Svein Scharffenberg

Svein Scharffenberg is a graduate of the National Academy of Dramatic Art in Oslo, and has worked as an actor and director in Norwegian film, television and theater since his stage debut in 1968. After three years of acting at The National Theatre he formed a group of independent actors and founded what was to be Norways first regional theater, Hålogaland Theatre, in 1971. After this, a period followed where he worked as a freelance-actor and director at several national theatres around the country.

He's directed numerous stage plays over the years, and made his debut as a television director in 1981. Of his efforts as film and television director, his most notable works are perhaps his work on the mini-series Vestavind (1994) and the feature film Markus and Diana (1996). As an actor Scharffenberg has played numerous parts in various different Norwegian feature films since the seventies, and has presented the Norwegian film audiences with many memorable characters, including harrowing performances such as the killer Alex in the crime thriller Bortreist på ubestemt tid (1974), and the chief Tchude in the Academy Award nominated Pathfinder (1987).

Norsk Filminstitutt