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Norwegian monster pic “Kraken,” directed by Pål Øie, has inked a trio of European distribution deals ahead of its 2025 release. The film, inspired by the legendary deep-sea creature, has been picked up by Splendid Film for Germany, Mediawan Rights for France and Youplanet for Spain. These acquisitions follow earlier sales to North America (Samuel Goldwyn Films) and Latin America (Gussi).

“Kraken” follows marine biologist Johanne as she investigates strange occurrences linked to a local fjord. As deadly events unfold, she uncovers a terrifying myth lurking beneath the water’s surface — a giant, multi-armed monster capable of destroying everything in its path.

The film stars Sara Khorami, best known for her role in the Norwegian dramedy “Nothing to Laugh About” (2022), Mikkel Bratt Silset (“Shadow of Victory”), Ingvild Holthe Bygdnes (“The Tunnel” 2019), Steinar Klouman Hallert (“Sick of Myself”) and young actor Jenny Evensen.

John Einar Hagen and Einar Loftesnes of Nordisk Film Production,...

TrustNordisk’s forthcoming creature feature Kraken, based on the legendary sea monster from Nordic folklore, has inked a pair of pillar distribution deals on the first day of Berlin’s European Film Market. The Norwegian-language action feature has been acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films for North America and Gussi for Latin America.

Directed by Norwegian filmmaker Pål Øie, known for his action-thriller Tunnel and the horror flick Hidden, Kraken tells the story of a marine biologist who encounters several strange occurrences while researching a fjord, including the brutal deaths of two local teenagers.

“At the bottom of Norway’s deepest fjord rests a mythical monster as large as a mountain, with a myriad of arms ready to crush and devour anything they can grab,” the film’s synopsis reads.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Samuel Goldwyn and Gussi for the release of Kraken in North and Latin America,...

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights toPal Oie’s monster film Krakenfor TrustNordisk; Gussi has taken Latin American rights.

Krakenis about a marine biologist investigating strange occurrences in Norway’s deepest fjord. Sara Khorami stars with Mikkel Bratt Silset, Ingvild Holthe Bygdnes, Steinar Klouman Hallert and Jenny Evensen.

The film is in post-production, and set for release in late 2025. Producers areNordisk Film Production’s John Einar Hagen and Einar Loftesnes, who producedOie’s 2019 thrillerThe Tunnel,with genre outfitHandmade Films in Norwegian Woods.

Backing is viathe Norwegian Film Institute, Mediefondet Zefyr, Vestnorsk Filmcenter, Business Finland, Turkuu and Tampere, Finland.

Netflix has announced the creation of Troll 2, the sequel to its globally acclaimed Norwegian monster movie, which will be released in 2025. The news follows the original film’s success, which enthralled international audiences and broke streaming records.

The first Troll film, which aired in December 2022, was a watershed moment for Netflix. It grossed an incredible 103 million views and became the platform’s most-watched non-English language film. Roar Uthaug, who developed the concept over two decades, will return to direct the sequel.

The film will have a new ensemble cast, including Sara Khorami, Jon Ketil Johnsen, and Gard B. Eidsvold. While precise narrative details remain unknown, the original film’s idea revolved around a huge 150-foot troll rising in the Norwegian highlands and destroying the country’s capital.

“The first film deliberately left room for further exploration,” said producer Kristian Strand Sinkerud, who had previously hinted at a possible sequel.

The sequel to Netflix's most-watched non-English movie has been confirmed for a 2025 release. Originally launched in 2007, the streaming service began its global expansion in 2010, launching in Canada and rapidly entering international markets like Latin America, Europe, and Asia over the next decade and, by 2016, had become available in over 190 countries. Over the years, Netflix's original non-English movies and TV shows have created a robust library that appeals to its international subscribers.

To date, Netflix's most-watched title, TV show or movie, English or non-English, is the Korean-language Squid Game season 1 with over 265 million views. In terms of movies, their most popular non-English film is Troll with 103 million views, followed by Under Paris, Society of the Snow, Nowhere, The Platform, Through My Window, Aka, Bloody Red Sky, My Name Is Vendetta, and Black Crab. The streaming service has shown a strong interest in producing follow-ups to their most popular non-English movies,...

BBC Basks In Norwegian Afterglow

The BBC has acquired Norwegian comedy drama ‘Afterglow’ for BBC Four and BBC iPlayer. The 7×45 minute series tells the story of Ester Sand, the one person you think will live forever, who finds out she has cervical cancer on her 40th birthday. But after the initial shock, it’s Ester who comforts the people in her life and she has no intention of leaving the world just yet. “ ‘Afterglow’ is a story of love and life and all of the glorious and silly things we do before we die,” the broadcaster said. “Afterglow” stars Nina Ellen Odegaard (“Possession”), Torbjorn Harr (“Vikings”), Sara Khorami (“Witch Hunt”) and Hermann Sabado (“Home for Christmas”). It was created by Kjetil Indregard and Atle Knudsen, who also acts as director. It was produced by Monster Scripted for Nrk, with rights handled by Reinvent International Sales. “Funny, sad, honest and touching,...

