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Scandinavian storytelling is looking to grow its North American fanbase further as streamer Viaplay launched in the U.S. on Wednesday and is next setting its eyes on Canada.

The streaming service ended 2022 with more than 7.3 million subscribers, with 37 percent, or nearly 2.7 million, of them being outside the Nordics, namely the Baltic countries, the U.K., Poland and the Netherlands. Now, Viaplay has debuted in the U.S. and will further expand to Canada on March 7.

Overseeing the latest international expansion is Vanda Rapti, Viaplay Group Chief Commercial Officer, North America & Viaplay Select. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she explained the appeal of Nordic Noir, why Viaplay has more than that to offer and how the service will fit into a competitive streaming landscape.

Viaplay is known as a big player in the genre of Nordic Noir. How appealing is that to people in North America and is that your main selling point?...

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Rubicon TV, the Norwegian production house behind such cross-over drama successes as Lilyhammer, and Beforeigners, is getting into the spy business with its new series E14 Unit for Special Intel.

The show, which Rubicon is presenting to potential co-production partners at the international TV market MIPCOM in Cannes this week, looks at the untold story of how Norwegian officers from the country’s elite E14 unit played a key role as NATO’s frontline spies for NATO in the 1990 Yugoslav War. When the country’s brutal civil war erupted, a small group of E14 spies were sent to the Balkans to collect intelligence as part of the NATO intervention. The often ruthless and morally-questionable mission stood in start contrast to Norway’s public-facing image as a peace-loving nation.

Sebastian Torngren Wartin and Erik Ivar Sæther will co-write the series, which Gudny Hummelvoll (Occupied, Headhunters) will produce.

Aidan Turner returns to US TV screens next month, and we could not be more excited.

AMC Networks’ Sundance Now today released the trailer for its original five-part thriller, The Suspect, starring the Poldark, Leonardo, and The Hobbit veteran.

The Suspect is based on the bestselling novel by acclaimed crime writer Michael Robotham.

All five episodes of the drama will premiere Thursday, November 3 on Sundance Now and AMC+.

The series follows Doctor Joe O'Loughlin (Turner), who appears to have the perfect life - a devoted wife, a loving daughter, successful practice as a clinical psychologist, media profile and a publishing deal.

He's even a hero online after rescuing a young patient who was ready to jump from the tenth floor of the hospital where Joe works.

When a young woman is found in a shallow grave in a West London cemetery, veteran police officer Di Vincent Ruiz and his young...

This article contains major spoilers for episode six of "Andor."

This week's episode of "Andor" brings us to the conclusion of its latest three episode arc on Aldhani. After days of preparation, Cassian (Diego Luna) and his scrappy group of rebels finally perform their heist on the Imperial garrison that has been occupying the territory.

While adventurous heists in Imperial disguises are a tried and true "Star Wars" tradition, something that especially sets "Andor" apart from the rest is the tangible sense of danger. The rebel group Cassian has found himself part of is mostly made up of displaced refugees and defecting Imperials, and despite their brave leader, Vel (Faye Marsay), they are inexperienced for the mission at hand. That's why Luthen (Stellan Skarsgard) assigned Cassian, with all of his mercenary combat and espionage skills, to steer the group in the right direction.

However, there is one pivotal key to...

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Nick Cave is getting the animated TV treatment, but in a somewhat unusual manner that seems befitting for the iconic Australian rocker.

The legendary Bad Seeds and Birthday Party frontman, alongside Swedish rock star Thåström, has thrown his support behind a new series from award-winning Swedish director/writer Måns Mårlind (Midnight Sun, The Bridge) and animation company Brokendoll.

Before They Were Gods, which is being developed by Banijay’s acclaimed Swedish production company Yellow Bird, is set in an imaginary world, in which the two musicians were close friends as 14-year-olds, before they would turn into major rock gods. Billed as a story of friendship, the series sees the two search for the ultimate truth, everlasting beauty, and cheap wine. Sometimes they find it, but mostly not. Always there, close to them both, is the promise of endless love in the form of...

