Iceland has chosen Oskar Jonasson’s Reykjavik-Rotterdam as its foreign-language Oscar submission this year.

Even though Iceland has had a somewhat active year of production, this film was the only qualifying selection (hits such as Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre used too much English dialogue to qualify), and as such wasn’t voted upon, as per usual, by the Icelandic Film and TV Academy’s membership.

Reykjavik-Rotterdam stars Baltasar Kormakur (himself the director of several Icelandic Oscar submissions, including Jar City and last year’s White Night Wedding) as man tempted back into the smuggling business. In November 2008, the film won five local EDDA awards.

Kormakur produced with Agnes Johansen; executive producers were Lilja Palmadottir and Fridrik Thor Fridriksson. Kormakur’s Blueeyes produced, with co-producers Bavaria Pictures and Rotterdam Films. NonStop has international sales rights.

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