Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.

Tag Archive: Anne Bjørnstad

  1. Ivar Køhn Takes Rubicon Helm as CEO

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    Banijay Nordic today announces a new senior appointment at Norwegian scripted label Rubicon, with Ivar Køhn taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer, joining from public broadcaster NRK.

    Køhn has been Head of Drama at NRK since 2013. Under his leadership, the network has fostered a strong portfolio of acclaimed hits, including Rubicon’s original series directed by Izer Aliu, Countrymen,which picked up a Cannes Series award in September, has been nominated for Best Script at this week’s Göteborg Film Festival, and will air in the US on NENT’s Viaplay, through a deal with Banijay Rights. Other recent successes include last year’s International Emmy winner, Atlantic Crossing, as well as high-profile scripted series 22 July, State of Happiness and Mammon 2.

    Prior to his time at NRK, Køhn spent six years leading the development and production department at the Norwegian Film Institute, and has previously held posts at the Norwegian Film Fund, Maipo Film and has also written and created his own scripted series.

    At Rubicon, Køhn will work with the company’s creative leaders, Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin, to further build the company’s pipeline of standout original programmes for the local and international market. He will take up the role on 1st May 2022, and will report to  Banijay Nordic’s CEO, Jacob Houlind, and the region’s Head of Scripted, Johannes Jensen.

    Norway’s leading drama production company, Rubicon, is behind a slate of freshly-created scripted productions. As well recent success Countrymen, Rubicon is also behind hit HBO Max series Beforeigners, which launched its second series last year across Europe and the US. Standout local talent, Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad, are also behind global success Lillyhammer, and The Councilman, which was also adapted for the Dutch market.

    Ivar Køhn comments:  “I’ve had a great eight years with a skilled and committed gang in NRK’s ​​drama department, building a brilliant portfolio of hits. I feel very lucky to have been part of a very strong period of growth, at a broadcaster with a conscious and innovative relationship to both drama and publishing. The time now feels right for a change of editor, both for NRK, the industry and myself. There are great opportunities ahead for Norwegian drama, and to be involved in developing this through Rubicon TV will be challenging and super fun. The company is behind high-profile series such as Lilyhammer, Beforeigners and Countrymen, and is part of the worldwide community of producers in Banijay. I’m going to do something I’ve not done before, based on something I’ve been doing for quite some time.”

    Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin, Creative Directors at Rubicon comment: “Ivar has been one of the key figures in the successful development of Norwegian TV drama in recent years. He is globally recognised for his exceptional instinct in backing original ideas which become international hits. This, coupled with his industry know-how, vision and business sense, puts Rubicon in a fantastic position to further innovate and succeed both at home and abroad. We look forward to creating new, exciting stories together with Ivar.”

    Jacob Houlind, CEO at Banijay Nordic says: “Ivar Køhn has a stellar reputation across the scripted industry globally, and especially here in the Nordics. His knowledge of drama in Norway is second to none, and having already worked with Rubicon on several shows, he is the perfect match to lead the team. I’m looking forward to discovering the future stories and projects the new Rubicon team will create for the local and international market.”

    Banijay Nordic encompasses the region’s very best scripted labels, behind internationally-recognised drama and comedy. Recent and forthcoming credits from around the region include Yellowbird/Jarowskij film, Ur Spår, which launched in theatres in Sweden last week,  Ronja the Robber’s Daughter(Filmlance for Viaplay), A Class Apart (Jarowskij in co-production with Brommamamma, Film I Väst and Nent Group for Viaplay), Bäckström (Yellow Bird for CMore/ TV4), Young Wallander 2 and Playlist(Yellow Bird UK for Netflix), Detective Marie Kallio (Banijay Finland for CMore), and Filmlance’s long-running detective drama Beck (Filmlance for CMore).

    Håkon Briseid, who was announced as CEO in September, took the decision to embark on an alternative role prior to officially joining the business.

  2. Rubicon Unveils Countrymen for NRK

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    Banijay today announces Countrymen, a new scripted series from Norwegian label, Rubicon, for public broadcaster NRK, in co-production with Arte France and distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.

     

    Countrymen sees four men with dubious plans move to a farm in the rural Norwegian countryside. More or less against their will, they end up as the founders of Norway’s first halal cheesemaking business.

     

    The 8-part series is created and written by award-winning director and screenwriter, Izer Aliu (Hunting Files), along with Rubicon’s Anne Bjørnstad. The lead actors are Nader Khademi (Ninjababy, Beforeigners, Homeground, Witch Hunt), Ayaz Hussain (Kasim Bæder), Jonas Strand Gravli (Ragnarok, Wisting, July 22) Arben Bala (Exit, Lilyhammer) and Erika Strand Mamelund.

     

    Anne Bjørnstad, Creative Director at Rubicon comments: “This metaphoric concept will get people talking here in Norway, and also resonate with global audiences. This high-quality series has been elevated with Izer Aliu writing and directing, and we are proud to create characters which are so brilliantly portrayed with warmth and humour by our cast.

     

    One of Norway’s leading drama production companies, Rubicon, is behind a slate of original scripted productions, and recently announced Håkon Briseid has been appointed as CEO, joining early next year.

     

    Credits include Beforeigners, which is available across HBO Europe territories, and via HBO Max in the U.S. Season two will launch later this year with Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones), Ann Akin (I May Destroy You), Jade Anouka (Cleaning Up), Billy Postlethwaite (Chenobyl), and Philip Rosch (The King) joining the cast.

     

    Other credits include coming-of-age story Nach for Discovery Nordic, distributed by Banijay Rights.Rubicon and its creative leaders Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad are also behind global success Lillyhammer, and The Councilman, which was adapted for the Dutch market.

