Exclusive: Trom creator Torfinnur Jákupsson is turbocharging his quest to place the Faroe Islands on the global film and TV map.
It’s been a whirlwind year for the man who first came up with the idea for hit thriller Trom while working at a fish factory when he was 16. Deadline can reveal his now-one-year-old production shingle GRÓ Studios – the first of its kind in the Faroes – has built a development slate featuring around half a dozen projects including one set in the U.S. and UK.
The writer-producer is now a fixture at major TV and film markets and will be shopping the new projects over the coming months.
More than anyone, Jákupsson can be considered the person responsible for beginning the quest to put this tiny Scandinavian Island – population 53,000 – on the global screen map, and things were given a further shot in the arm recently with a much-desired...
It’s been a whirlwind year for the man who first came up with the idea for hit thriller Trom while working at a fish factory when he was 16. Deadline can reveal his now-one-year-old production shingle GRÓ Studios – the first of its kind in the Faroes – has built a development slate featuring around half a dozen projects including one set in the U.S. and UK.
The writer-producer is now a fixture at major TV and film markets and will be shopping the new projects over the coming months.
More than anyone, Jákupsson can be considered the person responsible for beginning the quest to put this tiny Scandinavian Island – population 53,000 – on the global screen map, and things were given a further shot in the arm recently with a much-desired...
- 5/22/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The aim is to attract major international productions.
The Faroe Islands is dramatically raising its film reimbursement cap per year, going from a paltry €25,000 annually to €540,000 (Dkk 4m).
A new government elected in December is still putting the final touches on exact rules for the reimbursement, but it is expected to be in effect from March. It offers a rebate of 25 for budgets up to €500,000. For larger-budget productions, a 35 incentive may be possible.
Located halfway between Scotland and Iceland in the Northeast Atlantic, the Faroe Islands - population 53,000 – are an archipelago of 18 mountainous islands.
Tina i Dali Wagner had been...
The Faroe Islands is dramatically raising its film reimbursement cap per year, going from a paltry €25,000 annually to €540,000 (Dkk 4m).
A new government elected in December is still putting the final touches on exact rules for the reimbursement, but it is expected to be in effect from March. It offers a rebate of 25 for budgets up to €500,000. For larger-budget productions, a 35 incentive may be possible.
Located halfway between Scotland and Iceland in the Northeast Atlantic, the Faroe Islands - population 53,000 – are an archipelago of 18 mountainous islands.
Tina i Dali Wagner had been...
- 2/18/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Partly featured in James Bond’s “No Time to Die,” the rugged Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and their 53,000 inhabitants, were the setting and main inspiration for “Trom”, the first ever Faroese TV series, majority produced by Denmark’s REinvent Studios.
The crime show’s creator Torfinnur Jákupsson and joint-producer Jón Hammer have now used the international success of “Trom,” commissioned by Viaplay and co-produced by Arte/Zdf, to up their game.
The duo has launched Tórshavn-based GRÓ Studios, the first film and television studio of its kind in the Faroe Islands, covering development through production and sales.
Jákupsson, who acts as CEO and head of development, said his joint venture with Hammer focuses on “local talent and local stories with a strong sense of genre and setting, written and produced for a global audience.”
“Our goal is to help develop the Faroese film and series industry to a global standard,...
The crime show’s creator Torfinnur Jákupsson and joint-producer Jón Hammer have now used the international success of “Trom,” commissioned by Viaplay and co-produced by Arte/Zdf, to up their game.
The duo has launched Tórshavn-based GRÓ Studios, the first film and television studio of its kind in the Faroe Islands, covering development through production and sales.
Jákupsson, who acts as CEO and head of development, said his joint venture with Hammer focuses on “local talent and local stories with a strong sense of genre and setting, written and produced for a global audience.”
“Our goal is to help develop the Faroese film and series industry to a global standard,...
- 10/4/2022
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
High in the north Atlantic, nestled between Iceland and Norway, lie the moss-covered basalt cliffs of the Faroe Islands: a Danish fishing archipelago and the perfect setting for Viaplay’s new original series “Trom.” Based on Danish writer Jógvan Isaksen’s bestselling crime novels, and adapted for screen by creator and head writer Torfinnur Jákupsson and Donna Sharpe, “Trom” is a six-episode Nordic Noir produced and distributed by Denmark’s REinvent Studios in co-production with Faroe Islands-based Kyk Pictures, Iceland’s Truenorth and Germany’s Zdf/Arte.
In what has signalled a breakthrough for many Scandinavian series, the BBC acquired “Trom” in a deal announced just before the series’ premiere at February’s Berlinale Series Market Selects.
Co-directed by Kasper Barfoed (“The Chestnut Man”), Davið Óskar Ólafsson (“The Valhalla Murders”), and Peter Ahlén, “Trom”
follows rogue journalist Hannis Martinsson, played by Ulrich Thomsen (“The New Pope”). When Hannis receives an ominous...
In what has signalled a breakthrough for many Scandinavian series, the BBC acquired “Trom” in a deal announced just before the series’ premiere at February’s Berlinale Series Market Selects.