Variety has been given exclusive access to the first teaser for Norwegian drama “War Sailor,” which follows two Norwegian sailors whose merchant ship is attacked by German submarines at the outbreak of World War II. Beta Cinema will be selling the film at the Cannes Market.

The film centers on Alfred Garnes, a working-class sailor, who has recently become the father of a third child, and his childhood friend Sigbjørn Kvalen, known as Wally. The men are working on a merchant ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean when World War II breaks out. The two men struggle for survival in a spiral of violence and death, where at any moment German submarines may attack their vessel.

Meanwhile, Alfred’s wife Cecilia struggles through the war alone in Bergen. When British aircrafts attempt to bomb the German submarine bunker in Bergen, they instead hit the elementary school at Laksevåg and civilian homes at Nøstet,...

Sergei Loznitsa’s Donbass, the Ukrainian filmmaker’s movie that made the festival rounds in the now-seemingly ancient year of 2018, kicks off with two different vignettes. We watch an older woman getting rings put around her eyes in a makeup trailer — she’s part of a “cast” of “everyday people,” along with fake cops and corpses, that will help sell the aftermath of a nationalist “attack” in the name of pro-Russia TV propaganda. The year is 2014; the place is, per an intertitle, “Occupied Ukraine.” An assistant leads her and her...

One of the highlights of the Berlinale Series Market is the pitch event Co-Pro Series, which looks to match projects with suitable co-producers and financiers.

Ten international series projects from Europe, Canada and Latin America have been selected to pitch at this year’s Co-Pro Series, where they will also have the opportunity of meeting one-on-one with potential partners.

Taking place over two days (Feb. 15-16), and held online once again due to the pandemic, Co-Pro Series has a track record of showcasing drama projects that have not only gone on to be produced, but that have also achieved success.

International hit “Babylon Berlin,” Austrian-German crime series “Freud,” Norwegian-German domestic terrorism drama “Furia,” Icelandic thriller “Blackport” and 1920s-set German drama “Eldorado KaDeWe” have all participated in previous Co-Pro Series pitches. In total, 19 projects have been made since the event launched in 2015.

Co-Pro Series is curated and organized by the Berlinale Co-Production Market,...

18 works in progress by some of the Nordic region’s biggest names – Bille August, Björn Runge, the multi-prized Jp Valkeapää and Malou Reymann will be showcased at the hybrid Nordic Film Market (Feb. 3-6), along with some Sundance and Rotterdam competition entries.

The Nfm runs parallel to the final stretches of the Göteborg Film Festival (Jan.28-Feb.6).

So far, over 450 international delegates have signed up for the major Nordic film confab. Only 250 will be able to attend in-person, due to Covid restrictions in Sweden.

“We’ve received a huge interest from professionals to attend in-person, following the decision of Sundance, Rotterdam and Berlin’s European Film Market to go online. It’s been very difficult to say ‘no’ to people, but our priority is to guarantee a safe event,” said Göteborg head of industry Cia Edström who underlines the various safety measures to be implemented at the Nfm, from vaccination checks,...

European producers swapped notes about financing challenges, the talent crunch, distribution bottlenecks and rights retention at the Zurich Summit.

Speaking in the session “Creative Financing and Producing in Europe,” Giorgos Karnavas, co-founder of Greece’s “Triangle of Sadness” producer Heretic, spoke of the challenges of finding crew given that so many were booked on big budget projects for streamers.

Greece has seen an influx of foreign shoots, such as “Knives Out 2,” with productions attracted by its generous 40% tax credit and because Covid-19 rates were relatively low at the beginning of the pandemic, allowing it to open up quickly to international productions.

Gudny Hummelvoll, the CEO of “Nothing to Laugh About” and “Occupied” producer Hummelfilm, expressed fears that many European producers are unable to hold on to IP given the streamers preference for buying out films, and “might end up becoming service producers.”

Hummelvoll is a member for the European Producers Club,...

Norway’s famous landscapes will be gracing screens around the world in a fresh crop of blockbusters and domestic productions set to be released internationally.

