Scandinavia’s leading sales agent TrustNordisk has swooped on the international sales rights of Amanda Kernell’s “Brace your Heart” (“Förbannelsen”) ahead of the European Film Market in Berlin.

The Swedish drama, which starts filming this week in the Kiruna region, Northern Sweden, is Kernell’s third pic after the Swedish Oscar entry “Charter” and her acclaimed debut “Sami Blood” (a best directing debut at Venice Days 2016) which firmly put her name among Scandinavia’s most promising female voices.

Based on Kernell’s own original script, the story is set in a remote Sámi village, high in the mountains.

When Ejva (20) inherits her father’s reindeer herd upon his death, she takes over the family tradition and struggles to keep it thriving. At the same time, the local leader Heaika develops romantic feelings for her, and though hesitant, she feels compelled to accept, says the logline.

Everything changes when Nejla,...