Co-directed by Kasper Barfoed (“The Chestnut Man”), Davið Óskar Ólafsson (“The Valhalla Murders”), and Peter Ahlén, “Trom”
follows rogue journalist Hannis Martinsson, played by Ulrich Thomsen (“The New Pope”). When Hannis receives an ominous...
- 4/28/2022
- by JD Linville
- Variety Film + TV
BBC has acquired “Trom,” a crime drama set in the Faroe Islands, which will have its international premiere at the Berlinale Series Market Selects.
A Viaplay Original, “Trom” is produced by REinvent Studios with Kyk Pictures and Truenorth. REinvent International Sales represents worldwide rights. “Trom” will premiere on Viaplay on Feb. 13
Based on Jagvan Isaksen’s crime novels, “Trom” was created by Torfinnur Jákupsson and directed by Kasper Barfoed (“Dicte: Crime Reporter”) and Davíd Óskar Ólafsson (“The Valhalla Murders”). The cinematic show is headlined by Nordic stars including Ulrich Thomsen (“The New Pope”), Maria Rich (“Follow The Money”) and Olaf Johannessen (“The Exception”).
“We are thrilled and proud that the BBC has come on board ‘Trom,'” said Helene Aurø, sales and marketing director at REinvent International Sales. “BBC has broadcast some of the best Nordic series ever produced in the past and we hope ‘Trom’ will be a success as well.
A Viaplay Original, “Trom” is produced by REinvent Studios with Kyk Pictures and Truenorth. REinvent International Sales represents worldwide rights. “Trom” will premiere on Viaplay on Feb. 13
Based on Jagvan Isaksen’s crime novels, “Trom” was created by Torfinnur Jákupsson and directed by Kasper Barfoed (“Dicte: Crime Reporter”) and Davíd Óskar Ólafsson (“The Valhalla Murders”). The cinematic show is headlined by Nordic stars including Ulrich Thomsen (“The New Pope”), Maria Rich (“Follow The Money”) and Olaf Johannessen (“The Exception”).
“We are thrilled and proud that the BBC has come on board ‘Trom,'” said Helene Aurø, sales and marketing director at REinvent International Sales. “BBC has broadcast some of the best Nordic series ever produced in the past and we hope ‘Trom’ will be a success as well.
- 1/28/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Nordic noir crime series is penned by Torfinnur Jákupsson and Donna Sharpe, and is based on the best-selling novels by Faroese novelist Jógvan Isaksen. Nordic Entertainment Group (Nent Group) has announced the launch of its first-ever Faroese original drama production, a Nordic noir crime series entitled Trom and directed by Kasper Barfoed. In recent years, the Copenhagen-born helmer has worked on the features Summer of ’92 (2015) and The Numbers Station (2013) as well as on the TV series Dicte: Crime Reporter (2013-2014) and Gidseltagningen (2017). In detail, his new endeavour follows journalist Hannis Martinsson (played by Denmark’s Ulrich Thomsen), who unexpectedly receives a message from Sonja, a young Faroese woman who claims she is Hannis’s daughter and that her life is in danger. Reluctantly returning home to the Faroes to investigate, Hannis discovers Sonja’s body in the bloody waters of a whale hunt. His search for answers soon.
REinvent Studios’ anticipated crime series “Trom” is getting ready to shoot in the lush landscapes of the Faroe Islands with a cast packed with Nordic stars, including Ulrich Thomsen (“The New Pope”), Maria Rich (“Follow The Money”) and Olaf Johannessen (“The Exception”).
Based on Jagvan Isaksen’s crime novels, the series is created by Torfinnur Jákupsson and co-written with Donna Sharpe (“West of Liberty”). REinvent is producing the series with Kyk Pictures and Truenorth.
It will mark the first crime drama to be created in the Faroe Islands. Shooting will kick off on location in March. Kasper Barfoed (“Dicte: Crime Reporter”) and Davíd Óskar Ólafsson (“The Valhalla Murders”) are on board to direct the series.
The six-part show follows journalist Hannis Martinsson (Ulrich Thomsen), who unexpectedly receives a message from Sonja, his estranged daughter, claiming that her life is in danger. Hannis reluctantly returns home to the Faroes to investigate,...
Based on Jagvan Isaksen’s crime novels, the series is created by Torfinnur Jákupsson and co-written with Donna Sharpe (“West of Liberty”). REinvent is producing the series with Kyk Pictures and Truenorth.
It will mark the first crime drama to be created in the Faroe Islands. Shooting will kick off on location in March. Kasper Barfoed (“Dicte: Crime Reporter”) and Davíd Óskar Ólafsson (“The Valhalla Murders”) are on board to direct the series.
The six-part show follows journalist Hannis Martinsson (Ulrich Thomsen), who unexpectedly receives a message from Sonja, his estranged daughter, claiming that her life is in danger. Hannis reluctantly returns home to the Faroes to investigate,...