Premiering in Venice out of competition, Denis Villeneuve’s long-awaited “Dune” features scenes shot on the West Cape plateau, one of the most spectacular view points on the coast of Norway. The $165 million film will hit U.S. theaters Oct. 22 afters its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Also scheduled for a fall release, the long-delayed James Bond pic “No Time to Die” takes 007 on a car chase reportedly filmed on Norway’s spectacular wind-swept Atlantic Ocean Road. MGM has confirmed it will have its world premiere at London’s Royal Albert Hall Sept. 28.

It’s international productions like these and Netflix hit series “Ragnarok,” filmed in the small town of Odda in the fjords of southwest Norway, that have fueled a boom in film tourism to Norway,...

Stockholm- and Copenhagen-based company launches this autumn.

Endeavor Content has invested an undisclosed amount in Nordic Drama Queens, the new Scandinavian production company launched by Josefine Tengblad, Sandra Harms and Line Winther Skyum Funch.

The Stockholm- and Copenhagen-based company launches this autumn with a focus on developing premium drama from established and emerging voices from the Nordic region and around the world.

The three founders have served in various capacities in the region’s entertainment sector.

Tengblad was formerly head of drama at TV4/CMore and previously served as an independent producer. Her credits include Blinded, Top Dog and Agatha Christie’s Hjerson.

Three Scandinavian drama producers behind shows such as Modus and Occupied have set up a new production company backed by Endeavor Content.

The Hollywood studio, whose parent company is currently in sale talks to sell a majority stake in the business, is investing in Nordic Drama Queens.

The Stockholm and Copenhagen-based company has been set up by Josefine Tengblad, former head of drama at Sweden’s TV4/CMore, Sandra Harms, who was previously MD at Fremantle-backed Miso Film Sweden, which produced Modus, and Line Winther Skyum Funch, who was formerly executive producer and founder of Wisk and ex-cco of Millenium and Occupied producer Yellow Bird.

The trio will develop and produce scripted series in the region and for broadcasters and platforms around the world.

“In a time where content creation is rapidly evolving, everything still comes down to talent. Our focus will center on talent partnerships. With Endeavor Content’s support and expertise,...

Endeavor Content is investing in new Scandinavian production start-up Nordic Drama Queens, an outfit launched by three Scandi TV veterans focused on developing and producing high-end series for the global market.

Josefine Tengblad, formerly Head of Drama at Swedish network TV4/CMore and a producer whose credits include Blinded, Top Dog, and Agatha Christie’s Hjerson, set up Nordic Drama Queens together with former Miso Films managing director Sandra Harms (438 Days, Lust) and Line Winther Skyum Funch a former executive producer at Sweden’s Yellow Bird, whose credits include the Millennium trilogy, Occupied and Thin Ice.

Financial details weren’t disclosed.

Endeavor’s Scandinavian move follows a similar equity ...

Endeavor Content is investing in new Scandinavian production start-up Nordic Drama Queens, an outfit launched by three Scandi TV veterans focused on developing and producing high-end series for the global market.

Josefine Tengblad, formerly Head of Drama at Swedish network TV4/CMore and a producer whose credits include Blinded, Top Dog, and Agatha Christie’s Hjerson, set up Nordic Drama Queens together with former Miso Films managing director Sandra Harms (438 Days, Lust) and Line Winther Skyum Funch a former executive producer at Sweden’s Yellow Bird, whose credits include the Millennium trilogy, Occupied and Thin Ice.

Financial details weren’t disclosed.

Endeavor’s Scandinavian move follows a similar equity ...

High-profile Norwegian movie, theatre and TV helmer Per-Olav Sørensen has turned into one of Netflix’s hottest Nordic collaborators and show-runners since 2019. After the hit Swedish thriller series “Quicksand,” Norwegian dramedy “Home for Christmas” 1 & 2, Sørensen is currently filming Yellow Bird U.K.’s untitled “Spotify” series for the U.S. streamer.

In between drama series, Sørensen has steered the filming of the Netflix Original Norwegian pic “Royalteen,” co-helmed by rising talent Emile Beck. Toplining the modern Cinderella narrative are Matthias Storhøi, Ines Høysæter Asserson (“Skam”), Elli Müller Osborne (“Utøya: July 22”), and Veslemø Mørkrid (“Occupied”).

