Kristofer Metcalfe’s suspense drama Twin starring Game of Thrones Kristofer Hivju is the only Nordic TV show vying in the official competition against nine high profile international shows, such as Netflix’s US thriller Chambers starring Uma Thurman, Channel 4’s drama The Virtues created by Shane Meadows, SWR/ARD/ARTE’s refugee camp drama Eden co-written and directed by Dominik Moll and ARTE/Netflix’s French comedy drama Mytho.

First pitched at Series Mania’s Co-Production Forum in 2017, the 8x45’ series Twin created and directed by Metcalfe, is set in Norway’s picturesque Lofoten islands. Hivju plays Erik and Adam who are identical twins, but with opposite personalities. Erik is a beach bum surfer, drowning in debt. Adam is a father of two children, running a prosperous hotel in the fjords. When the two meet up after 15 years away from each other, a crisis unfolds. The suspense drama explores what it means to be a twin and the complexity for each individual to find himself.

The series was produced by Nordisk Film Production Norge for NRK, with support among others from Nordisk Film & TV Fond. The series will premiere on the Norwegian pubcaster in the fall 2019. TrustNordisk handles world sales.

Two Scandi series have been selected for the International Panorama section: 

  • Norway’s Exit produced by Fremantle Media for NRK will have its world premiere in Lille. Fremantle International handles world distribution. The 6x42’ Norwegian drama is created/written and directed by Øystein Karlsen (Dag, One Night). Based on true stories from Norway’s financial sector, the series centres on four men in their 30s who’ve peaked in their careers and now find everyday life boring. Attempting to escape from their obligations, expectations and families, they employ drugs, prostitutes and test their very own morality. In the title roles are Tobias Santelmann (Out Stealing Horses), Pål Sverre Hagen (Valkyrien), Jon Øigarden (Mammon), Simon J. Berger (Hidden) and Agnes Kittelsen (Dag, Happy Happy). 
  • Denmark’’s Pros and Cons (Friheden) produced by SAM Productions for Viaplay/TV3 had its premiere on October 24. Studiocanal handles world distribution. The series was written by Thor Bjørn Krebs and directed/co-written by Mikkel Serup. The main characters are former con artists Nina (Lene Maria Christensen) and Erik (Lars Ranthe) who now live peaceful lives, until an-ex partner in crime reappears with a new idea for a scam.

Another Danish series, Hell is Other People (Helved) will have its world premiere in the Short Form Competition programme. The 1x17’ & 5x12’ show was produced by Grasværk with support from the Danish Film Institute’s New Danish Screen. No local broadcaster has been confirmed yet. The show created/directed by Lars T. Therkildsen centres on Albert who returns to the country family home he hates to celebrate his grandmother’s 80th birthday. As family rivalries and tensions fester, the inevitable huge fight breaks out, and Albert finds himself stuck in a time loop, forced to relive this day again and again until he manages to heal the wounds of a family torn apart. For producer Maria Møller Christoffersen, the series investigates family dynamics “in a distinctive stylistic and absurd humouristic tone”.

A total of 71 series from 20 countries were selected from 450 submissions. Commenting on the 2019 Series Mania programme, managing director Laurence Herszberg and artistic director Frédéric Lavigne said that ‘in the face of political and social instability', the trend reflected in this year’s programme is “for series that replay history or demonise the future.” “What did we miss and how far will it go are two aspects of the same latent anxiety shared by society and which is creeping into our personal lives,” they said.

Among the special guests attending this year’s Series Mania are US actress Uma Thurman, Black Mirror’s UK show-runners Charlie Brooker & Annabel Jones, UK actor Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor), French actor/director Yves Rénier, The Bureau’s French writer/director Eric Rochant, Black Earth Rising’s UK writer/director Hugo Blick.

The jury of the main competition programme will be presided by US screenwriter/director/producer Marti Noxon (Sharp Objects, Mad Men).

Meanwhile the industry event Series Mania Forum to be held March 25-27 at Lille’s Grand Palais is expecting more than 2,500 drama executives from 40 countries. Sixteen projects in development to be announced next week, will compete for the €50,000 Best Pitch Award.

Among the case studies will be ARTE France’s series Eden, Hierro, DNA, while NRK will present its event drama 22.July. Commenting on NRK’s strong presence at this year’s Series Mania, Head of Drama Ivar Køhn said: “Twin, Exit and 22.July are three great shows that demonstrate the diversity in genres of Norwegian drama. The selection at Series Mania is a confirmation that Norway has established itself at the top level of European drama. It's absolutely fantastic and very inspiring to all of us.”