Strong Nordic Drama Presence At Série Series 2016

This year Scandinavian drama is set to present a particularly strong showing for Série Series 2016 at Fontainebleau, near Paris, from 29th June to 1st July.

Série Series is a three day programme for screenwriters, directors, producers, and distributors, that offers screenings, case studies, professional meetings, workshops and masterclasses. Here are this year’s highlights…

The Day Will Come | TV2 | Denmark

In a working-class neighbourhood of Copenhagen in 1967, two inseparable brothers – Elmer and Erik – are taken away from their sick mother and put in the Gudbjerg Home for Boys. From the very first day, the boys realise hat their freedom is lost and a daily struggle for survival has begun. Armed only with a vivid imagination and fickle hope, the boys engage in a frightening battle against Headmaster Heck and his lethal tyranny.

Screening of episode 1 of season 1, followed by a case study with Peter Aalbæk Jensen (producer) and Sune Martin (composer).

Downshifters | YLE TV2 | Finland

When Tommi’s company goes bankrupt, Tommi and Satu find themselves at a financial dead end. They are embarrassed by their predicament and decide to hide it from everyone except their best friends, Pia and Aaro. Aaro, Satu’s brother, is laid off, so both couples move into a restless neighbourhood of concrete apartment blocks where unemployment is
prevalent and decide to pretend that they’re voluntarily downshifting.

Screening of episode 4 of season 1, followed by a case study with Olli Haikka (creator & executive producer), Marko Talli (producer), Teppo Airaksinen (director), Anna Dahlman (co-screenwriter), Mikko Leppilampi (actor).

Monster | NRK | Norway

A shocking murder is committed at the northernmost edge of the world. Local detective Hedda Gilbert and special investigator, Joel Dreyer, are brought together to work the case. Several old murder cases are linked to it, and the disappearance of Hedda’s mother 30 years ago is also tied to the case, which plunges us into the dark secrets of a remote society.

Screening of a montage of extracts made for Série Series, followed by a discussion with the team.

Skam | NRK | Norway

Shame follows Eva and friends in their Oslo high school, as they navigate their way through adolescence. The series was created by NRK to draw a younger audience to the channel and thus, targets adolescents. A transmedia strategy was adopted for the broadcast, making it possible to follow the characters and their lives through photos and videos on their virtual social network accounts, all of which comes together at the end of the week to make up an episode.

Screening followed by a case study with the team.

Valkyrien | NRK | Norway

Ravn, a respected physician, is desperately seeking a cure for his dying wife, Vilma. When the hospital stops her treatment, Ravn is forced to open an illegal clinic with the help of a former patient and doomsday prepper. But where will all this end?

Screening of episode 1 of season 1, followed by a case study with Erik Richter Strand (screenwriter and director), Eric Vogel and Nina B. Andersson (producers) and Sven Nordin (actor).

Farang | TV4 | Sweden

Rickard is a former criminal who lives in Thailand under witness protection, after testifying against his cronies. Ten years earlier, he had to give up his name, his homeland and his family. When his fifteen-year-old daughter, Thyra, comes looking for him, Rickard’s past catches up with him.

Screening of a montage of extracts made for Série Series, followed by a discussion with Malin Lagerlöf (creator and screenwriter), Erik Leijonborg (director), Ola Rapace (actor) and Anna Wallmark Avelin (producer).

#Hashtag | SVT | Sweden

Suddenly all the young people in Gothenburg are talking about #paaach – an Instagram account where girls and boys ridicule each other’s sex lives. The rumour about who started the account, leads to a riot outside a secondary school. The reactions are extreme and adults, who have long since lost contact with the internet generation, try to intervene. Somebody has to take the blame… The series is inspired by the instagram riots that took place in Sweden in 2012.

Screening followed by a case study with the team.

The Bonus Family | SVT | Sweden

Bonusfamiljen (The Bonus Family) centres around a new couple, Patrick and Lisa, who fall in love and start a new family. But since they both have children and ex partners – and now bonus children – life is complicated in an ordinary every day way!

Screening of episode 1 of season 1, followed by a case study with the team.