Stats: Norwegian directors ♂

Nils R. Müller was born on 17 January 1921 in Shanghai, China. He was a director and writer, known for Det store varpet (1960), Equilibrium - Det er meg du skal elske (1965) and Tonny (1962). He died on 6 March 2007 in Oslo, Norway.

Knut Bohwim was born on 12 March 1931. He was a director and actor, known for Operasjon sjøsprøyt (1964), Glade vrinsk (1975) and Skulle det dukke opp flere lik er det bare å ringe..... (1970). He died on 16 June 2020.

Tancred Ibsen was born on 11 July 1893 in Gausdal, Norway. He was a director and writer, known for Venner (1960), Valfångare (1939) and Cheer Up! (1933). He was married to Lillebil Ibsen. He died on 4 December 1978 in Oslo, Norway.

Arne Skouen was born on 18 October 1913 in Oslo, Norway. He was a writer and director, known for Nine Lives (1957), Fire in the Night (1955) and Cirkus Fandango (1954). He died on 24 May 2003 in Oslo, Norway.

A Norwegian film director and journalist. He worked for the newspapers Verdens Gang, Aftenposten and Morgenbladet. Among his silent films are Himmeluret (1925), based on Gabriel Scott's comedy, and Fjeldeventyret (1926). He directed the film Bra mennesker (1937), based on a play by Oskar Braaten, and the films De vergeløse (1939) and Tante Pose (1940), both based on novels by Gabriel Scott. During the German occupation of Norway Sinding cooperated with the occupants, was a member of Nasjonal Samling, and was sentenced to four years forced labour after the war.

Knut Andersen was born on 9 May 1931 in Harstad, Norway. He was a director and writer, known for Autumn Sonata (1978), Skjær i sjøen (1965) and Balladen om mestertyven Ole Høiland (1970). He was married to Nicole Macé. He died on 17 June 2019 in Oslo, Norway.

Rasmus Breistein made his mark in the annals of Norwegian cinema history in more ways than one. Most importantly he played a huge part in the period 1920-1930, that later was known as "the national breakthrough for Norwegian films." Until 1920, ironically the only dramatization of Norwegian literature was made by Swedish and Danish filmmakers, a trend that shifted when Breistein made his debut as a feature filmmaker and screenwriter with 1920's "Fante-Anne", based on a story by Norwegian writer Kristofer Janson. Historians would later claim that "Fante-Anne" marked the true beginning for the serious and dedicated Norwegian film-industry.

It was in the 1920s that the Norwegian film industry started to get a self-awareness that would also lead to a wave of respected stage actors finally taking a leap into the art of moving pictures, and thereby helping to improve the productions. It was considered quite a historical feat when Breistein got his "Fante-Anne" cast with professional stage actors from Det Norske Teatret (until then Norwegian theaters had actually forbidden it's actors to work in the film industry!). The days when theatres looked down upon the new media was over, and Breistein helped play a part by directing som of the best Norwegian movies of the decade (a total of five feature films until 1930), and even challenging and finally weakening the powerful Swedish film industry's grip on the Norwegian public.

After the invention of sound Breistein would seal his reputation as a popular director with classical box-office hits such as "Ungen" (1938) and "Trysil-Knut" (1942). His documentary features "Jorden rundt på to timer" (1949) and "Tirich Mir til topps" (1952) are considered classics in the history of Norwegian documentary filmmaking. "Jorden rundt på to timer" was also the first Norwegian feature in color. The latter, "Tirich Mir til topps" (also in color) was shot on location in Pakistan, and would prove to be the last production from Breistein, who subsequently retired from the industry all-together. He lived on for another 24 years, earning much admiration and respect from his colleagues, before passing away in 1976 at the age of 86.

Toralf Sandø was born on 6 April 1899 in Sorflatager, Norway. He was an actor and director, known for Boer Boerson Jr. (1938), Det æ'kke te å tru (1942) and Jeg drepte! (1942). He died on 4 March 1970 in Oslo, Norway.

Svend Wam was born on 5 May 1946 in Son, Norway. He was a director and writer, known for Lakki... The Boy Who Could Fly (1992), Desperate bekjentskaper (1998) and Life and Death (1980). He died on 7 May 2017 in Vestby, Norway.

Nils-Reinhardt Christensen was born on 13 April 1919 in Skien, Norway. He was a director and writer, known for Line (1961), Psychedelica Blues (1969) and Et øye på hver finger (1961). He died on 8 November 1990.

Kåre Bergstrøm was born on 3 February 1911. He was a cinematographer and director, known for Andrine og Kjell (1952), Lake of the Dead (1958) and Det kunne vært deg (1952). He died on 24 June 1976.

Olav Dalgard was born on 19 June 1898 in Foldal, Norway. He was a writer and director, known for Om kjærligheten synger de (1946), Det drønner gjennom dalen (1938) and Vi vil leve (1946). He died in 1980 in Jar, Norway.

Jan Erik Düring was born on 15 June 1926. He was a director and writer, known for Deilig er fjorden (1985), Hjelp - vi får leilighet! - Husmorfilmen høsten 1965 (1965) and Bør Børson Jr. (1974). He died on 13 March 2014 in Oslo, Norway.

Oddvar Bull Tuhus was born on 14 December 1940 in Oslo, Norway. He is a producer and director, known for 1958 (1980), Angst (1976) and Fifty-fifty (1982). He is married to Åse Kleveland.

