Karlovy Vary Prizewinner ‘The Guest’ Secures U.S. Distribution

EXCLUSIVE: Danish director Mads Mengel’s debut feature The Guest has been acquired for the U.S. and multiple European territories following its prize-winning world premiere in competition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July.

Copenhagen-based LevelK has sold the film to Juno Films for the U.S, while European deals include to France (L’atelier d’Images), Spain (Karma Films), Benelux (Cherry Pickers), the Czech Republic and Slovakia (CinemArt), Estonia (Estinfilm), Hungary (Vertigo Media), Israel (New Cinema),), Poland (Best Film), Slovenia a.o. (Fivia) and Switzerland (Praesens Film).

Deals in the rest of the world include to Australia and New Zealand (Palace) and Israel (New Cinema).

Starring Simon Bennebjerg, Josephine Park and Danish leading lady Trine Dyrholm, the sharply observed family drama revolves around a baby-naming ceremony being organized by young couple Karl and Emilie for their first-born child.

When Karl’s estranged mother suddenly turns up, he wants her gone but his sister insists there won’t be any issues. Over one tense weekend, old patterns and buried wounds surface in front of in-laws and guests, until the celebration fractures into a confrontation.

The film won Best Director and the Special Jury Award when it world premiered Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, with critics praising Mengel’s deft blend of Nordic dark comedy and painful family tension. Deadline spotlighted the trailer for the film ahead of its festival debut. Watch it here.

The Guest is produced by Victor Cunha for Copenhagen‑based Monolit Film. It received support from the New Danish Screen initiative from the Danish Film Institute (DFI) and Danish broadcaster DR. Nordic distribution is handled by Scanbox Entertainment, with worldwide sales managed by Copenhagen based international sales and aggregation house LevelK.

The feature heads next to the Busan International Film Festival and the Zurich Film Festival.