With Canneseries in full swing and Norwegian drama “A Better Man,” handled by Beta Film, getting a pink carpet treatment as a world premiere on Sunday, Marianne Furevold Boland, NRK head of drama is ecstatic. And she has every right to be.
Since the festival’s first bow in 2018, NRK has snapped up no less than eight prizes, including best series for the political drama “Power Play” in 2023 and best screenplay for the comedy “Dumbsday” in 2024. “Norway is for me the most inventive TV country in the world,” Canneseries artistic director Albin Lewi even noted when announcing his 2025 lineup.
Furevold-Boland who produced NRK youth phenomenon “Skam” and has led NRK’s drama strand since 2023, has been a key contributor to the delivery of exceptional Norwegian drama in the past eight years. Sharing her views on the possible reasons behind the sustained golden age of Norwegian drama she says: “We are a small country, but home to extraordinary storytellers. Our production landscape boasts a very high level of craftsmanship, and we’ve all shown a fierce desire -from creators to decision-makers- to tell stories that are altogether relevant, entertaining, authentic, and have the potential to engage globally. Plus we always have the audience in mind.”
Turning on NRK’s own drama strategy, she says “our mandate as pubcaster is to strengthen our democracy, and unite people through stories that mirror our society and trigger conversations. Our goal is to reach as broad an audience as possible by giving them a meaningful shared experience. We’re proud that we’ve succeeded in this mostly recently with our satire about influencers “Requiem for Selina” which not only picked an award at Series Mania but also reached out to all segments of the population when it premiered on NRK in March,” she underscores.
For the drama honcho, Canneseries’ “A Better Man” which addresses online harassment, gender roles and cancel culture among other issues, is another series which should spark debate.
Drilling down on her editorial line, Furevold-Boland says NRK’s drama portfolio is well balance across drama, comedy, youth and kids’ content with a good mix of genres and commercially-driven shows to more niche-oriented content targeting youth or minorities. About 40% is produced in-house, the remaining being ordered out to indie Norwegian producers.
Aligned with NRK’s overall financial framework and editorial strategy, the pubcaster’s drama budget for 2025 covering production investments -not acquisitions nor co-productions- amounts to approximately NOK 250 million ($24 million). “It does vary from year to year,” notes Furevold-Boland.
Talking co-production, she says she delivers at least three high-end shows a year to her Nordic pubcasting partners for the N12 alliance and one a year for the European drama bet New8, but ‘those pacts do not exclude other collaborations,” she insists.
So far NRK, has kept to its standard exclusive seven-year first window model and hasn’t yet shared rights with global streamers for instance, but that might change.
“We’re in a transition period and are actively exploring different models related to co-productions and strategic partnerships. And I do believe that flexibility and collaboration are key as the industry continues to evolve,” says the drama boss.
A Better Man
Courtesy of Beta Film
Quizzed about some of the biggest shows coming up on top of “A Better Man,” Furevold-Boland cites the Sámi-set family dramedy “The Wedding Party” recently showcased at Berlinale Series Market, the hospital drama “Still Breathing,” New8 dramas “Holmlia Love” inspired by a true racist-killing which shook Norway in 2001, and the AIDS-focused court drama “Henki.”
Furevold-Boland is also attending Canneseries for the industry days’ inaugural Broadcasters’ Conclave.
Here is a rundown of NRK shows for the rest of 2025 and 2026 across drama, youth and comedy:
“Cammo 3” (comedy)
NRK produced drama created by Caroline Glommes, about an unlikely friendship between an influencer and a woman with Down Syndrome. Season 1 won a special prize in Seoul 2023.
Local premiere April 2025
Sales: Primitives
“Rumours” (“Rykte,” youth drama)
Produced by Mothership Entertainment. School drama created by Christoffer V. Ebbesen about friendship, bullying and search for identity.
Local premiere spring 2025
Sales: Beta Film
“Familien Lykke” (comedy)
Producer: Seefood. About the countless small and large conflicts that unfold within the four walls of a home.
Local premiere spring/summer 2025
“Holmlia Love” (drama)
Produced by Fremantle’s Monster Scripted, created by Mikael Diseth who directs with Andre Cochron. About a community shattered by a brutal killing from a Neo-Nazi, who learns how to rebuild and stand together.
Local premiere September 2025
Sales : Wild Bunch
“Hellerudsvingen 2” (Animation, satire)
NRK-produced Norwegian ‘South Park’ created by Erlend Mørch, Steinar Klouman Hallert, and Halvard Harboe.
Local premiere fall 2025
“Glory Days 2” (“Våre beste år 2,” dramedy)
Produced by Feelgood. Set against the backdrop of Norway’s cultural awakening, the series created by Ole-Martin Ihle and Eivind Holmboe turns on a socialist family, navigating the turbulent waters of 1980s capitalism.
Local premiere fall 2025
Sales: Rabbit Films
“A Better Man” (“Ølhunden Berit,” drama)
Produced by Maipo Film in collaboration with Artbox for NRK, in co-production with ZDFneo. Created by Thomas Seeberg Torjussen. Toxic masculinist Tom (Anders Baasmo), a Norwegian internet troll, has his identity revealed. To avoid persecution, he is forced to dress as a woman.
Local premiere November 2025
Sales: Beta Film
“VGS” (Youth drama)
Produced by BBC Studios Nordic Prods. About how life can be magical-and challenging when you’re 16. Created by Caroline Svartdahl.
Local premiere spring/fall 2025
Sales: STV Production Norway
“The Wedding Party” (“Heajastallan”, comedy drama)
Produced by Mer Film and Tordenfilm. A dark comedy created by Åse Kathrin Vuolab about a dysfunctional family coming together to host a traditional Sámi wedding in Kautokeino.
Local premiere January 2026
Sales: REinvent
“Still Breathing” (“LIS,” drama)
Produced by Rubicon. Hospital drama following four interns as they face the harsh realities of an overstretched medical system. Created by Karianne Lund.
Local premiere spring 2026
“Henki” (drama)
Produced by Klynge and Scanbox, created by Jan Trygve Røyneland. An AIDS drama about Henki who fights all the way to the Supreme Court to seek justice and regain dignity.
In pre-production.