Per-Olav Sørensen Directs New Christmas Series for Netflix

Acclaimed director Per-Olav Sørensen (Home for Christmas, Quicksand, Nobel) is teaming up with the award-winning writer Lars Saabye Christensen to create a new Christmas series for Netflix. It is set to begin production in Oslo, Norway during 2022.

Series logline: December 2022. A group of people arrive at Oslo airport. Some to welcome their loved ones, some to fly home to their families, and some who want to fly away and escape Christmas. But in one way or another, their Christmas mission goes awry. They are all stranded at the airport and the clock is ticking - only 24 hours til Christmas - so what do they do?

The still untitled Norwegian language series is being directed by Per-Olav Sørensen who is also acting as the writer of the show together with the Norwegian/Danish author Lars Saabye Christensen, awarded with The Nordic Council's Literature Prize in 2002, as well as Jan Trygve Røyneland.

The series will consist of six 35 minute episodes and will be produced by Janne Hjeltnes at The Global Ensemble Drama. It will be released globally on Netflix in 2022 and will feature cast from across the Nordic countries.

Per-Olav Sørensen is currently working on the film Royalteen as well as the series The Playlist, both set to launch on Netflix in 2022. Among Per-Olav Sørensen's former credits are the award-winning series Nobel, The Heavy Water War, Quicksand as well as the Christmas romantic comedy Home for Christmas. Sørensen and co-writer Lars Saabye Christensen previously co-worked on the series The Half Brother.

Jenny Stjernströmer Björk, Director of Nordic Original Series at Netflix, says: "We are honored to continue our collaboration with Per-Olav Sørensen and to be working with him on this project. It is so exciting to see him take on a new show in the heartwarming Christmas mood that he has proved to capture so brilliantly in Home for Christmas most recently."

Per-Olav Sørensen, director, says: "I am happy to collaborate with Netflix, and to collaborate with the great writer Lars Saabye Christensen yet again. This story about a handful of stranded characters at an airport really intrigues us, and we look forward to weaving these destinies together."

The project is also the first Norwegian production from Netflix to include a trainee as part of Netflix nordic talent development programme. The program aspires to encourage new voices in the film and tv industry and contribute to building workforce capacity and ensuring a sustainable flow of talent.

The new Christmas series will launch globally on Netflix in 2022. The title and cast is yet to be announced.

About the project:

Director: Per-Olav Sørensen

Writers: Per-Olav Sørensen, Lars Saabye Christensen, Jan Trygve Røyneland

Producer: Janne Hjeltnes at The Global Ensemble Drama

Director of Photography: Hallgrim Haug

Production Designer: Mie Gjersen

Costume Designer: Oddfrid Ropstad

Logline: December 2022. A group of people arrive at Oslo airport. Some to welcome their loved ones, some to fly home to their families, and some who want to fly away and escape Christmas. But in one way or another, their Christmas mission goes awry. They are all stranded at the airport and the clock is ticking - only 24 hours til Christmas - so what do they do?

Format: 6 episodes x 35 minutes

Launch date: 2022 on Netflix

About The Global Ensemble:

The Global Ensemble Drama is a production company spearheading creative talent developing, creating and producing TV Drama, movies and documentaries. The company was founded in 2021 by director Per-Olav Sørensen and is run by CEO and producer Janne Hjeltnes. From its base in Oslo - Norway, the company joins forces with international and global streaming platforms, broadcasters as well as domestic partners. The Global Ensemble Drama also develops and co-produce together with a wide range of international production companies, producers and studios.

About Netflix:

Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 214 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.