Arne Lindtner Næss
Arne was born in 1944. He was educated as a theatre actor. Since 1985 he has also been a director, screenwriter and creative producer for TV-series. He has worked on the JUNIOR OLSEN GANG series since the beginning in 2001 as creative producer and director. Since then he has written and directed four JUNIOR OLSEN GANG films (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007). In addition he has directed FINDING FRIENDS (VENNER FOR LIVET, 2005). The film appeared in the Giffoni Film Festival 2005 (Kidz section) and won the Amanda prize for the best children’s film.

Director’s statement
“I grew up in Bergen, a town on the west coast of Norway. All the summers of my childhood we used to visit a small island where the sea is endless and the sky was full of rainy clouds, intense sun and big lighthouses. The sea was also full of fish – and seals. But I remember my grandfather being angry with the seals – saying they ate all the fish. And I even remember that he used to shoot them. As a child I hated this. Today there are fewer seals and not so much fish. It is allowed for tourists to hunt the seals in periods of the year – and this has become popular. So what will happen if a young girl finds a baby-seal – and knows that there are people around hunting for it. She will of course try to protect the animal. But do her parents agree in this? Children concerning about animals – an everlasting theme. It can be difficult to work with children in front of the camera – but working with a baby seal was almost impossible. But we made it through 7 rainy weeks. And when I now think of the shooting period I only remember sun and fun. Just like I believe it was in my childhood”.