NORDIC TV FESTIVAL

Across the Nordic territories, pubcasters, commercial networks and streamers—global, regional and local—are setting new trends in drama and entertainment, and that innovation takes center stage in World Screen’s inaugural Nordic TV Festival.

Screen clips of the series highlighted below. Clicking on each show title will take you directly to the trailer.

Drama remains Scandinavia’s biggest content export, and the genre has evolved well beyond the Nordic noir that viewers across the globe have fallen in love with.

All3Media International is showcasing Blinded, a financial thriller with one season available and a second in production. “After the international success of Blinded series one, we’re delighted to be partnering with FLX again on the second series, another eight episodes of gripping, high-stakes drama,” says David Swetman, senior VP of scripted content.

Scandi drama makes up a crucial part of Eccho Rights’ lineup, and its selections in the Nordic TV Festival include Honour, “a thrilling crime drama series with an important and relatable message at its core about female empowerment,” says Nicola Söderlund, managing partner. Eccho Rights is also showcasing the eight-part Threesome, about a Swedish couple living in London.

Red Arrow Studios International has a second season of Stella Blómkvist to offer buyers, following the quick-witted, hard-drinking eponymous lawyer. “Stella Blómkvist is a critically acclaimed, commercially successful Icelandic crime drama featuring Poldark star Heida Reed,” says Tim Gerhartz, president and managing director. Red Arrow is also touting Match, “a fun and quirky comedy-drama from Norway that combines slapstick antics with wry humor and coming-of-age comedy that is perfect for younger-skewing demos,” Gerhartz says.

ZDF Enterprises remains a robust supporter of Nordic scripted, showcasing five titles in the festival. Among the latest is Agatha Christie’s Sven Hjerson, which landed the MIPDrama Buyers’ Coup de Cœur this year. Another new crime drama is Huss, a Viaplay commission inspired by Helene Tursten’s best-selling novels focused on a recent graduate of Sweden’s police academy who is drawn into “a tangled web of corruption and betrayal,” according to Sebastian Krekeler, director ZDFE.drama. Krekeler also highlights Sløborn, a coming-of-age drama and post-apocalyptic disaster thriller from the showrunner of Netflix’s Dogs of Berlin.

ZDF Enterprises’ lineup also includes Grow, starring Sebastian and Andreas Jessen and set in the world of Danish biker gangs, which Yi Qiao, director ZDFE.drama, bills as a “fast-moving thriller about two brothers on colliding paths in life.” Top Dog, meanwhile, hails from the acclaimed producers of Bron as it focuses on the clash between Stockholm business attorney Emily Jansson and Södertälje ex-con Teddy Maksumic.

Non-scripted entertainment is also making its way out of the Nordic territories to great success. Among All3Media’s extensive format slate is Head to Head, a game show that has been a hit in Sweden. “Head to Head has attracted phenomenal ratings in Sweden, and we’re looking forward to building on this proven success,” says Nick Smith, executive VP of formats.

And from Rabbit Films is the reality format Over the Atlantic, in which six celebrities are tasked with sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. “Our format Over the Atlantic has been a phenomenal success in all of the Nordic countries so far and has already started to take the rest of the world by storm,” says Jonathan Tuovinen, head of international.