Based on the YA novel “The Heir,” written as a book series by journalists Randi Fuglehaug and Anne Gunn Halvorsen, “Royalteen” also marks the first production made under new label Global Ensemble Drama, founded by Sørensen.

Seasoned producer Janne Hjeltnes, most recently attached to Nrk’s youth show “Rod Knock,”which was crowned best series...

Seasoned Finnish writer-director-producer Aku Louhimies is plotting multi-season TV drama “Conflict,” a near-future political action thriller that turns on a Finland threatened by an unknown military force.

Comparing the project to high-profile Norwegian TV show “Occupied,” the director said he had the idea for “Conflict” after his war epic “Unknown Soldier,” Finland’s record-breaking movie with over 1 million ticket sales. “I started thinking what if Finland was suddenly threatened by foreign forces. How would we react and how would that affect geopolitics in the Nordic region?” reflected Louhimies, who contemplates building the project as a major international TV drama.

The project is co-penned by actor Andrei Alén, novelist and officer in reserve Helena Immonen, and long-time writing partner Jari Olavi Rantala.

Set on Midsummer’s Eve, the story follows an unknown military unit, as it invades a peaceful sea-side town in Finland. All residents are taken hostage, and civilians, used...

Michael J Fox and Denis Leary are old friends who worked together on FX’s Rescue Me, which Fox has called one of his favorite roles of his career.

The two pals got together over Zoom, ostensibly to celebrate the Family Ties and Back to the Future star picking up a lifetime achievement award at the Atx Festival.

But it was more of a look at two pals gassing about how much they love television.

Leary revealed that the pair were planning to write together.

“I’m glad they’re giving you a f*cking lifetime achievement award and I’m proud of you and I hope you’re proud but it makes me smile because I know you have all this other shit you’re going to do, and have all of these other stories you have to tell,” he said. “You and I have been personally talking about...

The Paris-based European Producers Club (Epc), which represents top independent film and TV drama producers across continental Europe, has issued a so-called Code of Fair Practices for streamers when commissioning content from indie producers.

The proposed rules — which the lobby group is hoping will provide a stimulus for an ongoing EU regulatory effort — cut to the core of efforts underway at various levels across Europe to change the rules of engagement with Netflix, Amazon Studios, Disney Plus and other Hollywood-based giants.

The Epc’s code comprises four basic principles covering crucial bones of contention such as the right for European indie producers to retain IP; to have access to streamer viewing data; and to become the exclusive conduit through which U.S. streamers can access European soft money.

These issues — see full text below — are at the heart of negotiations currently underway in several European countries, such as France, Italy,...

Keshet International has come on board as sales agent on the drama-comedy “Pørni.” The six-part Norwegian show, produced by Monster Scripted for Nent Group’s streamer Viaplay, is world premiering as part of Berlinale Series Market Selects.

“Lilyhammer” actor Henriette Steenstrup makes her debut as creator/writer on top of headlining the show. Gunnar Vikene (“Occupied”) and Charlotte Blom (“Next Summer”) serve as co-directors. The cast also includes Nils Ole Oftebro (“Mammon”), Gunnar Eiriksson (“Twin“), Johanna Mørck (“Trollhunter”) and Vivid Falk Berg.

Steenstrup plays childcare worker and single mum Pørni, who struggles to please everyone at home – her two teenage daughters, 15-year-old nephew and aging father – with no quality time with any of them. She also has to deal with a hopeless ex-husband and the loss of her sister who recently passed away. “ ‘Pørni’ is a drama about everyday dilemmas you find yourself in when, to the best of your ability,...

The heads of the national film institutes of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania came together in Tallinn.

The heads of the national film institutes of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania came together at the annual Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event as part of the Black Nights International Film Festival to pitch their countries as major film hubs to the international film industry.

The Baltic countries have opened up in the last two years as shooting locations for international productions from Christopher Nolan’s Tenet through TV series Chernobyl, Young Wallander, and Rise Of The Nazis to international features including Hans Petter Moland’s...

Exclusive: Norwegian filmmaker Eva Sorhaug (90 Minutes) has been set to direct feature thriller Edge Of Normal, based on the novel by Carla Norton.