     

    Banijay is home to the world’s best scripted producers, with over 50 diverse, award-winning labels across the company’s footprint in the UK, US, Australia, Germany, Benelux, Iberia, Israel, Italy, Poland, Russia, India and across the Nordics.

  3. Banijay Nordic Appoints New CEO at Rubicon

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    Banijay Nordic today announces a new senior appointment at Norwegian scripted label Rubicon, with Håkon Briseid taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer.

     

    Håkon Briseid joins Rubicon from Norway’s Monster, where he has held responsibility for the company’s scripted division for over a decade. During his time at Monster, Briseid has executive produced numerous hit dramas including The Half Brother, Nobel, Borderliner, Young&Promising, Pørni and upcoming Furia.

    In his position at Rubicon, Håkon Briseid will report to Banijay Nordic’s CEO, Jacob Houlind, and the region’s Head of Scripted, Johannes Jensen. With a remit to further grow Rubicon’s output, he will work with creative leaders, Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin, on building the company’s line-up of critically-acclaimed, original content for both the Norwegian and international market. Briseid will take up the position early in 2022.

    One of Norway’s leading drama production companies, Rubicon, is behind a slate of freshly created scripted productions, including Beforeigners, which is available across HBO Europe territories, and via HBO Max in the U.S. Season two will launch later this year with Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones), Ann Akin (I May Destroy You), Jade Anouka (Cleaning Up), Billy Postlethwaite (Chenobyl), and Philip Rosch (The King) joining the cast.

    Other credits include coming-of-age story Nach for Discovery Nordic, distributed by Banijay Rights, and a soon to be announced project for NRK. Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad are also behing global success Lillyhammer, and The Councilman, which was also adapted for the Dutch market.

    Håkon Briseid comments: “Sixteen years at Monster speaks for itself. It has been a fantastic ride and I am extremely proud of my colleagues and the upcoming slate. This is an opportunity I could not let go, as I have long-admired Rubicon’s slate of scripted series which shines a light on topics in the the local and international zeitgeist. Eilif and Anne have a distinctive voice, often with a satirical twist, allowing the audience to connect with characters in a unique way. I look forward to working with them and the rest of the talented team at Rubicon, as well as joining the unrivalled community of scripted producers at Banijay.”

    Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin, Creative Directors at Rubicon comment: “We’re delighted Håkon has decided to join Rubicon as our CEO. He has a deep understanding of the local and global market, and it’s brilliant to have a well-respected leader team up with us, especially with a second season of Beforeigners on the horizon, and as we enter the next phase of creating new projects for our eclectic slate.”

     

    Jacob Houlind, CEO at Banijay Nordic says: “Nordic scripted content continues to take the world by storm, and we are incredibly proud of Rubicon’s productions. This appointment cements the company’s position as an industry trailbrazer.”

     

    Johannes Jensen, Group Head of Scripted Banijay Nordic adds: “Håkon Briseid is a proven scripted leader and the ideal person to join Eilif and Anne as they continue to create premium, original programming for Norway and beyond.”

     

    Banijay Nordic encompasses the region’s very best scripted labels, behind internationally-recognised drama and comedy. Joining Rubicon’s Beforeigners (HBO) and Nach (Discovery Nordic), are forthcoming credits such as Vinterviken/ JJ & E (Filmlance for Netflix and SVT), Ronja (Filmlance for Viaplay),  A Class Apart (Jarowskij in co-production with Brommamamma, Film I Väst and Nent Group for Viaplay), Snow Angels (Yellow Bird for SVT), Young Wallander 2 and Spotify Untold (Yellow Bird UK for Netflix) and Detective Marie Kallio (Banijay Finland for CMore).

     

  4. Norwegian Scripted Label Rubicon Lands New Coming-of-Age Drama

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    Banijay today announces Norwegian scripted label, Rubicon, has produced a new eight-part drama for Discovery Nordic, which is set to be released soon.

     

    Nach, or “After Party” in English, follows university dropout Selma (Sarah Francesca Brænne) as she struggles with feelings for her half-sister’s boyfriend August (Fredrik Stenberg Ditlev-Simonsen). After being thrown out of her houseshare, she moves in with big sister Elin (Ingrid Giæver) and becomes caught up with emotions for her sister’s boyfriend. The situation unravels during eight very different after parties throughout the summer.

     

    The series is set to launch on Discovery Nordic this spring. Anne Bjørnstad and Fridrik H. Mar serves as Executive Producers for Rubicon AS and Fredrik Kvåle Dørum serves as Executive Producer for Discovery Networks Norway AS. Produced by Stine Blichfeldt. The series was written by Mads Stegger and Ernst De Geer and the Directors are Ernst De Geer and Fanny Ovesen.

     

    Nach will be distributed internationally, outside of Discovery Nordic markets, by Banijay Rights.

     

    Lars Blomgren, Head of Scripted at Banijay says: “Norwegian drama is well-known for its fantastic quality and Nach lives up to all expectations of the market’s creativity. This nostalgic tale of life blossoming into adulthood is beautifully produced and is a wonderful addition to Banijay’s scripted slate.”

     

    Anne Bjørnstad at Rubicon says; “Nach captures the borrowed time and carefree atmosphere of a party before daybreak when real life hasn’t yet begun. It mirrors the phase when young people make momentous decisions which alter their path forever. This realistic drama portrays this unique time of the human journey and will have viewers hooked.”

     

    One of Norway’s leading drama production companies, Rubicon, is behind numerous scripted hits, including Lilyhammer, created by Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad, and The Councilman, which was also adapted for the Dutch market.

     

    Rubicon’s most recent success is Beforeigners for HBO, airing across Europe and in the US on HBO Max. Production on the second series is underway, also written and created by Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad.