Norwegian director Fredrik S. Hana, long celebrated for his bold and visionary short films, is preparing to make his feature film debut with Planet — a pure science fiction project that aims to redefine the genre in Norwegian cinema.
Backed by 7.3 million NOK from the Norwegian Film Institute’s (NFI) Neo scheme, Planet is being hailed as a landmark moment for national sci-fi. The Neo programme is designed to support debut filmmakers with strong creative visions, and Hana — known for his surreal, genre-pushing shorts — is seen as a perfect fit.
“Fredrik S. Hana is an exciting filmmaker who has made a name for himself internationally through his short films,” said NFI director Kjersti Mo. “We’re excited to see him make the leap into feature filmmaking. This is exactly what Neo was created for.”
Planet expands on Hana’s award-winning 2022 short film From.Beyond, which explored humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial life and the existential questions that followed. The new film is described as “an expansive portrayal of our place in the universe.”
Rodrigo Stoicheff, film commissioner at NFI, praised Hana as “one of the most groundbreaking new talents in Norway,” calling Planet “a rare example of true science fiction in Norwegian film.”
Born in Stavanger in 1986, Hana has directed a long list of shorts, documentaries, and music videos. He was named Stavanger Artist of the Year in 2023 and earned an Amanda Award nomination in 2021 for his documentary Codename: Nagasaki. Still, Planet is by far his most ambitious project yet — and one many in the industry have been eagerly awaiting.
The film is produced by Chezville’s Julia Joner, who earlier this year made her own feature debut with Everything Must Go. The script is co-written by Hana and British screenwriter Jamie Turville. The total budget for Planet stands at 16.1 million NOK.
So far, no cast has been announced, and a release date remains unknown — but expectations are high.
If successful, Planet could follow in the footsteps of other Neo-backed films like Armand, Darling, and Uncle Jens — all of which have garnered attention far beyond Norway’s borders.
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