Piv Bernth and DR Drama Deputy Head Lars Hermann are leaving the Danish pubcaster to set up their own company Apple Tree.

  The new indie drama powerhouse will start operating on December 1st, 2017. The esteemed Head of Drama Bernth brings with her the highly skilled DR producers Anders Toft Andersen (Follow the Money), Karoline Leth (The Legacy, Liberty) and Dorthe Riis Lauridsen (Freja). Negotiations are under way with a major international partner to join Apple Tree.

Bernth said:” After more than 30 years working for and with DR, where I have directed, produced and for the last five years been Head of Drama, I feel it is time for a new chapter in my life. Together with Lars and three brilliant producers, whom I have worked with for years, I am starting on this new adventure where we will continue to deliver innovative, high quality television drama series to the Danes and anyone else, looking for good stories. The times is right for someone else taking over at DR, and I am very much looking forward to our new venture together.”

DR Culture Director Tine Smedehaard Andersen said: “At DR, we will miss these incredibly skilled individuals who have chosen to take on the challenge of starting their own production company. Fortunately, DR Drama has an extremely high artistic and production level that has gained recognition both at home and internationally for many years, so the new artistic team that will continue to develop a strong DR Drama department will be able to stand on a solid ground.”

Lene Nordin, Head of Administration at DR Culture has been appointed Deputy Director at DR Drama until the new senior positions within the DR department are filled. Bernth will continue to work at DR for a limited number of hours as executive producer between December 1, 2017 until September 30, 2018 to supervise the completion of DR Drama’s current productions Ride Upon the Storm Season 2 and Liberty, while Anders Toft Andersen will work as freelancer as creative producer on Follow the Money season 3.

Bernth has set the bar very high on Scandinavian drama and churned out the hits (The Killing, Borgen, The Legacy, Follow the Money) applying every time the ‘one vision double storytelling' formula and grooming new talent (writers, directors, actors) to bring fresh ideas and constantly challenge the audience.

At the upcoming MIPCOM DR Sales is selling the family drama Liberty starring Sofie Gråbøl and Connie Nielsen and Follow the Money, while the faith drama Ride Upon The Storm starring Lars Mikkelsen is handled by Studiocanal.