Walter Fyrst was born on 6 June 1901 in Oslo, Norway. He was a director and writer, known for Hjem går vi ikke (1955), Slik blir det lettere - Husmorfilmen 1956 (1956) and Unge viljer (1943). He died on 22 February 1993 in Oslo, Norway.

Harry Ivarson was born on 7 September 1892 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a director and writer, known for Simen Mustrøens besynderlige opplevelser (1926), Til sæters (1924) and Fager er lien (1925). He died in 1967 in the USA.

Peter Lykke-Seest was born on 26 September 1868 in Kristiania [now Oslo], Norway. He was a writer and director, known for Paria (1916), Historien om en gut (1919) and Unge hjerter (1917). He died on 24 February 1948 in Oslo, Norway.

Øyvind Vennerød was born on 22 July 1917 in Christiania, Norway. He was a writer and editor, known for To på topp (1965), Alle tiders kupp (1964) and Himmel og helvete (1969). He was married to Anne Margrethe Waagaard. He died on 27 September 1991 in Norway.

Titus Vibe-Müller was born on 17 October 1912 in Oslo, Norway. He was an editor and director, known for Kampen om tungtvannet (1948), To liv (1946) and Oss atomforskere i mellom (1961). He died on 19 May 1986 in Oslo, Norway.

Pål Bang-Hansen was born in Oslo, the capital of Norway. The son of author Odd Bang-Hansen (who also worked as a film critic in the 1950s) he would from childhood be as much a part of the Norwegian film industry, as the industry would be a part of him. At the age of 12 he played the scene-stealing role of 'Sofus' in "Gategutter", directed by Arne Skouen. A slice-of-life story about a group of boys in the working-class section of Oslo, it went on to become one of the greatest Norwegian movie classics. Notably it was also the first film by Skouen who went on to become the greatest Norwegian filmmaker of his generation, even earning an Academy Award nomination for 1957's "Ni liv". By this time young Bang-Hansen was himself bitten by the movie-bug and got himself into the Centro Sperimentale Film School in Rome, Italy (as a result of this he is today fluent in Italian).

From 1961 to 1967 Bang-Hansen worked as a film critic for the Oslo news-paper Arbeiderbladet (the same paper as his father). At the same time he worked as an assistant director on several Arne Skouen-productions. Bang Hansen's feature film directorial debut came in 1966 with "Skrift i sne". He went on to direct some of the best Norwegian movies until his last film in 1979; the thriller "Douglas" (1970), the comedy "Norske byggeklosser" (1971) which today is regarded as one of the most popular Norwegian comedies ever made, the drama "Kanarifuglen" (co-starring international star Julie Ege), the thriller "Bortreist på ubestemt tid" and "Kronprinsen", a political drama that would earn actor Bjørn Sundquist the Norwegian Critics Award in his first feature film. Sundquist went on to become the most prolific actor in Norwegian film.

Despite his work as a director, Bang-Hansen is best known for his career as a film-critic and -reporter. Especially since 1967, when he was employed by the Norwegian National Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) and introduced the public to something new: "Filmmagasinet", the first Norwegian TV-show dedicated to the movies. Working in NRK into the next century he was also recognized for his reports from the Cannes Film Festival which he has visited annually since the early 1960s. Meeting and interviewing legends such as 'Alfred Hitchcock', 'Anthony Mann', Henry Fonda, Akira Kurosawa, Charles Chaplin and many more, Bang-Hansen has become a well-known face to many industry people at the French film festival. So famous is his role on TV to generations of Norwegians that many of them aren't even aware of his past as a director and screenwriter.

His career as a film-maker however, deserves mentioning as he delivered a quality that was very rare to Norwegian cinema in the 1970s: he made movies for the public. Norwegian cinema in the 1970s and 80s is often looked upon as an era filled with boring, artistic dramas lacking in both plot and credible acting, loathed by both the public and the critics. At this time Bang-Hansen would deliver the opposite; exciting thrillers, credible dramas and even a crazy comedy that would become a smash-hit at the box-office. A feat for which to this day he has sadly achieved very little recognition. Thanks to his long-running "Filmmagasinet" on TV, he is, however, today regarded by every Norwegian as its nation's one and only "Mr Film".

Rolf Clemens was born on 15 April 1937 in Norway. He is a production manager and director, known for 4 x 4 (1965), Operasjon V for vanvidd (1970) and Episode (1963).

Helge Lunde was born on 21 January 1900 in Etnedal, Norway. He was a director and production manager, known for Bastard (1940), Sangen om Rondane (1934) and Vigdis (1943). He was married to Nanna Stenersen. He died in 1987 in Oslo, Norway.

Petter Vennerød was born on 25 September 1948 in Oslo, Norway. He was a producer and director, known for Life and Death (1980), Født i Feil Kropp (2014) and Open Future (1983). He died on 19 September 2021 in Norway.

Arnljot Berg was born on 22 October 1931 in Norway. Arnljot was a director and editor, known for Closed Ward (1972), Bobbys krig (1974) and Før frostnettene (1966). Arnljot died on 9 December 1982 in Norway.

Lasse Glomm was born on 5 September 1944. He was a director and writer, known for At dere tør! (1980), Havlandet (1985) and Sweetwater (1988). He was married to Glomm, Gro. He died on 11 October 1996.