Growth of the Soil Sells to Distributors Across 15 Markets

Beta Cinema has secured distribution deals for Growth of the Soil across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Oceania. Buyers include Greenwich Entertainment for North America, Conic for the U.K. and Ireland, and Neue Visionen for Germany and Austria. Other deals cover Italy, Spain, Benelux, Switzerland, Greece, the Baltics, Hungary, Bulgaria, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

The film, directed by Hans Petter Moland, is Norway’s entry for best international feature at the 99th Academy Awards. It opened in Scandinavia through Scanbox Entertainment and reached the top of Norway’s box office during its opening weekend.

Based on a Nobel Prize-winning novel, the story follows Isak, a man who crosses the mountains to find land where he can build a life. He settles on a harsh stretch of ground and meets Inger. The pair build a home and family, while time, ambition and a changing world reshape their relationship and surroundings.

Herbert Nordrum and Asta Kamma August lead the cast, joined by Sjur Vatne Brean, Oddgeir Thune, Anders Baasmo and Gard B. Eidsvold. Eidsvold also co-wrote the screenplay with Moland.

The film premiered in Toronto, followed by its European debut in San Sebastián, where it won acting honors with a Silver Shell for best leading performance and a jury award for cinematography. Its festival run has included Warsaw, Rio, Denver and Mar del Plata; Bergen also included it in its film festival. It is also shortlisted for the European Film Awards’ best feature film category.