As one of the leading actors in Scandinavia today, Tobias Santelmann (b. 1980) has advanced from supporting roles in film and TV in his native Norway, to featured characters in major English-language productions. Born in Freiburg, Germany, Santelmann moved to Norway with his family as a child. He trained as an actor with the renowned Oslo National Academy of Dramatic Arts and then went on to join the ensemble at The Norwegian Theater in Oslo, performing classical and modern drama until 2012, whilst simultaneously taking on roles in film and TV.

Santelmann made his theatrical film debut in 2010 with Varg Veum: The Writing on the Wall. Roles on television preceded his turn as Norwegian explorer Knut Haugland in Academy Award nominated Kon-Tiki in 2012. Santelmann’s notable performance led to further significant roles in big Norwegian films, including The Congo Murders for which he was awarded both an Amanda Award and a Kanon Award for ‘Best Male Actor in a Leading Role’, as well as his English language debut in Hercules, playing the villainous warlord Rhesus opposite Dwayne Johnson’s mythical hero. Other noteworthy international appearances include a starring role as Young Ragnar in The Last Kingdom and supporting roles in Homeland, Marcella, and Those Who Kill, among else.

Santelmann’s more recent work include the role of Henrik Kranz, one of the leading characters in the Norwegian hit TV show EXIT, and the starring role as Crown Prince Olav alongside Kyle MacLachlan and Sofia Helin in International Emmy Award-winning Atlantic Crossing.
December 2024 will see the premiere of Havnaa, a Norwegian film inspired by the gripping real-life story of the notorius boxing brothers Erling and Magne Havnaa, where Santelmann plays the leading role of Erling Havnaa.

It is time for Valleby’s yearly carpentry competition! Beautiful birdhouses have been built, and everyone is welcome to guess who built which one. But how on earth should they decide which is the prettiest? That must be for the birds to judge! Everyone gathers in the park and waits for the birds’ choice. Rune wants the carrier pigeons to arrive, so that he can get his hands on stamps from the letters. Barbro is hoping for an artistic bird. Who will stand as the victor?

Martin Widmark and Helena Willis’ bestselling series continues with more fun activities and stories for the young readers. JerryMaya’s Activity Book: One Bird in Every Nest contains not only a brand-new story from Valleby, but also tricky challenges to solve. Crack those, and a medal awaits!

The summer heat has finally come to stay and crayfish season is just around the corner. August’s wish for a family has been realized and he and Maria are enjoying their life as newly minted parents. But then a shade from August’s past turns up; someone in his family appears to have carried a great secret.

Their idyllic community is once more shaken to its core as an elderly couple is found poisoned. Residents of the area for fifty years, the couple were well-liked by all. Who would wish them ill? The investigation lands on Maria’s desk, but there’s something boiling under the surface in her team. What is her colleague Ray-Ray hiding? The case proves to have an even darker side to it than anyone could have imagined…

Beyond Rescue is the fourth installment in Kristina Ohlsson’s No. 1 international bestselling series about August Strindberg.

A new gang has presented itself in Dillsta, and they are a real scary gang of teenagers! There’s also something strange about them, apart from the fact that they’re teens. Why are they only out at night? Why are they so pale? And what is that red stuff they’re drinking, it can’t possibly be blood, can it? That would mean that they are… a vampire gang!

When the news spreads that the new gang is involved in drug sales, the Dillsta gang is faced with a more dangerous situation than usual. Perhaps they really should listen to the policeman Ali Svensson when he tells them to keep out of the way until the drug league has been arrested? As Zasha gets more and more scared, it becomes obvious that if anyone is going to catch the vampire gang it has to be the Dillsta gang! Time to shop for some garlic.

The Dillsta Gang and the Vampire Heist is the seventh installment in The Dillsta Gang series – fast-paced and fun books for younger readers by Jens and Hedda Lapidus.

The BBC just announced that they have acquired two Swedish crime dramas, End of Summer, based on the bestselling work of Anders de la Motte, and the thriller series Jana – Marked for Life, directed by Henrik Björn and Felix Herngren, with Daniel Sawka and Maria Karlsson as head-writers.

End of Summer, based on former police officer Anders de la Motte’s novel of the same name, is a six-part psychological thriller starring Julia Ragnarsson (Midsommar, The Bridge) and Erik Enge (Tigers, The Sandhamn Murders). Viaplay produced End of Summer with Harmonica Films in a co-production with SF Studios and Film i Skåne. The series is directed by Jens Jonsson (Young Wallander) and Henrik Georgsson (The Bridge) with lead writers Stefan Thunberg (Wallander) and Björn Carlström (Hunters), who also produced the series with Per Janérus (Hunters).

Jana – Marked for Life follows the investigation of a murder of a high-ranking official at the Swedish Migration Agency. When the main suspect is also found dead, Jana immediately recognizes something on his scarred body. To understand her own traumatic past, Jana must reach the killer ahead of the police. The six episodes are created and directed by Henrik Björn and Felix Herngren. Daniel Sawka is head-writer together with Maria Karlsson. The series is an adaptation of Emelie Schepp’s bestselling novel of the same name, and in Sweden it will premiere on Prime Video on April 19.

“End of Summer is a complex and absorbing mystery drama in a beautiful setting. Jana – Marked for Life is an intriguing and suspenseful thriller. We are so pleased to be adding these two compelling series to our rich catalogue of Nordic Noir” says Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition.

Read the full article on BBC by clicking ‘Read more’ below.

Oliver Lovrenski’s lauded debut, Back in the Day, celebrates 6 consecutive months on the official Norwegian bestseller list this week. The title was published in Norway half a year ago and has had a steady place at the top ever since.

Screenwriter Christopher Friman Leffler has an extensive background in investigative journalism, primarily as a reporter for the prestigious and awarded magazine Filter where he started working in 2008. The following year, Friman Leffler was awarded the title ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ at Tidskriftsgalan, and he later became the editor in chief of Filter between the years 2018 and 2022. Several of Friman Leffler’s pieces have also been featured in other prominent magazines, both in Sweden and internationally.

In 2022, Friman Leffler began his screenwriting education at the esteemed Alma Löv Script Academy, and has already been involved in several major productions – including working as script editor for the Prime Video thriller series Jana – Marked For Life and the Netflix crime series Genombrottet.

Furthermore, Friman Leffler has produced the beloved radio show Sommar i P1, working with Ina Lundström’s popular episode from 2023. In 2023 he was also script editor for Dokument inifrån’s documentary series Skamlös which was nominated for ‘Storyteller of the Year’ at The Swedish Grand Prize for Journalism.

Currently, he is working on two projects together with production company Stella Nova: Torsk and Panache.

Antti Tuomainen’s novel The Beaver Theory has been nominated for CrimeFest’s Last Laugh Award 2024 in the category Best Humorous Crime Novel. The CrimeFest convention is one of the biggest crime fiction events in Europe, and the winners will be announced at the CrimeFest Gala Dinner on May 11 in the UK.