D Films is moving into the American specialty market with Norway’s Max Manus, for which it picked up the U.S. rights on Tuesday.

The deal was negotiated by D Films president Jim Sherry and Susan Wendt, head of sales for Copenhagen-based TrustNordisk. The Toronto distributor also holds Canadian rights to the film, which it released to Canadian theaters on April 2. It is still playing in a few markets.

The pic follows the real-life exploits of a Second World War resistance fighter, who trained as a saboteur in Scotland before returning to Norway to exact revenge on its German invaders. The film was a hit in Norway and was the country’s submission for best foreign-language feature at this year’s Academy Awards. It has sold to multiple territories.

The boutique distributor is planning to release Max Manus in the U.S. in June. The film had its premiere stateside at the Minneapolis Film Festival last month.

‘We believe that entering the U.S. theatrical market, albeit in a limited platform capacity, strengthens our position in the international marketplace and is consistent with our business plan,’ commented Sherry in a release.

D Films’ move south comes after E1 said it will enter the U.S. theatrical market with Taylor Hackford’s drama Love Ranch, starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci. Love Ranch will also be released stateside in June.

D Films released its first film, the Charles Darwin biopic Creation, in January.