The official Icelandic bestseller lists for 2019 have just been published, and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is one of the names among the top spots. Sigurðardóttir’s latest installment in the Freyja and Huldar series, The Fallout, was published just last month in December, yet managed to find its way to the No. 3 position on the bestseller list for all categories, and the No. 2 spot in the fiction category.

Jo Nesbø meanwhile comes in at No. 2 on the translated fiction list, appearing with the latest Harry Hole novel, Knife. At No. 3 on the same list is Liza Marklund’s Black Pearl Farm. The YA list sees Bobbie Peers grab the No. 7 spot with William Wenton and the Luridium Thief.

Witch Hunt, the latest TV-series creation from the renowned screenwriter duo Siv Rajendram Eliassen and Anna Bache-Wiig, premiered January 9 on TV 2 Norway and has received outstanding reviews in the Norwegian press.

“Witch Hunt must be the most important Norwegian drama series of the year. /…/ The escalating conflict is topical, striking and has a pronounced nerve.”
–Dagbladet

“I would like to commend Bache-Wiig and Rajendram for creating the solid concept and form of this series. /…/ High quality through and through.”
–Filmfront

“Exciting and shocking. /…/ The creators Rajendram and Bache-Wiig have constructed a complex and believable story.”
–Stavanger Aftenblad

“A well-written and clever script. /…/ High quality craftsmanship.”
–NRK P3

“This is deliciously entertaining.”
–Verdens Gang

“Rarely has a Norwegian TV series introduced its themes and aesthetics in a more concise or elegant way. /…/ A clever drama thriller filled with connotations.”
–Morgenbladet

“Top quality.”
–730

“Meticulously and realistically portrayed.”
–Dagsavisen

“Siv Rajendram and Anna Bache-Wiig knows how to deliver quick twist and turns and blindside their heroes and villains.”
–Aftenposten

The official trailer for the upcoming series Box 21 has now been released. The series is based on the crime novel by acclaimed writer duo Roslund & Hellström, and will premiere on Viaplay on January 17. Criminal detective Ewert Grens is portrayed by Leonard Terfelt.

The new series tells the story of Lidia and Alina, two young girls from the East who dream of a better life. The girls are lured to Sweden with promises of good jobs awaiting them, but their journey ends in sex trafficking and dreams of revenge on the men that robbed them of their lives.

In Box 21, the lives of the girls are intertwined with other stories in an increasingly intense development which culminates in a hostage situation at a hospital morgue. At the center of the events is criminal detective Ewert Grens, who is faced with the question of who the true victims are in this deadly drama.

The nominees for the 2020 Official Swedish Film Awards have now been announced and 438 Days, directed by Jesper Ganslandt, is nominated in six categories, including ‘Best Film’.

The nominees further include Quick, nominated in seven categories including ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role’, and Britt-Marie Was Here in the categories of ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’ and the Audience Award.

The winners will be announced at the award ceremony January 20.

The 10-episode international spy thriller series Hamilton saw its world premiere last year at MIPCOM and the first two episodes are now available for streaming on C More.

Hamilton has received wonderful reviews in Swedish press, with newspaper Expressen describing it as “Brilliantly written, directed and cut.”

Hamilton moves away from the classic spy thriller set in the Cold War, and enters a contemporary world of espionage, paranoia and geopolitical games. The series, set in Sweden, Germany, Russia and the US, revolves around Swedish Agent Carl Hamilton as he is caught up in a murder investigation which appears to be linked to a series of public cyberattacks across Scandinavia.

Hamilton is based on the bestselling novel by Jan Guillou, directed by Erik Leijonborg and written by Petter Rosenlund.

UK magazine The Times has selected the TV series Wisting as a ‘Critic’s Choice,’ praising it as “a cut above” with “interesting social undercurrents.” The detective series is based on Jørn Lier Horst’s bestselling books about police inspector William Wisting and is co-created and written by director Trygve Allister Diesen and Katherine Valen Zeiner. Wisting is currently airing on BBC Four in the UK.

22 July, the absorbing new drama series from award-winning filmmakers Sara Johnsen and Pål Sletaune, premiered January 5 on NRK and has received great reviews in the Norwegian press.

“As good as TV gets. /…/ Johnsen and Sletaune have created an ingenious and poignant TV series.”
–Nettavisen

“Hard-hitting and nuanced.”
–Dagbladet

“Shocking and realistic. /…/ Sara Johnsen and Pål Sletaune delivers an impressive and solid piece of work.”
–KRSby

“Respectful and critical.”
–Verdens Gang

“An affectionate and multifaceted portrait.”
–Morgenbladet

“A powerful July 22 series with pain and critique.”
–Adresseavisen

“22 July is an impressive accomplishment. /…/ What they have achieved is a difficult feat. They have produced a series that is important. And dignified. /…/ See it.”
–Rushprint

Ellie and Walter have to stick together. The two of them have been sent to Tempest Island, where they will stay until their parents return home. But nothing is as it seems on the island. Ellie and Walter’s new home, the island’s deserted old stone fortress, hides dark secrets. And the locals are quick to warn them: Stay away from the fortress, kids! But who’d believe their stories of ghosts and ghouls? Certainly not Ellie and Walter.

At night, someone tugs at the door of their bedroom. In another room, the paintings have been hung with the motifs facing the wall. They portray the four children who once lived in the fortress, before they all went missing. As if that wasn’t spooky enough, a black bird keeps chasing Ellie, refusing to leave her alone…

Kristina Ohlsson, a master of eerie, creeping suspense, is finally back with The Mystery of the Haunted Fortress, a new tale to spook and delight young readers.

Jakob Ström is the director of the short film Dear Daddy that was released on social media in 2015 and went viral. In Sweden alone it was viewed 6 million times in 5 days, and has since been viewed more than over 300 million times worldwide. Dear Daddy won several international awards, including the Gold and Silver Lion in Cannes, the Grand Prix at the New York Festival, the D&AD White Pencil, the Silver CLIO Award, two Grand Prix Awards and one Gold Award at the CRESTA Awards, one Silver and two Gold Awards at the London International Awards, one Gold and one Silver Eurobest Award.

Ström is the creator of the successful comedy Torpederna (2014), praised by viewers and critics alike. In 2016, Torpederna won the Kristallen Award for ‘Best Comedy Series’.

In 2017, Ström directed three episodes for the awarded television series Jordskott, and is currently working on his latest series creation, War.