The TV series “Atlantic Crossing” was referred to as the most expensive Norwegian TV series of all time. The Emmy-winning story about Crown Princess Märtha’s escape to the United States during World War II was a great viewer success when it aired on NRK in 2020.
It is the company Cinenord that has produced the series and created the subsidiary Atlantic Crossing Productions AS to run the production. A common practice in the TV industry.
– Not well documented
The TV series is financed from several sources, including by NRK. “Atlantic Crossing” also received NOK 27 million in so-called framework grants from the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI) – through the incentive scheme. A scheme that will help to increase the number of large international film and series productions in Norway.
In order to be paid this money, the company must subsequently document that the money has been used for what NFI defines as “production costs”. In this case, NFI has only approved NOK 12 million.
They believe it is not sufficiently well documented that the remaining NOK 15 million has actually been used to produce the TV series.
Dag Asbjørnsen is section leader for international relations at the Norwegian Film Institute.
Photo: Norwegian Film Institute
– In this case, we lack sufficient documentation, for example vouchers showing specific costs linked to production, says Dag Asbjørnsen, who is responsible for the incentive scheme in NFI.
NFI says that it is very rare that such large sums are not approved.
Cinenord’s lawyer Christian With from the law firm Bing Hodneland believes the costs are sufficiently well documented.
– The documentation we have submitted over a long period of time shows that the expenses are clearly linked to the production of “Atlantic Crossing”, he says to NRK.
Director Alexander Eik, producer Silje Hopland Eik and actress Sofia Helin when “Atlantic Crossing” won the Emmy. Hopland Eik is general manager at Cinenord.
Photo: Agathe Hopland Siegel / Cinenord
Internal invoicing
Large parts of the expenses that NFI has not approved must be money invoiced between the parent company of Cinenord and the subsidiary Atlantic Crossing Productions AS. It must also concern the payment of producer fees, i.e. wages to the producers.
– It is completely natural to have internal invoicing between the parent company and the production company. The production company is basically an empty company that, among other things, needs resources, equipment and personnel to operate. And the fees are paid as remuneration to those who have worked on the production in question, explains Cinenord’s lawyer.
Christian With is Cinenord’s lawyer.
Photo: Mateo Radic
He believes that NFI’s supervisors are unclear about which costs can be approved.
– It is unclear to us why NFI has not approved this, says With.
Asbjørnsen believes that NFI’s guidelines are clear.
– We have explained to the company – both now and in the past – what the guidelines for the scheme are. Among other things, we need sub-documents and time lists when it comes to wages.
– Cinenord claims they have good enough documentation here. Are you too strict when approving this?
– We must be careful and strict. We manage large public funds, NFI replies.
Complain
Cinenord has appealed the decision to the Ministry of Culture. They are eagerly awaiting the ministry’s response.
– When we get paid less than half of what we expected, it goes without saying that this is critical for the company, says With in Bing Hodneland.
NFI is also excited about the ministry’s conclusion.
– It will be important for how we practice this scheme going forward, says section leader Asbjørnsen.
NRK has been in contact with the Ministry of Culture. The ministry cannot comment on the conclusion of the case until it has been formally completed. They write in an e-mail that a decision will probably be made in the complaint case by early autumn.
2023-08-15 10:32:14
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