Joachim Trier now holds the personal record for the most Amanda wins.

The Worst Person In The World was the big winner of Norway’s Amanda Awards last night, winning five prizes at the ceremony held during the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund.

Worst Person took home the best film title as well as best actress for Renate Reinsve, best supporting actor for Anders Danielsen Lie and the people’s choice award. Joachim Trier shared the best screenplay prize with his longtime co-writer Eskil Vogt, which means Trier now holds the personal record for the most Amanda wins.

The Innocents,...

Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated smash “The Worst Person in the World,” about a young woman trying to figure out what – and who – she really wants in her life, won big at Norway’s Amanda Awards on Saturday night, scooping five statuettes, including one for best film.

Trier, who now holds the title for most Amanda Awards, also won for best screenplay with his long-time collaborator Eksil Vogt. The film’s breakout star Renate Reinsve, already awarded at Cannes, picked up her first Amanda for her portrayal of Julie, with Anders Danielsen Lie named best supporting actor.

Back in February, Reinsve – who will be next seen in “A Different Man” alongside Sebastian Stan – opened up about her work with Trier, which started in 2011 on “Oslo, August 31st,” her very first feature film.

“I was an extra with one line. I had nothing to compare it to – it was my first movie set.

Tobias Menzies, who won last year’s primetime Emmy Award for his turn as Prince Philip in ‘The Crown,’ has joined the cast of “Made in Oslo,” a character-driven thriller series set at a fertility clinic in Norway.

Menzies stars in the cinematic show opposite Pia Tjelta, one of Norway’s most successful actors whose credits include successful shows such as “Norsemen” and “Lykkeland.”

Created and penned by Kathrine Valen Zeiner, the eight-part show is a Nent/Viaplay Original and is produced by Tordenfilm. It will premiere on Viaplay on April 24.

“Made in Oslo” is directed by Marit Moum Aune, whose credits includes “Angels in America – National Theatre” and “Oslo.”

In “Made in Oslo,” Tjelta plays Elin, a passionate doctor who runs a fertility clinic and becomes obsessed with her mission to help couples have children, leading her to break rules, cross boundaries and put her relationship with loved ones in jeopardy.

The fifth edition will see the TV festival return to its original springtime slot to run alongside MipTV.

French Oscar-winning director Xavier De Lestrade’s investigative thriller The Inside Game, Seeds Of Wrath and Danish bio-series The Dreamer – Becoming Karen Blixen are among the 10 new series selected for competition in the upcoming edition of French TV festival Canneseries (April 1-6).

The fifth edition sees the event return its traditional springtime slot coinciding with the MipTV content market (April 4-6), after the festival moved to September in 2021 due to the Covid-pandemic.

Political thriller The Inside Game, Seeds Of Wrath stars Alix Poisson...

Powered by its famed partners, Oslo-based Motion Blur, one of Norway’s top producers of commercials, features and TV shows, has never been that busy with projects both on home turf and in the U.S.

That activity in part rolls off the pulling power of the company’s pedigreed partners: “Karate Kid” helmer Harald Zwart; “Kon-Tiki” and “Pirates of the Caribbean-Dead Men Tell No Tales” co-helmer Espen Sandberg: and producer Espen Horn.

Minority shareholder Sf Studios lends Motion Blur adds financial stability. The genre-bending outfit also boasts a unique bond with Netflix that has translated into three Norwegian-language orders over the past year-and-a -half from the U.S. giant.

Helmed by rising talent Jarand Herdal, chiller “Cadaver,” Netflix’s first Norwegian feature, premiered last October. Motion Blur’s vampire comedy show “Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes” is launching on the giant streamer on Aug. 25. A third Netflix title,...

The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced the films that will be featured in their New Auteurs and American Independents sections at the upcoming AFI Fest 2017 presented by Audi. Selections include a number of lauded features from around the festival circuit, including Cannes offerings like “I Am Not a Witch,” SXSW favorites like “Gemini” and “Mr. Roosevelt,” the Sundance breakout “Thoroughbreds,” and Joseph Kahn’s Toronto Midnight Madness favorite “Bodied,” among others.

Highlighting first- and second-time feature film directors, New Auteurs is designed as the festival’s platform for upcoming filmmakers from all over the world to showcase their new films. This year, the section includes 11 films, nine of which come from female directors. Similarly, AFI Fest’s American Independents section aims to represent the best of this year’s independent filmmaking. Pushing boundaries of form and content across narrative and documentary cinema, this section includes 11 films from both fresh...