XYZ Films (Mandy) is set to produce alongside Industry Entertainment (Messiah), with XYZ also handling world sales. The film will be produced in association with Bold Films (Whiplash), which made a splash this week with Netflix acquisition The Guilty. The book has been adapted by Matt Venne and Lori Evans Taylor.

The film follows a woman named Reeve LeClaire who has managed to piece together a normal life as an adult, but remains haunted by memories of being held captive by a sadistic man in her teens. When her psychiatrist asks Reeve to mentor another young survivor, she finds herself in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a more powerful force.

Sorhaug’s 2012 feature drama 90 Minutes debuted at the Toronto Film Festival. Her TV credits as director include Netflix series Occupied,...

Nent Group, the Nordic region’s leading streaming company, has ordered “Furia,” an original drama series created by Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen (“Mammon”) exploring the underworld of right-wing extremism in Europe.

A co-production between Norway’s Monster Scripted and Germany’s X Filme Creative Pool Series and Zdf, “Furia” will premiere exclusively across the Nordics on Nent Group’s Viaplay streaming service in 2021.

Repped by Keshet International, the eight-part show is directed by Magnus Martens and Lars Kraume (“The People vs. Fritz Bauer”).

“Furia” stars Ine Marie Willmann (“Exit”), as Ragna, a fiercely courageous cop who infiltrates a nationalistic subculture following a shocking killing in an idyllic Norwegian town. Working with Asgeir, a police investigator, Ragna’s journey pulls her into a spiral of hatred while a terrorist plot targeting the heart of Europe is revealed.

“It’s uncommon to see a female lead character who appears to be driven by such extreme rage as Ragna,...

Is Olivier Courson, once a game-changing chairman-ceo of Studiocanal, about to make a big media comeback?

Arte France, bastion of quality European TV, announced June 2 that its president, Veronique Cayla would step down on July 5. Candidates to succeed her, the French press has suggested, include Courson.

Arte France presidency is currently one of the plum jobs in French film and TV. Established in 1992, Arte is a rare case of a bi-national public broadcaster based, moreover, out of the two biggest film-tv powerhouse markets in the E.U., France and Germany. Broadcasting free-to-air in both, paid for by tax payers, and with a cultural remit, it is not exposed to a plunging TV ad market, nor has to meet minimum audience targets, nor sustain a flagging share price. Arte’s France’s market share is small, which allows it to make bold, original programming for two of the most cultured middle-classes in Europe.

Norwegian producer Gudny Hummelvoll, whose Hummelfilm shingle worked in tandem with Sweden’s Yellow Bird on hit climate-crisis thriller “Occupied,” has been elected President of the European Producers Club.

Hummelvoll is the first woman to head the organization of 130 prominent independent film and TV drama producers across Europe, including the U.K., who since 1993 have been jointly thrashing out pressing audiovisual industry issues and lobbying European Union legislators.

She replaces Spanish producer Alvaro Longoria, head of Spain’s prominent and prolific Morena Films, in the organization’s top role. Longoria is now one of Epc’s three vice presidents, alongside Dariusz Jablonski, head of Poland’s Apple Films, and Paula Vaccaro of Pinball London.

In her first interview as Epc leader Hummelvoll underlined the importance of working towards greater diversity as a group.

“The producer is at the heart of the industry,” she said. “She/he chooses subjects, and develops...

A trio of well-respected Scandinavian producers heading from Cinenord are joining forces to set up Nevis Productions, a banner dedicated to high-end Nordic and English-language series. The London-based independent producer Nevision is financially backing the new company.

Set up by Anni Faurbye Fernandez, Moa Westeson and Cindy Hanson, Nevis Productions will have offices in Stockholm and Copenhagen.

All three producers have a strong track record in scripted drama production. Fernandez’s credits include Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” Trilogy, David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “Wallander” (the Swedish and British version starring Kenneth Branagh), “Occupied,” “Wisting” and “Atlantic Crossing.” Fernandez previously worked as CEO at Yellow Bird, as well as Good Company Films and the banner Cinenord.

