‘A Better Man,’ ‘Nepobaby’ Win Big

CANNES — In a placing triple whammy for Norway at this yr’s Canneseries, “A Higher Man,” from Thomas Seeberg Torjussen swept greatest sequence and greatest efficiency for star Anders Baasmo whereas Henriette Steenstrup’s “Nepobaby” scored screenplay and a particular interpretation award for its ensemble forged.

In a 3rd award for Norway, “The Agent – The Life and Lies of my Father,” from Magnus Skatvold, took greatest documentary. Flying the flag for Belgium’s Flanders, which had 5 sequence in Official Choice, greater than another nation on the planet, “Oh, Otto!” gained greatest short-form sequence and the Scholar Award for that class.

“A Higher Man” is produced by Synnøve Hørsdal’s Maipo Movie, behind “Miss Julie,” with Jessica Chastain and Colin Farrell, and State of Happiness, which gained greatest screenplay and greatest music on the inaugural Canneseries in 2018, sparking a detailed relationship between the French TV pageant and Norwegian sequence, usually backed by public broadcaster NRK, as is the case of “A Higher Man.”

Additionally produced by ZDFneo and a current Beta Movie pick-up for worldwide distribution, “A Higher Man” activates a misogynist web troll, Tom, who’s outed and dressing as a girl to keep away from additional persecution, treads a rocky street to redemption.

“I’m an enormous fan of Norwegian sequence which deal with delicate matters however are all the time completely different and I’ve the utmost respect for Synnøve. If she sends me one thing, I watch it with utmost care,” Cannseries creative director Albin Levi instructed Selection.

“A Higher Man” certainly tackles three burning problems with the fashionable age – web trolling, the cancel tradition and masculinity – manages to provide an explanation for trolls, counsel how they’ll cease and wraps that is an engrossing, affecting narrative, a big achievement demanding a nuanced efficiency from Baasmo which takes in two bodily transformations and a hard-won religious makeover.

Nepobaby
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“‘Succession’ meets ‘Veep’ made in a enjoyable manner,” says Lewi, “Nepobaby” marks one other triumph for actor-turned-showrunner Henriette Steenstrup, behind “Pørni,” who wrote Nepobaby particularly for “Porni” actor Vivild Falk Berg as a younger girl whose life adjustments ceaselessly when she discovers that she’s the heiress of considered one of Norway’s oldest and wealthiest delivery dynasties.

“I hope very a lot the sequence will journey. Vivild Falk Berg has the makings of a significant star,” stated Lewi.

“Nepobaby” is “mainly about household ties, inheritance, and the way cash can change you and people round you. Anybody can relate to that,” Steenstrup instructed Selection which notes that she is understood for her capacity to combine comedy with heart-warming drama and underlying topical points.

Finishing Norway’s Canneseries’ consecration, “The Agent – The Life and Lies of My Father,” additionally backed by NRK, activates Didrik whose father instructed him when he was 10 that he was a “secret spy.” Or perhaps it’s a false reminiscence. Now an grownup, piece by piece Didrik places collectively an extended life full of a number of lies and confronts his father, who remains to be alive. The docuseries is created, co-written and directed by Magnus Skatfold, co-creator of Doc NYC winner “Blue Code of Silence.”

From high Belgian firm Eyeworks Movie & TV Drama and Stijn Van Kerkhoven, a second unit director on Keshet Intl. Netflix hit “Tough Diamonds,” “Oh, Otto!” activates a younger man’s seek for a spot inside Brussels’ vibrant queer group.

CANNESERIES AWARDS, 2025

COMPETITION

Greatest Collection

“A Higher Man,” (Thomas Seeberg Torjussen, Norway, Lithuania)

Greatest Screenplay

Henriette Steenstrup, Siri Seljeseth, Tina Rygh (“Nepobaby”)

Greatest Efficiency

Anders Baasmo (“A Higher Man”)

Particular Interpretation Awards

The ensemble forged of “Nepobaby”

Greatest Music

Junoh Lee (“S-Line”)