NEW YORK (August 17, 2015) – Charles S. Cohen, Chairman and CEO of Cohen Media Group, today announced that CMG has acquired all North American distribution rights to RAMS, the new film from Icelandic writer-director Grimur Hakonarson. CMG plans a February 2016 theatrical release for the Cannes Film Festival prize winner.

The distribution agreement was negotiated by Cohen Media Group Executive Vice President John Kochman and Jan Naszewski, CEO of Warsaw-based New Europe Film Sales.

RAMS, Grimur Hakonarson’s second film, following the acclaimed Summerland, won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard competition at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. It is a moving, exotic and often darkly comic tale of two brothers, Gummi (Sigurdur Sigurjonsson) and Kiddi (Theodor Juliusson), who live on neighboring sheep farms but have not spoken to each other for 40 years. When Kiddi’s flock shows signs of an incurable and highly contagious virus, authorities decree that all the sheep in the valley must be destroyed, a move that forces the brothers to come together to try to save their animals.

Alissa Simon of Variety said Hakonarson, “an experienced documentarian, capitalizes on his extensive knowledge of Icelandic bachelor farmers and the unique landscapes of his homeland, while spicing the proceedings with some wonderfully wry, charmingly understated comic moments.” The Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy said the film “not only neatly observes an obscure lifestyle but brings to life a most peculiar sibling relationship.”

The drama caught the attention of buyers worldwide and will have its North American premiere at Toronto, to be followed by major festival exposure before its commercial release.

Kochman said, “RAMS is a beautiful and poignant depiction of rural life and we are proud to bring it to audiences everywhere.” Charles S. Cohen added, “With this film, just his second dramatic feature, Grimur Hakonarson proves to be a major talent whose work deserves a wide viewership.”

About Cohen Media Group (www.cohenmedia.net)