Westeson, meanwhile, produced films at Breidablick and Sf Studios before joining Cinenord. Her credits include “Vegas,” the trilogy “Jerry Maya’s Detective Agency,” “Atlantic Crossing” and “Veum.”

Hanson, whose track record...

A trio of top Scandinavian television producers has joined forces to launch a new outfit, Nevis Productions, to produce high-end local-language and international TV drama series.

Anni Faurbye Fernandez, former CEO of Swedish production group Yellow Bird (Occupied, Wallander), will head up Nevis together with co-founders Moa Westeson and Cindy Hanson, both former production executives at Cinenord (Atlantic Crossing, Wisting). They will be joined by junior producer Matilde Norgaard.

Between the three of them, Fernandez, Westeson and Hanson have worked on some of the most successful, and critically acclaimed, TV productions to come out of Scandinavia, including Norwegian political thriller Occupied, the Swedish ...

Viaplay, Scandinavia’s leading streaming service, has ordered “Delete Me,” a Norwegian form series skewing young adults and headlined by cast of up-and-comers.

Written and directed by Marie Kristiansen (“Young and Promising”), the series uses innovative narrative techniques to explore vital contemporary topics such as cyber-bullying, hacking and exclusion. Each episode of 20 minutes is told in reverse time order.

“Delete Me” stars Amalia Holm (“The Girl in the Spider’s Web”) and Thea Sofie Loch Næss (“Wisting”), as well as Swedish actress Happy Jankell (“The Ambassador”).

The series follows teenage girls Marion and Marit through the infamous Norwegian graduation ritual ‘Russetiden.’ As

they come of age in a culture where appearance and status are valued more than anything else, they discover that a seemingly insignificant act of jealousy can be picked up online and change lives forever. ld in reverse time order across seven 20-minute episodes,

“Delete Me” is produced by...

The writer of the series, Sara Johnsen, has snagged the circa €20,000 award in a competition that included four other Nordic series. At the 43rd Göteborg Film Festival, and on the first day of TV Drama Vision, the Norwegian TV series 22 July emerged as the winner of the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize, given out for the fourth time in a row. The award, worth Nok 200,000, was bestowed upon writer Sara Johnsen, for “outstanding writing of a Nordic drama series”. Johnsen, who is one of the best-known Norwegian filmmakers, wrote and directed the award-winning features Kissed by Winter, Upperdog and All That Matters Is Past, before joining the writing team of the successful Norwegian political thriller series Occupied. The six-part series 22 July, which Johnsen co-created with the director of the series, Pål Sletaune (Next Door), is her first TV drama as head writer. The jury...

In a case of one disrupter telling the story of another, Netflix has boarded a series about the creation of Spotify, the Swedish startup that’s become one of the world’s leading music services.

The as-yet-untitled limited series, to be directed by Per-Olav Sørensen (“Quicksand”), is inspired by the book “Spotify Untold” by Sven Carlsson and Jonas Leijonhufvud, who are business reporters at Sweden’s Dagens Industri.

The series will follow young Swedish tech entrepreneur Daniel Ek and his partner, Martin Lorentzon, who revolutionized the music industry at a turbulent time when it was being damaged by piracy and controlled by heavy-hitters who were fighting each other for a bigger piece of the pie. The pair took the industry by storm by offering free and legal streamed music around the world.

Netflix said the series will be “about how hard convictions, unrelenting will, access and big dreams can help...

Haugesund, Norway — HBO Europe’s first Norwegian original series, which debuted Aug. 21 exclusively across HBO’s territories, has garnered rave reviews in the Norwegian press. It is also a perfect fit for HBO’s brand and goal to create bold, smart and author-driven shows.

Produced by Endemol Shine’s Norwegian prodco Rubicon TV, “Beforeigners” is helmed by Jens Lien. The backdrop for the six-part series is a not so far future. A new phenomenon starts happening all over the world. As flashes of light occur in the ocean, people from the past -the stoneage, the Viking age, and the late 1800s- called Beforeigners, mysteriously start to appear. A few years later, Alfhildr (“Blade Runner 2049”’s Krista Kosonen) who comes from the Viking Age has joined the local police force’s integration program, and becomes the side-kick to Lars Haaland and were looking for fresh ideas. Sci fi was new...

