formed around him.

Directed by: Nikolaj Arcel

Written by: Nikolaj Arcel, Anders Thomas Jensen

Produced by: Louise Vesth, Fabian Gasmia, Lizette Jonjic, Tine Mikkelsen, Katja Lebedjewa

Cinematography: Rasmus Videbæk

Editing: Olivier Bugge Coutté

Production Design: Jette Lehmann

Costume Design: Kicki Ilander

Make-Up: Sabine Schumann

Sound: Claus Lynge, Hans Christian Kock, Marc Meusinger

Original Score: Dan Romer

Visual Effects: Alexander Schepelern

Casting Director: Tanja Grunwald

Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin

Original Title: BASTARDEN

Film Production Country: Denmark

Statement of the Director/s
When I had the utterly transformative experience of becoming a father a few years ago, I began viewing my past films, including the memories of making them, through a new lens. While I remain proud of the work (most of it, anyway!), it reflects the outlook of a man with a single purpose; a passionate dedication to creating stories and art… but not much else. The Promised Land grew out of that existential reckoning, and is, by far, my most personal film to date. Aided by Ida Jessen’s brilliant novel, Anders Thomas Jensen and I wanted to tell a grand, epic tale about how our ambitions and desires will inevitably fail if they are all we have. Life is chaos; painful and ugly, beautiful and extraordinary, and we are often helpless to control it. As the saying goes, “We make plans and God laughs”.

Biography of the Director/s
Arcel has written a large number of scripts including the adaptation of the first film in the highly acclaimed Millennium-trilogy, “The girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” (2009) The film based on the bestselling book by, Stieg Larsson earned him a BAFTA-nomination in 2011.
His feature film “A Royal Affair,” which he both wrote and directed, won the Silver Bear for best script at Berlin International Film Festival in 2012 and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language category in 2013.
Since then Arcel has directed, “The Dark Tower,” and has written a number of critically acclaimed films, which makes him one of the most sought after both writers and directors in Scandinavia.

Filmography of the Director/s
2023 - THE PROMISED LAND, Feature
2017 - DARK TOWER, Feature
2012 - A ROYAL AFFAIR, Feature
2010 - TRUTH ABOUT MEN, Feature
2007 - ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, Feature
2004 - KING'S GAME, Feature

Production Company:
Zentropa
Louise Vesth
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +4536868788
Website: www.zentropa.dk

World Sales:
TrustNordisk
Susan Wendt
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +4560298466
Website: www.trustnordisk.com

Press:
Cinetic Marketing
Claudia Tomassini
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +491732055794