A larger number of delegates (360 against 300 in previous years) are expected in Göteborg, thanks to the relocation of the TV drama event from the cinema Biopalatset to a larger venue, the historical ‘Stora teatern’.

Among the 31 broadcasters and 32 buyers/distributors in attendance are delegates from Arte, DRG, Lumiere, ITV Studios, ZDF, Wild Bunch, About Premium Content, Viaplay and Netflix.

The US streaming service’s director of co-productions and acquisitions Lina Brounéus is among three keynote speakers invited this year, together with UK writer Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley) and comedy producer Jon Plowman (Absolutely Fabulous).

This year’s central theme will be ‘Shaping Landscapes and Moving Mountains’, focusing on drama commissioners’ strategies and upcoming projects, as well as sustainable models to nurture creativity in a crowded market. Head of Industry Cia Edström, says that having tracked industry trends for the past year, the most striking change for her is the high volume of dramas being produced in the Nordics. “It’s simply hard to keep track on who does what and where,” she says. “To cut through the noise, people want to know what commissioners want, the business models and type of stories that will shape the sector, as well as what’s coming in the next year.”

Top Nordic commissioners and Heads of Drama set to discuss their strategies and latest projects at the ‘On the Horizon’ panel include TV2 Denmark’s Katrine Vogelsang, TV4/C More’s Ulf Synnerholm, NRK’s Ivar Køhn, DR Drama’s Christian Rank, SVT’s Anna Croneman, Yle’s Liselott Forsman, Viaplay’s Fredrik Ljungberg, HBO Nordics’ Hanne Palmquist and Elisa Viihde’s Laura Kuulasmaa.

Hot Nordic content to be showcased as works in progress comprise NRK’s thriller Twin, the comedy Magnus, DR Drama’s When the Dust Settles, and Yle Finland and Parox Chile’s political thriller Invisible Heroes.

Estonia’s burgeoning drama industry will be outlined via the case study of Pank co-written by Tarmo Jüristo and Eero Aguraiuja who will unveil their next project, the political drama The Party. Italy will be in Focus, with experienced producers Marco Chimenz of leading production group Cattleya (Gomorrah, Suburra) and Nicola Serra of Palomar Production (Montalbano, the Name of the Rose). From nearby Croatia and Serbia, co-writers Vuk Rsumovic and Ana Tomovic will pitch their nation’s first major co-production, Anatomy of a Crime, set to premiere in 2020. The presentation is supported by Cinelink.

Promising Nordic writers Helena von Zweigberk (Än klappar hjärtan), Malin Persson Giolito (Quicksand) and Johannes Anyuru (The Rabbit Yard) who have taken part in SVT’s new writers training programme, will tackle ‘The Art of Writing for Television’ in a panel presented in collaboration with SVT and MediaXchange.

As part of TV Drama Vision’s celebration of Nordic screenwriting outstanding talents, the third Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize ceremony will take place on January 30. Nominated writers comprise Denmark’s Claudia Boderke and Lars Mering for The New Nurses, Finland’s Merja Aakko and Mika Ronkainen for All the Sins, Iceland’s Margrét Örnólfsdóttir for The Flatey Enigma, Norway’s Patrik Syversen, Stig Frode Henriksen and Jesper Sundnes for Kieler Street and Mette M. Bølstad for State of Happiness, as well as Sweden’s Håkan Lindhé for The Inner Circle. For further information, CLICK HERE.