Rolling off the Netflix original show “Young Wallander,” Yellow Bird U.K. is set to produce its second drama, “The Secret Woman,” a series adaptation of the Danish book of the same name written by Anna Ekberg.

Leading British screenwriter Adrian Hodges, whose credits include “My Week With Marilyn,” “The Musketeers,” “The Go-Between” and “Labyrinth,” has come on board to adapt the novel.

Launched a year ago, Yellow Bird U.K. is the Britain-based arm of the Banijay-owned thriving Scandinavian banner Yellow Bird Sweden which is behind such hits as “Wallander,” “Occupied,” “Millennium” and “Hidden.”

Berna Levin, the Cco of Yellow Bird UK, described “The Secret Woman” as a “luscious female-led murder mystery.” The novel centers on Louise Andersen, a forty-something woman who lives in a secluded village on the Danish island of Bornholm with Joachim, who is 10 years older than her. Their routinal life is disrupted by the arrival of Edmund,...

Artists, rarely do any group inspire so many opinions and emotions. Some deride them as charlatans living in a fantasy world while some are in awe of their creative prowess. They come across as living Bohemian lives. Too often have movies been made to show them as mythical and misunderstood creatures. I felt disappointed with these movies since they celebrated the artist but never quite celebrated their art. There was an element of fetishism in it. “Tatsumi”, released in 2011 and directed by Erich Khoo does not fall into this trap. It is based on the manga memoir, “A Drifting Life”, by Japanese manga artist, Yoshihiro Tatsumi. Most of us are aware of what manga are. They are comic books usually aimed at teenagers or younger. Gekiga is an alternative style of manga which is aimed at adults. Yoshihiro Tatsumi is the Tao of gekiga.

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The film premiered at Toronto 2018.

Camilla Strom Henriksen’s Norwegian drama Phoenix, which world premiered at Toronto 2018, has sold to Verve Pictures for the UK and Njutafilms for Sweden.

Michael Werner, CEO at Eyewell, which handles international sales, closed the deal with Colin Burch at Verve, which plans an autumn theatrical release. Eyewell has deals under negotiation with several other territories. The film screens at Efm today at 1445.

Swedish co-producer Annika Hellstrom on Cinenic Film did the deal with Njutafilms, which plans a summer release. Euforia released in Norway in October 2018 to a strong reception.

The $2m (17m Nok) film...

Banijay and its Scandinavian outfit Yellow Bird (“Millennium”) have unveiled the promo of the anticipated fantasy thriller series “Hidden,” which stars Izabella Scorupco (“GoldenEye”) and August Wittgenstein (“The Crown”).

Commissioned by Mtg Studios, “Hidden” is based on Filip Alexanderson’s novel “Förstfödd” and takes place in modern-day Stockholm, where people living on the margins discover they have supernatural forces.

Now in post-production, the eight-part series, which blends the paranormal with hard-hitting realism and psychological drama, was introduced to buyers at Mipcom in October. Scorupco told Variety that the 1970s-set series was a highly personal project and described her character in the show as “the most beautiful and compassionate” she’s ever played.

The series is rooted in Scandinavia’s mythology, and follows a subspecies of humans who have enhanced abilities. Although it’s a fantasy series, Scorupco said the show raised issues affecting today’s Scandinavia. “We have this amazingly well-off society,...

Banijay Group has taken control of Terence Films, the French drama outfit behind TF1 and Amazon series “Les Innocents,” and “Fortunes” for Arte and France 2, among others.

Banijay is currently in advanced talks to acquire Endemol Shine Group and considered a frontrunner for the production and distribution giant. Meanwhile, it is continuing to expand the roster of production companies in the group with the deal for a majority stake in Terence Films.

Banijay’s distribution arm sells the English-language France-set period drama “Versailles” and Nordic drama “Occupied.” It recently launched Banijay Studios Italy to focus on drama. The latest M&A deal ups its profile in French drama production.

