Bier was the third Danish director to win the top award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after Carl Theodor Dreyer in 1956 with The World, and Bille August in 1988 with Pelle the Conqueror. The film was produced by Sisse Graum Jørgensen for Zentropa with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond.
"Congratulation Susanne Bier and Sisse Graum! What a fantastic accomplishment", said Nordisk Film & TV Fond CEO Hanne Palmquist. "In a Better World has been a big success within the Nordic region and proves that working across the Nordic borders both in front of and behind the camera can work wonders."
Now in Sundance where she is juror of the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, Bier will be anxiously waiting for the official Oscars nomination on January 25.
In a Better World is one of nine films shortlisted for Best Foreign Language Film (down from 66 film candidates) along with Sweden's Simple Simon by Andreas Ohman (Naïve AB). The Oscars campaign is now in full swing in the US. Sony Pictures Classics who handled last year's Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film -The Secrets in Their Eyes - plans to release In a Better World in April.
Bier's upcoming project, the romantic comedy The Bald Hairdresser (Den skaldede frisør) will most likely start shooting in March. Cast and crew will be announced shortly by Zentropa. The DKK 32m (€ 4.2m) film is co-produced with Sweden and Italy, with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond and Eurimages.