Happy, Happy competed among 14 international films in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. Happy, Happy was the only film representing Nordic countries in this category. This is the first time in history a Norwegian film wins the main prize at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in USA.
“It is a film that found us identifying with characters very different from our own lives,” said the juror, Danish director Susanne Bier, while presenting the award last night. Sewitsky was in Sundance to receive the award.
Happy, Happy is about a perfect housewife whose rocky, sexless marriage sends her next door to explore sexual fulfillment. The film is scripted by Ragnhild Tronvoll and produced by Synnøve Hørsdal for Maipo, and it stars Agnes Kittelsen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Maibritt Saerens and Joachim Rafaelsen.
"Anne Sewitsky directs delicately, with an eye for signs of relationships faltering and for the space in which new attractions can’t be resisted" David D'Arcy, Screen International
Happy, Happy will also compete in Göteborg Film Festival (28 January - 6 February) for the Nordic Film Award and price of SEK 1.000.000 (USD 150,000), and it will be available at the European Film Market in Berlin. International sales is handled by TrustNordisk.
Sewitsky’s second feature, Totally True Love (Jørgen + Anne = Sant), produced by Cinenord Kidstory, will compete in the Generation competition at the Berlinale (10-20 February). Sales are handled by AB Svensk Filmindustri.