Nicolas Winding Refn’s Pusher to Premiere in Venice Classics

A newly-restored version of Nicolas Winding Refn‘s 1996 Danish cult classic Pusher will be featured at this year’s Venice Film Festival in the Venice Classics Competition Restored Films section.

The Danish crime drama, which featured a break-out performance by a young Mads Mikkelsen alongside co-star Kim Bodnia, will premiere at the 81st Venice Festival, which runs from Aug. 28-Sept. 7, 2024.

Refn’s directorial debut, tells the gritty tale of a small-time drug dealer in Copenhagen’s criminal underworld. Refn went on to direct two sequels, both of which are also being restored.

“28 years after Nicolas Winding Refn’s debut hit the world, we are really excited to have the world premiere of the restored Pusher movie in Venice Classics,” said Susan Wendt, Managing Director of TrustNordisk, who are handling world sales for the title, saying the Venice premiere will be “the perfect way of re-introducing this cult trilogy to the fans.”

Pusher had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in 1996 and went on to screen at Cannes Critics’ Week and the London Film Festival. Refn went on to direct the Oscar-nominated Drive and cult classics including The Neon Demon and Only God Forgives.

The restored version of Pusher will be distributed locally by Nordisk Film Distribution and in Italy by Movies Inspired.