Reinvent Yellow, MOTOR and Scanbox Entertainment are proud to reveal Tea Lindeburg’s second feature film: the Nordic drama THE SEAL WOMAN, led by some of the most acclaimed Scandinavian acting talents. Currently shooting on location in the Faroe Islands, the film stars Alba August (The Rain, 2020) in the lead alongside Sverrir Gudnason (The Love That Remains, 2025). The film will be released locally in 2027.
Following the international breakthrough of her debut feature “As In Heaven (2021), which became an instant festival sensation, Lindeburg returns with a sweeping and emotionally charged tale rooted deeply in Nordic mythology. “As In Heaven” celebrated outstanding international reviews, and selection at prestigious festivals worldwide, including Toronto, London, Rotterdam, Gothenburg, Busan, São Paulo, Prague, Hamburg, Sydney and San Sebastián – where it remarkably won both Best Director and Best Leading Actress. The film further won the highly prestigious Dragon Award for Best Film at Gothenburg.
THE SEAL WOMAN draws inspiration from a traditional Faroese folktale about selkies — mythical seal people — and tells a wild, brutal, breathtaking and heartbreaking story about longing and the lengths one will go for love.
For Tea Lindeburg, the legend holds deep personal resonance. She explains: “As a child, my favorite book was the Faroese legend of the seal woman. There was something so dark and alluring and inexplicable about it, that I have never been able to let go of. Five years ago I started delving into it again and have now created my own version of the legend. A film about love and obsession set in a mythical universe where reality and the supernatural flow together. It was absolutely crucial for me to shoot the film in the Faroe Islands, as the primeval power of raw nature is a main character in the story.”
Deputy CEO of Reinvent Yellow, Rikke Ennis states: “Tea Lindeburg is an extraordinary artistic voice, and with THE SEAL WOMAN she brings a powerful and imaginative vision to the screen. We have great confidence in MOTOR’s ability to elevate the project — their strong track record and artistic ambition make them an ideal home for a film of this scope.”
Chief Sales Officer at Reinvent Yellow, Helene Aurø follows: ”THE SEAL WOMAN has exceptional international potential. Tea Lindeburg’s powerful vision, combined with a stellar cast and the striking Faroe Islands setting, makes this a highly noticeable Nordic drama. We’re excited and proud to introduce such a distinctive film to international buyers and festivals.”
MOTOR has assembled an impressive cast of leading Nordic actors to anchor the moving drama set against the raw Faroese nature. In the title role of Selma, the seal woman, is Alba August, who has become one of her generation’s major Nordic stars through her acclaimed turn as Astrid Lindgren in Becoming Astrid and leading roles in series such as The Rain, Bullshit and Below the Surface.
Opposite her, in the male lead as Aske, is Swedish-Icelandic star Sverrir Gudnason, widely recognised for his role as Mikael Blomkvist in the Hollywood production The Girl in the Spider’s Web and as Björn Borg in Borg vs McEnroe (2017).
The cast also features Peter Plaugborg, Stine Fischer Christensen, Nanna Skaarup Voss and Ingvar Sigurdsson.
The Faroese Film Institute is enthusiastically supporting the production.
Marjun Niclasen, Head of the Institute, states: “We are delighted that Tea Lindeburg has chosen the Faroe Islands as the setting for her next film. At the Faroese Film Institute, we prioritise strengthening international collaborations, and this production offers valuable opportunities for professional exchange and development. The folktale that inspires the film is deeply rooted in many island communities, and we look forward to seeing Lindeburg’s artistic interpretation.”
THE SEAL WOMAN is produced by MOTOR in co-production with Outlier Projects, Zentropa Sweden and Scope Pictures with support from The Danish Film Institute, FilmFyn, The Swedish Film institute, The Faroese Ministry of Culture, The Faroese Film Institute, Nordic Film & TV Fond and Creative Europe MEDIA. In cooperation with DR, Scanbox Entertainment, Reinvent Yellow, Storyline Studios, FilmGear and Cameo. International sales is handled by Reinvent Yellow.
About MOTOR
THE SEAL WOMAN is produced by Danish boutique company MOTOR, who was also behind Lindeburg’s debut feature As In Heaven and whose catalogue includes titles such as Academy Award-winner Bille August’s Karen Blixen-drama The Pact, the Danish box office hit When in Rome (2024) as well as international co-productions such as Emilie Blichfeldt’s much-acclaimed beauty-horror The Ugly Stepsister (2025), Gu∂mundur Arnar Gu∂mundsson’s Icelandic Berlinale-winner Beautiful Beings (2022) and Viggo Mortensen’s western The Dead Don’t Hurt (2023).