The Norwegian WW2 series produced by Cinenord is ready to sail away thanks to a record NOK 5 million production grant from Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

The 8X60' series Atlantic Crossing (Alt for Norge) is based on a true story. It tells the empowering story of Norwegian Crown Princess Märtha, who fled from Nazi occupation to become an influential figure in world politics, living in the White House and trying to persuade President Franklin D. Roosevelt to enter WW2. 

Showrunner Alexander Eik (Varg Veum) together with co- writer Linda May Kallestein (Cool Kids Don’t Cry) spent six years researching the project, both in Norway and in the US, meeting even President D. Roosevelt’s grand-children.

All five Nordic public broadcasters NRK, SVT, DR, Yle and RUV have also boarded the series, co-produced by Sirena Films in the Czech Republic, in association with Germany’s Beta Film, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute’s filming incentives.

Commenting on the substantial support from the Fund, Petri Kemppinen, CEO of Nordisk Film & TV Fond said: “An important part of the Fund´s strategy since 2016 has been to yearly support some ambitious fiction projects, with somewhat higher amounts than we normally would, if there are qualifying applications. Atlantic Crossing received our highest funding ever in June, as the project ticks all the boxes in the criteria: high quality, corresponding budget and big audience potential in the Nordic region and on the international market.”

Cinenord Drama co-founder and Atlantic Crossing producer Silje Hopland Eik said: “We are extremely honoured to have received a record production support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond. This allows us to greenlight the project and to set the full production in motion for our biggest TV drama ever.” “I’m also proud to have all Nordic public broadcasters on board as this is a quintessentially Nordic project, about a strong woman who played a key role for Norway and Europe during WW2, an episode little known to the general audience,” continues Hopland Eik.

According to the producer, a major SVOD player was circling the project but the backing from the five Nordic public broadcasters meant that Atlantic Crossing could remain linear prime-time material. “Local event TV shows still have the largest audience on public channels, and it was crucial for us to get access to the widest Nordic audience possible," notes Hopland Eik.

Atlantic Crossing’s 132-day shoot will be split between Prague (where the White House and other major sets will be reconstructed) and Norway, with some extra scenes in Sweden, the UK and the US.

Casting is underway, under the aegis of US based casting director Avy Kaufmann (Primetime Emmy-nominated for The Night of). “We are thrilled to have Avy working with us,” says Hopland Eik. “She also helped us secure Carry-Ann Moss for our crime drama Wisting and is helping us in particular with the casting of Franklin D. Roosevelt. “

Top Danish set designer Jette Lehmann (EFA award-winner for Melancholia) is attached. The full cast & crew credit will be announced in August. The series will premiere on NRK in September 2020.