May el-Toukhy’s Queen of Hearts, winner of the Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival, has been selected as Denmark’s contender in the International Feature Film category at the 2020 Academy Awards.

‘Queen of Hearts’ was selected from a shortlist of three films, the other two titles being ‘Before the Frost‘ by Michael Noer and ‘Daniel‘ by Niels Arden Oplev and Anders W. Berthelsen.

Claus Ladegaard, CEO of the Danish Film Institute who chairs the committee, says, “A story of power, passion and denial, ‘Queen of Hearts’ offers a startling new perspective on current discussions. With a superior grasp of cinematic language, director May el-Toukhy and screenwriter Maren Louise Käehne have created an uncompromising, engaging drama resonating with international audiences and critics alike, as evidenced by the film winning the coveted Audience Award at Sundance. A large share of the credit goes to Trine Dyrholm for her stellar performance – a compelling example of a complex female character we would love to see a lot more of on the big screen.”

‘Queen of Hearts’ tells the story of Anne, a dedicated lawyer who lives what appears to be the picture-perfect life with her husband, Peter, and their twin daughters. When her estranged teenage stepson, Gustav, moves in with them, Anne’s escalating desire leads her down a dangerous rabbit hole, jeopardizing both her career and family.

‘Queen of Hearts’ was awarded the Audience Award at Sundance and also picked up three awards at the Göteborg Film Festival, including the top prize for Best Nordic Film, Best Acting and the Audience Award. The drama is nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize, handed out on October 29 in Stockholm, and is among the films longlisted for a nomination for the European Film Awards 2019, held on December 7, in Berlin.