In UK Cinemas from 26 December: Nora, a successful stage actress, reunites with her estranged father, Gustav Borg—a once-renowned film director planning a comeback with a script based on their family. When Gustav offers Nora the lead role, which she promptly declines, he turns his attention to a rising Hollywood starlet instead.

Winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes this year, the film reunites director Joachim Trier with Worst Person in the World lead actor Renate Reinsve and writing partner Eskil Vogt. Also starring in the film are Elle Fanning, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Anders Danielsen Lie. 

Above: Renate Reinsve & Anders Danielsen Lie in Sentimental Value. Photo: Kasper Tuxen Andersen, courtesy of Mubi.

2025 was a great year for literature in translation, and many Norwegian authors found new readers across the world. Most recently, Frode Grytten's "The Ferryman & His Wife" was published on Serpent's Tail, picking up praise from the Guardian for its "blend of light and dark that runs through the novel". The book, translated by Alison McCullough, follows ferryman Nils Vik as he chooses to head out onto the fjord, like he has for many years. As his trusty boat reaches the sea, a lifetime of passengers join him from beyond the grave, but Nils is truly waiting for just one passenger: his beloved wife Marta. Approaching the end of his journey, his expectation grows - will he be reunited with her too? 

Here's a selection of 2025 translated Norwegian books for your perusal:

Amalie Skram – Sjur Gabriel Two Friends  Amalie Skram – Norvik Press

Dag O. Hessen - Wolverine Dag O. Hessen – Greystone Books Ltd.

Edy Poppy - Coming. Apart. – Dalkey Archive Press

Frode Grytten The Ferryman and His Wife - Serpent's Tail

Inga Strümke -  Machines That Think by Inga Strümke | SAP PRESS

Ingvild Risøi Brightly Shining – Atlantic Books

Jo Nesbø Wolf Hour

Jon Fosse Vaim by Jon Fosse | Fitzcarraldo Editions

Jørn Lier Horst - The Lake

Karl Ove Knausgård The School of Night

Kristin Berget - and when the light comes it will be so fantastic - Northwestern University Press

Lars Mytting - The Night of the Scourge by Lars Mytting | Hachette UK (audio)

Linn Ullmann - Girl, 1983

Mona Høvring - Something That Helps - Oslo Literary Agency

Roy Jacobsen - The Unworthy - Books From Norway

Rune Christiansen - The Case of the Caprice of Lost Time - Oslo Literary Agency

Thomas Enger and Johana Gustawsson SON – Orenda Books

London, The Shard (15-16 December) & St James's Sussex Gardens in Paddington (17 December): Pianist and composer Espen Berg is a modern-day impressionist whose spontaneously composed music merges figurative and abstract expression with striking virtuosity and flow.

Since 2003, Espen has toured worldwide and released 16 albums as a leader. With Espen Berg Trio he has sold out venues across Asia and Europe, including Ronnie Scott’s in London. Espen was appointed an official Steinway Artist in 2023 and received Norway’s largest jazz grant in 2016. He has composed works for Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and major festivals, collaborating with artists like Seamus Blake, Silje Nergaard, and Marius Neset.

Espen Berg is among the special guests in Toby Gad's Piano Diaries: Christmas in the Sky events at The Shard on 15-16 December, and is performing a fully improvised solo piano concert at St James's Sussex Gardens on the 17th.

Espen Berg, photo: Eir-Jørgen Bue.

Now streaming: When a dangerous new troll is awakened, unleashing devastation across Norway, beloved adventurers Nora, Andreas and Captain Kris are thrust into their most perilous mission yet. To stop the creature’s ruthless rampage, they must enlist new allies and delve into the country’s ancient history, searching for answers. As the clock ticks and the troll’s path of destruction grows wider, our heroes face impossible odds in their fight to save their homeland from falling into darkness.

Learn more about the stunning Norwegian landscapes used in the film - from Vemork power station in Telemark (above) to Jotunheim and Nidaros Cathedral - on this page from the Norwegian Film Commission.

Still from Troll 2: Oskar Dahlsbakken, courtesy of Netflix.

Residency Dates in 2026, application deadline 5 January: Interweaving Threads Residency is a new programme for textile artists, designers, and makers based in Scotland and in Norway. The programme will support one artist/designer/maker based in Scotland and one based in Norway. Both artists/designers/makers will be awarded residencies at MUHO in Norway in April 2026 and at Cove Park in May 2026, in addition to the opportunity for supported research including access to national and regional archive and dress collections in Norway and Scotland, plus support required for the development of new work.

The year-long project Interweaving: Scotland and Norway through Dress launched in October this year with a special two-day event in Edinburgh addressing the similarities and differences between traditional Norwegian and Scottish dress and textiles. The project partners are The Norwegian Institute of Bunad and Folk Costume, Arts & Culture Norway, MUHO, National Museum of Scotland, Cove Park, art historian Dr.Kitty Corbet Milward, and curator and anthropologist Maja Musum.

Photo: Norwegian Institute of Bunad and folk costume NBF/Laila Durán.

Thank you for reading! This newsletter is taking a festive break and will return on Saturday 10th January.

Above: The Norwegian Girls Choir (Det Norske Jentekor) singing at the lighting up of the Trafalgar Tree this week. Photo: Leo Cinicolo Photography.

▶ Máret Ánne Sara's commission for Tate Modern's Turbine Hall, Goavve-Geabbil, is on view until 6 April 2026.

▶ Featuring over 150 works by 100 artists from the Nordic countries, Nordic Noir: Works on Paper from Edvard Munch to Mamma Andersson is on view at the British Museum until 22 March 2026.

▶ Works by Anawana Haloba are on view as part of Artes Mundi 11 at Aberystwyth Arts Centre & National Museum Cardiff, until March 1, 2026

▶ Hedda, a new film directed by Nia DaCosta reimagines Ibsen's classic drama in 1950's England, starring Tessa Thompson in the titular role. The film is now available on Amazon Prime.




▶ 15 - 17 December, London

Espen Berg is among the special guests in Toby Gad's Piano Diaries: Christmas in the Sky events at The Shard. Berg is also performing a fully improvised solo piano concert at St James's Sussex Gardens on the 17th.


▶ 26 December, UK-wide

Sentimental Value arrives in UK cinemas.


▶ 16 January, London

Stian Westerhus and Maja Ratkje are performing music from their collaboration 'All Losses are Restored' at Cafe OTO.


▶ 27 January - 12 March, dates across the UK

Thor Stenhaug is bringing his One Night Stand Baby Tour to more dates across the UK.


▶ 19 - 21 February, London

See Norwegian star Kåre Conradi’s critically acclaimed one-man dramatised lecture about one of Ibsen’s most famous and colourful characters, Peer Gynt at the Coronet Theatre.

Copyright © 2025 Royal Norwegian Embassy, All rights reserved.
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