The US arthouse distributor has picked up North American rights to the Swedish documentary ahead of the film’s screening in competition at Sundance.

Co-directed and produced by Maria Loohufvud and Love Martinsen for Pink Dolphin, the uplifting film follows Florida’s most dedicated dance team for women over 60 - the ‘Calendar Girls’, but also shakes up the prejudiced image of ‘the old lady’, focusing on the human need for creativity and friendship.

“Maria and Love’s film is a celebration of life and the endless possibilities for joy and connection, if you are willing to put on your dancing shoes and think outside the proscribed box,” said Juno Films CEO Elizabeth Sheldon to Variety who broke the news. “We fell in love with the ‘Calendar Girls’ at first sight and are thrilled that we will be releasing the film in the upcoming year. It is a gem that, like the tiaras of the ‘Calendar Girls,’ will sparkle brightly in the marquis lights and beyond.”

Filmmakers and life partners Loohufvud and Martinsen who are making their directorial debut, had been looking forward to presenting it live at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival (January 20-30) and expressed their disappointment to nordicfilmandtvnews.com, as soon as they heard it was moving fully online due to surges in Omicron Covid cases in the US. “It would have been amazing to attend, but we’re still extremely proud to have been selected at such a prominent film festival,” said Martinsen, music composer to numerous Swedish series -such as The Bonus Family, Black Lake- who acts as director, producer, editor, cinematographer and sound designer on Calendar Girls, with Loohufvud serving as producer, director, cinematographer, choreographer and graphic designer.

Calendar Girls was produced by Pink Dolphin with co-financing from SVT, support from the Swedish Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Film Stockholm/Filmbasen. Folkets Bio is due to release it in Swedish cinemas in March. Pre-sales were closed with Norway’s VG TV and Iceland’s RÚV. Cats & Docs handles world sales.

Juno Films is a regular buyer of Nordic films. Recent acquisitions include Bille August’s The Pact, Zaida Bergroth’s Tove, and Johan von Sydow’s documentary Tiny Tim, King for a Day.