- 2/8/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
REinvent Studios, the Copenhagen-based company launched last year by former TrustNordisk CEO Rikke Ennis, has pre-sold the Faroese crime drama “Trom” to Zdf/Arte for Germany and France. Zdf/Arte will be co-producing the anticipated series which was pitched last year during the Co-Pro Series at the Berlinale Series forum.
“Trom,” based on Jagvan Isaksen’s crime novels and penned Torfinnur Jákupsson, follows journalist Hannis Martinsson as he investigates the murder of an animal rights activist whose body was found in the bloody waters of a whale killing in the Faroe Islands. Martinsson’s investigation sends shockwaves through the isolated island community.
The series is being produced by the Jón Hammer’s Faroese banner Kyk Pictures and has already been ordered by Kvf, Viaplay and Vrt. Danish broadcaster Dr is in negotiations. Reinvent Studios is also negotiating U.K. and U.S. rights. The series is expected to start shooting in August.
“Trom,” based on Jagvan Isaksen’s crime novels and penned Torfinnur Jákupsson, follows journalist Hannis Martinsson as he investigates the murder of an animal rights activist whose body was found in the bloody waters of a whale killing in the Faroe Islands. Martinsson’s investigation sends shockwaves through the isolated island community.
The series is being produced by the Jón Hammer’s Faroese banner Kyk Pictures and has already been ordered by Kvf, Viaplay and Vrt. Danish broadcaster Dr is in negotiations. Reinvent Studios is also negotiating U.K. and U.S. rights. The series is expected to start shooting in August.
- 2/25/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Ennis was a keynote speaker at CONNeXT in Ghent.
Nordic Noir is alive and thriving, according to Rikke Ennis, founder and CEO of Copenhagen-based REinvent Studios, which specialises in the packaging, financing and sales of Nordic content.
“What is clicking right now [with buyers] is Nordic noir,” Ennis told an audience at Flanders Image’s CONNeXT event in Ghent this week where she was giving a keynote speech.
“It still works extremely well. Crime and thrillers are always an easy sell. But there is a new touch to it as there is a bigger demand for female protagonists and the stories have become more personal.
Nordic Noir is alive and thriving, according to Rikke Ennis, founder and CEO of Copenhagen-based REinvent Studios, which specialises in the packaging, financing and sales of Nordic content.
“What is clicking right now [with buyers] is Nordic noir,” Ennis told an audience at Flanders Image’s CONNeXT event in Ghent this week where she was giving a keynote speech.
“It still works extremely well. Crime and thrillers are always an easy sell. But there is a new touch to it as there is a bigger demand for female protagonists and the stories have become more personal.
- 10/10/2019
- by 88¦Louise Tutt¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Kung Fu Panda creators Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris have teamed with The Wire and House of Cards director Agnieszka Holland on a series about Napoleon that will be offered to TV buyers at the Berlin Film Festival.
The show is the most high-profile drama to be presented as part of the Berlinale’s Co-Pro Series 2019, which will take place in the German city on 12 and 13 February. The show, which is produced by UK producer Saltire Entertainment will be offered to producers, programming directors, distributors and other series financiers at the fifth iteration of the pitch event.
Reiff and Voris wrote the original screenplay for the Dreamworks Animation hit as well as feature film Bulletproof Monk and Showtime’s Sleeper Cell. Polish director Holland has directed a number of U.S. series, including Hulu’s The First as well as HBO’s Eastern Europe mini-series Burning Bush.
The series will...
The show is the most high-profile drama to be presented as part of the Berlinale’s Co-Pro Series 2019, which will take place in the German city on 12 and 13 February. The show, which is produced by UK producer Saltire Entertainment will be offered to producers, programming directors, distributors and other series financiers at the fifth iteration of the pitch event.
Reiff and Voris wrote the original screenplay for the Dreamworks Animation hit as well as feature film Bulletproof Monk and Showtime’s Sleeper Cell. Polish director Holland has directed a number of U.S. series, including Hulu’s The First as well as HBO’s Eastern Europe mini-series Burning Bush.
The series will...
- 1/15/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Holland is directing Napoleon about the French military leader.
Ten projects have been announced for the Berlinale Co-Production Market’s Co-Pro Series event, which takes place on February 12 and 13 as part of the ‘Drama Series Days’ at the Berlinale (February 7-17).
The titles include Napoleon, a series about the French military leader and his cult of personality, to be directed by Agnieszka Holland and produced by the UK’s Saltire Entertainment. Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris (Brimstone) are writers and showrunners on the project. Holland’s film Mr Jones was one of several titles added to the Competition at the festival last week.
Ten projects have been announced for the Berlinale Co-Production Market’s Co-Pro Series event, which takes place on February 12 and 13 as part of the ‘Drama Series Days’ at the Berlinale (February 7-17).
The titles include Napoleon, a series about the French military leader and his cult of personality, to be directed by Agnieszka Holland and produced by the UK’s Saltire Entertainment. Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris (Brimstone) are writers and showrunners on the project. Holland’s film Mr Jones was one of several titles added to the Competition at the festival last week.
- 1/15/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
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