Banijay Rights to shop NRK, Arte drama series Countrymen around world

Countrymen is being produced by Rubicon

Banijay Rights has acquired the international distribution rights to Norwegian scripted series Countrymen, a coproduction between local pubcaster NRK and French cultural broadcaster Arte.

The eight-part series is being produced by Banijay Nordic-owned prodco Rubicon and sees four men “with dubious plans” move to a farm in rural Norway where they unwillingly found Norway’s first halal cheesemaking business.

Rubicon’s Anne Bjørnstad (Lilyhammer) and award-winning screenwriter Izer Aliu (Hunting Files) have created the series. It stars Nader Khademi (Ninjababy, Beforeigners), Ayaz Hussain (Kasim Bæder), Jonas Strand Gravli (Ragnarok, July 22), Arben Bala (Lilyhammer) and Erika Strand Mamelund.

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

Oslo-based Rubicon recently named Håkon Briseid as its new CEO. Starting early next year, Briseid joins the prodco from Norway’s Monster, where he has been responsible for the company’s scripted division for more than a decade.