Terence Films was founded in 2005 by Stephane Meunier and Bertrand Cohen (left). Meunier started out in journalism and documentaries before moving into scripted over a decade ago. Cohen started in the marketing department of TF1, France’s largest commercial broadcaster, and went...

French TV group Banijay is in advanced talks to acquire production and distribution giant Endemol Shine, Variety has confirmed.

The deep-pocketed Banijay Group, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is controlled by Stéphane Courbit’s Lov Group and De Agostini Group’s DEA Communications. French media giant Vivendi also holds a significant stake.

Endemol Shine, the Netherlands-based producer of “Big Brother,” “MasterChef” and “Black Mirror,” is jointly owned by 21st Century Fox and private equity fund Apollo Global Management. It was put on the block earlier this year.

Although a number of companies are believed to have expressed an initial interest in acquiring Endemol, the field has narrowed considerably in recent weeks. On Wednesday, ITV, the U.K.’s biggest commercial broadcaster, ruled out a bid, joining Fremantle in publicly disassociating itself from the Endemol sale. Sony has bowed out, and Endeavor, which took a look at Endemol, is...

Anni Faurbye Fernandez is also a co-founder of Good Company Films.

Norwegian production company Cinenord has appointed Denmark’s Anni Faurbye Fernandez as a new partner in the company, as it continues its Scandinavian expansion.

Fernandez is formerly CEO of Yellow Bird and co-founder of Good Company Films. Her production credits include the original Swedish The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and David Fincher’s Us remake; the Norwegian thriller Headhunters, BBC’s Wallander and Norwegian hit show Occupied.

Cinenord partners Silje Hopland Eik and Alexander Eik have produced and co-produced 28 feature films and three TV shows over the past 14 years,...

TrustNordisk has come on board to handle international sales on Jens Jonsson’s thriller “The Spy” (Spionen) about Sonja Wigert, Scandinavia’s acclaimed actress who turned into a double agent during World War II.

The film was produced by Karin Julsrud, Turid Øversveen and Håkon Øverås at 4½. “The Spy” toplines a prestigious Nordic cast, including Ingrid Bolsø Berdal (“Westworld”), Rolf Lassgård (“A Man Called Ove”), Alexander Scheer (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales), Edvin Endre (“Vikings”), Gitte Witt Julsrud (“The Impossible”), Johan Widerberg (“Ocean’s Twelve”), Thomas Arnold (“Thor: The Dark World”), plus Ingrid Vollan and Anders T. Andersen (“Mammon”).

Written by Harald Rosenløw Eeg and Jan Trygve Røyneland (“Occupied”), the film charts the journey of famed Scandinavian actress Wigert who became a spy for Swedish intelligence after her father was imprisoned by the Germans. As she infiltrated deeper into the German spy network, threats and rumors...

Spirit Entertainment Limited

From the makers of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo comes the new Nordic sensation, political suspense thriller Occupied (Okkupert). To celebrate we are giving you the chance to win 1 of 3 Blu-rays courtesy of Dazzler Media.

Set in the not so distant future where climate change has brought Europe to the brink of war, Henrik Mestad (Lilyhammer) stars as environmentally friendly prime minister Jasper Berg. He has convinced his voters that the best way to tackle climate change is to halt all oil production in Norway, sending the country and the rest of the world into crisis.

This gripping 10-part series comes to Blu-ray and DVD on 21st March 2016.

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Another keynote comes from Anne Kolbjørnsen, whose credits include Lilyhammer.

The Queen producer Andy Harries will give one of the keynote speeches at TV Drama Vision, the Goteborg Film Festival’s two-day industry seminar on television drama (Jan 28-29).

Another keynote comes from Anne Kolbjørnsen, Head of Scripted at Rubicon TV, which produces Lilyhammer.

Entitled ‘TV is the new film’, the seminar series will have a focus this year on Norwegian television. Dozens of upcoming Nordic drama series will be revealed, including Occupied, based on a story by Jo Nesbø.

The seminar will focus on the future of TV drama both locally and globally, and more guests will be revealed in January.

The festival itself runs from Jan 23 until Feb 2 and typically about 450 films are screened. The full film lineup will be announced on January 8.