Norwegian TV drama reflects society and its multi-cultural background
The Norwegian Film Institute will support six television series – four new - and a theatrical documentary by €2.6 million (NOK 25.1 million)
“The lack of diversity in Norwegian television drama has occasionally been criticised, but here are clear examples that it can reflect society and its multi-cultural background,” said feature film and drama consultant Silje Riise Næss, of the Norwegian Film Institute.
Good and very good projects
15 projects “of good – or very good – quality” had applied for €10.7 million (NOK 102 million) production support, and the institute decided to chip in €2.6 million (NOK 25.1 million) for six television series – four new, and in addition to that a theatrical documentary supported with NOK 1,5 million.
The two up-and-running series are Yellow Bird Norway’s Occupied (Okkupert), which received €0.4 million (NOK 3.5 million) for its third season, and Motlys’ Home Ground (Heimebane), which will be backed by slightly less (NOK 3.25 million) for its second.
Occupied
Series creator Erik Skjoldbjærg will also direct the new episodes for the Viaplay series with Charlotte Branström and Eva Sørhaug about Norway after the Russian occupation in the Gudny Hummelvoll-Marianne Gray production.
Home Ground
Produced by Yngve Sæther, Home Ground, staged by Johan Fasting with directors Yngvild Sve Flikke and Stian Kristiansen, follows the first woman ever to coach a top division men’s football club, facing hateful players, abusive fans and rampant media.
The new TV series
Kieler street, created by Patrik Syversen, Jesper Sundness, Stig Frode Henriksen, directed by Syversen and Cecilie Mosli, and produced by Anne Kolbjørnsen, Kornelia Lund and Ole Marius Araldsen, for Anagram Norge. Jonas and his girlfriend Elin move to the village of Slusvig, known as the least criminal place in Scandinavia; but Jonas has a past. (€0.4 million/NOK 4.15 million. TV2 Norway)
Beforeigners (Fremvandrerne). Created by Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad (who also scripted) and directed by Jens Lien. Produced by Jan-Erik Gammleng for Rubicon TV, it follows people from different times arriving at contemporary Norway. (€1 million/NOK 9.5 million. HBO Nordic)
Skitten snø. Created by Mahmona Khan, Gry Dingsør Stømme and director Katarina Launing, and produced by Cecilie Aspenes and Brede Hovland for Miso Film Norge. Based on Khan’s novel about a young girl, whose life is changed when she is raped by a friend. (€0.4 million/NOK 3.7 million, NRK).
Sööfe. Created (and produced) by Bjørn Tore Hallem and Dag Rune Johansen for TMM Produksjon, and directed by Hallem and Stein Løvø. Scripted by Car Gunnar Eltervaag and Kirsten Bonnén Rask, it follows a 11-year-old girl who is searching for her Sámi identity. (€0.1 million/NOK 0.1 million, NRK Super).
The new feature documentary
The Men`s Choir (Vi er gutta). Scr/dir: Peter Sommer, Jo Vemund Svendsen. Prod: Gudmundur Gunnasson, Mari Anne Moe, for Fuglene. The film follows Norway’s Mannskoret, the famous male choir started 15 years ago by DumDum Boys singer Prebble Houmb. Before opening a concert with Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne – its so far most important job – tragedy hits one of the members. (€0.2 million/NOK 1.5 million)