The upcoming series The Fortress (Festning Norge) won the award for best script at the most prestigious international series festival Series Mania in France. The series is based on an idea and script developed by John Kåre Raake and Linn-Jeanethe Kyed, and was the only Norwegian series on the programme.
The Fortress is set in 2037. Norway has chosen to become self-sufficient behind an enormous wall and isolate itself from the rest of the world. The lucky citizens live safe and good lives, but when a deadly disease breaks out, Norwegians are trapped behind the same wall that was supposed to protect them.
- Our ambition, and the most important theme in The Fortress, is that to solve the enormous challenges the world faces, everyone needs everyone. This series shows that isolating a country, choosing to put their own inhabatants before all others, certainly is not the best solution. It feels fantastic that the international jury has seen and understood our story, and we are immensely proud of winning this award, says Raake.
- We are incredibly proud of this series and the talented people who have created something completely unique. This award is further proof that we manage to find the industry’s best storytellers, says Head of Drama at Viaplay Group Tanya Nanette Badendyck.
Selome Emnetu has the main role in the series and Tobias Santelmann plays a larger supporting role as the prime minister. Cecilie Mosli and Mikkel Brænne Sandemose directed. The Fortress is produced by Ales Ree and Synnøve Hørsdal at Maipo Film.
Series Mania is one of the world’s largest series festivals. Almost 400 submissions from around 80 countries were submitted. Eight of these were presented at the festival.
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