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.

Ill Will, the latest title from Jørn Lier Horst, comes in at No. 4 on the hardcover bestseller list for week 50 in Norway. The novel also features at No. 5 on the e-book list.

Death Deserved, the first book in Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger’s Blix & Ramm series, comes in at No. 4 in paperback.

For the fourth consecutive year the award for outstanding writing in Nordic drama will be handed out at Gothenburg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision. Sara Johnsen is nominated as the writer of 22 July.

22 July tells the story of those who, by virtue of their professions, witnessed the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Norway on July 22, 2011. They rescued the injured, buried the dead, comforted the grieving, and attempted to understand in the face of overwhelming grief and shock. Featuring fictional characters but based on meticulous research into the true events, 22 July is a story about the systems that shape our daily lives, and who we are when tragedy strikes.

22 July will premiere on NRK on January 5.

The nominees for 2019’s Storytel Awards have been announced. Previously known as the Grand Audiobook Prize, the Storytel Awards have been handed out to the best audio books in Sweden since 2007. The awards are split into five categories: Suspense, Fiction, Nonfiction, YA, and Children’s books.

Among the nominees for the Suspense award are: Stefan Ahnhem’s X Ways to Die, Anne Holt’s A Grave for Two, Kristina Ohlsson’s To Him Who Knocks, Hjorth & Rosenfeldt’s A Higher Justice, Jo Nesbø’s Knife, and Anders Roslund’s Knock Knock.

The Fiction nominees include: Liza Marklund’s Black Pearl Farm, Fredrik Backman’s Anxious People, Simona Ahrnstedt’s Just a Little More, and Niklas Natt och Dag’s 1794.

Fans will be able to vote for their favorites till January 17, and the winners will be announced at a gala event on April 2.

To cast your vote, click “Read more” below.

An official teaser trailer has now been released for the upcoming TV-series Box 21, based on the acclaimed crime novel by Roslund & Hellström. The series will premiere on the Swedish streaming platform Viaplay on January 17.