Zentropa acquires the film rights to Katrine Engbergs’s ‘The Writing on the Wall’
Zentropa film has acquired the film rights for Katrine Engberg’s new crime series. Together with the author, producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen, is planning a series of three to five films.
“After 20 pages of Katrine Engberg’s new novel, The Writing on the Wall, I knew that this was the film project with which I must end my long and conflicted career. This book series will be my epitaph! I am deeply captivated by the characters and the exotic stories, weaved together in a clever way in a magnificent drama. Genuinely excited to turn the next page. Read the book, look forward to the movie!” says Peter.
For the first time, Katrine Engberg writes a story rooted in her own family history. The Writing on the Wall questions what a good person is, and what it is that we are running from. The need for escape is the overarching theme which both our main character Liv, and two supporting characters Nima and Hannah tackle. They are all running from something, or from their selves. And this does not exclude the murderer!
For Katrine, the film adaptation is a dream come true: “I was standing in my study looking out at a snowy Copenhagen when Peter Aalbæk called, and I knew immediately that we were ‘meant to be’. Seeing my own family history rewritten into a movie script and played by actors was a wild thought. I couldn’t imagine leaving it to anyone but him.”
The Writing on the Wall is the first installment in Katrine Engberg’s new crime series about private detective Liv Jensen.
The Storytel Awards 2023 Shortlist Announced
The nominees for this year’s Swedish Storytel Awards have been announced. The Storytel Awards have been bestowed since 2007 in Sweden to highlight the best audio books of the year. The awards are granted within six categories: Suspense, Fiction, Non-fiction, Feelgood, YA, and Children’s books.
Among the nominees for suspense are Lars Kepler’s The Spider, Anders de la Motte’s The Mountain King, Kristina Ohlsson’s Dimmed Lights, Anders de la Motte and Måns Nilsson’s Death Goes Antiquing, and Liza Marklund’s The Mire.
The Details by Ia Genberg is featured within the fiction category.
Meanwhile, Anders Hansen and Mats Wänblad’s The Happiness Cure for Teens and Elaf Ali’s Who Said Anything About Love? feature on the YA list, whilst Martin Widmark’s The Masquerade Mystery and Stories from Valleby: The mysterious letter are in the running for the children’s books award.
Readers will be able to vote for their favorite works until February 5, after which a jury will pick a winner among the three candidates with the most votes in each category.
To cast your vote, click “Read more” below.
‘The Real Happy Pill’ No. 3 in Japan
The Japanese edition of Anders Hansen’s The Real Happy Pill claims the No. 3 spot on Amazon in Japan right now. His title Insta-Brain was the most sold title of 2021 in Japan and has together with The Happiness Cure been #1 bestsellers.
International Film Festival Rotterdam to feature the world premiere of ‘Four Little Adults’
Written and directed by Selma Vilhunen, Four Little Adults will have its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). The film is also selected for their Big Screen Competition. The festival takes place Jan 25 – Feb 5 2023.
After the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Four Little Adults will travel to Göteborg Film Festival where it’s nominated for the Dragon Award – ‘Best Nordic Film.’
Four Little Adults is a touching and humane portrait of grown-ups with growing pains. Juulia is a successful Member of the Parliament with a seemingly perfect marriage with her priest husband Matias. But when Juulia discovers that Matias has had a year-long affair with Enni, she collapses. To save her marriage, Juulia invites Enni to be a part of their lives, and they start a polyamorous relationship. When Juulia explores the new rules, she falls in love with young Miska, who seems to be the most mature of the quartet. There is a lot of love in the relationships among the four, but no matter how hard they try, the challenges remain.
‘Killing Moon’ No. 1 in Sweden
Jo Nesbø’s Killing Moon, the thirteenth Harry Hole novel, stays firmly put at No. 1 on the official hardcover bestseller list in Sweden.
The 2023 Mofibo Awards
The Danish audio and e-book service Mofibo has announced this year’s nominees in the Mofibo Awards. Competing for the title of Best Crime & Suspense is Katrine Engberg with The Writing on the Wall. In the Translated Fiction category, Lars Kepler, Liza Marklund, Stefan Ahnhem and Hjorth & Rosenfeldt are vying for the top spot. Kepler with The Spider, Marklund with The Mire, Ahnhem with The Final Nail, and Hjorth & Rosenfeldt with As You Sow.
To cast your vote, click “Read more” below. Voting closes on January 29.
‘Opponent’ receives its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival
The Berlin Film Festival has unveiled the first titles for its Panorama section, and among the selected films is Milad Alami’s Opponent.
Opponent stars Payman Maadi, Arvin Kananian, Marell Nasiri, Björn Elgerd and Ardalan Esmaili.
The film follows Iman and his family who have been forced to flee Iran in the aftermath of a devastating rumor. As refugees, they end up in a run-down hotel in Northern Sweden. Despite feeling powerless, Iman tries to maintain his role as the family patriarch. To increase their chances of asylum, he breaks a promise to his wife and joins the local wrestling club. As the rumours start to resurface, Iman’s fear and desperation begin to take a hold.
The Berlin Film Festival will take place February 16-26, and Opponent will premiere in Swedish theaters March 31.
‘A Man Called Ove’ – 90 weeks on the New York Times’ Bestseller List
Fredrik Backman’s beloved debut novel A Man Called Ove celebrates its 90th week on the New York Times bestseller list this week, coming in at No. 11 on the paperback list. A masterful feat considering the book has been on the market for eight years in the US.
Meanwhile, the US film adaptation A Man Called Otto, featuring Tom Hanks in the leading role, is now out in theaters across the globe. The film has received raving reviews, and a Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score of 97%.
Jo Nesbø and Jørn Lier Horst the most sold of 2022 in Norway
Jo Nesbø and Jørn Lier Horst are the two most sold Norwegian authorships during 2022. Jo Nesbø is the No. 1 best selling author with his Killing Moon, the thirteenth Harry Hole novel. Jørn Lier Horst is No. 2 with The Traitor, the sixteenth novel about William Wisting.
Liza Marklund No. 1 in Norway
Liza Marklund continues to place first on the official Norwegian bestseller list for paperbacks, coming in at No. 1 also this week with The Polar Circle.