Bastøy (photo) by Marius Holst (Mirush), Upperdog by Sara Johnsen (Kissed by Winter) and Rottenetter by Arold Østin Ommundsen (Mongoland) are the three new feature film projects that received a total production support of NOK31.5m from the Norwegian Film Institute. Two TV series were also awarded NOK 3.2m.

The biggest NFI grant (NOK 14.3m) was awarded to the NOK 40m budget Bastøy, the most ambitious project ever for production outfit 4½. Based on an original idea by Lars Saabye Christensen and Mette Bølstad, adapted by scriptwriter Dennis Magnusson, the film will recapture true events that occurred in Oslo's youth detention centre Bastøy in 1915, where a rebellion from teenage boys was crushed by Norwegian authorities. "The script is tight, dramatic, with a peculiar atmosphere and strong character portrayals. It's perfectly cut out for Holst's directing talent," said NFI feature film consultant Nikolaj Frobenius. The director's fourth feature film will be produced by Karin Julsrud for their company 4½. Filming will start in February 2009 and delivery date is set for winter 2010.

Scripted and directed by Johnsen, Upperdog is an existential youth drama full of warmth, optimism and humour. The NOK 19.2m project is the second collaboration between the 38 year-old filmmaker and producers Christian Fredrik Martin and Asle Vatn (Friland) following Johnsen's 2005 critically acclaimed Kissed by Winter. Shooting will start on September 9, and the Norwegian premiere is scheduled for August 20, 2009.

Both Bastøy and Upperdog are supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Rottenetter (‘Rat Nights') will depict the darker side of the oil financing business in Norway. Described by producer Finn Gjerdrum (Paradox) as a cross between Wall Street and The Godfather, the NOK 17.5m film will start shooting on September 19. Delivery date is October 1st, 2009.

The TV series En god nummer to is the story of Helen Stangeland, a freelance actress who finally gets a bigger role at the National Theatre. But will she be up to the part? The NOK 9.4m drama series is directed by Kjetil Indregard (Hotel Cæsar) and produced by Birgitte Bruusgaard for Feelgood. Filming will start this summer and the premiere is set for winter 2009.

Tett på tre is a six part satirical documentary series using a different theme at each episode. Espen Eckbo is both actor and scriptwriter of the series produced by Vilhelm Camillus Paus for Seefood TV. The NOK 4.9m series shot on XD-CAM just started filming on June 3 and it will be ready in the autumn.