SVT ups drama head

Swedish public broadcaster SVT has promoted Christian Wikander to the role of commissioner for drama.

Christian Wikander

Wikander, who was most recently head of drama and has been with SVT since 2005, will now join the company’s commissioning board.

His remit will include securing development ideas and scripts for SVT, as well as taking responsibility for the broadcaster’s role in the film industry.

“My main focus as a commissioner will be to find the best and most relevant stories for the Swedish TV audience,” said Wikander.

“One of the most important issues at the moment is the proposed changes to the Swedish governments proposal for Swedish film, which is expected to come into power in 2017. We expect SVT to get an even more central role and I look forward to be part of that development.”

SVT’s drama commissioner role was previously held by Hanne Palmquist, who left to join the Danish Film Institute last year. She was recently named commissioning editor and VP of original programming at HBO Nordic.

An SVT spokesman told C21 that the company is currently looking at all options for Wikander’s replacement but is yet to make a decision.