The best-selling novel, “Stargate – en julefortelling” by Ingvild H. Rishøis, that captivated Norwegian readers in 2021 has already been sold to 23 countries. Next year, the heartwarming story comes to the big screen.
The story centers on sisters Ronja (Luiza Idrizi) and Melissa (Anna D. Sverrisdóttir) and their father (Bartek Kaminski), who live in the Tøyen neighborhood of Oslo. With Christmas around the corner, their unemployed father is once again struggling to make ends meet. When Ronja helps him land a job as a Christmas tree seller at the local market, it seems like things might finally take a turn for the better. For a brief moment, the fridge is full, and their loving father smells of pine instead of alcohol.
But temptation looms, and when he gets money in his hands, the allure of the local Stargate pub becomes too great. Once again, the sisters are left to fend for themselves. Ronja, a dreamer like her father, uses her vivid imagination as both a shield and an escape, fantasizing most of all about living in a secluded cabin in the woods with her sister.
Director Ida Sagmo Tvedte shared her passion for the story in a press release:
“The book hit me straight in the heart when I read it. Ingvild has created characters I deeply care for and a story that resonates with so many of us. It’s a Christmas tale that, with both humor and warmth, explores the complexities of being a child in a home affected by addiction. It’s a big, warm, and important story told through an intimate and small lens, perfectly suited for the big screen.”
Tvedte, known for NRK hits like Snøfall and Gutta på skauen, co-wrote the screenplay with Rishøi.
Rishøi shared her thoughts on the adaptation:
“Collaborating with Ida has been a joy—it’s been a truly wonderful experience writing the screenplay together. Addiction—whether one’s own or a loved one’s—touches nearly every family in some way. I hope this story resonates with those who need it, both in cinemas and around the world.”
Stargate – A Christmas Tale is set to premiere on October 31, 2025. The cast includes Jan Gunnar Røise (Makta), Staffan Göthe (A Royal Affair), Tevje Espeland (Hybris), Damir Babovic (In Order of Disappearance), Suheib Ahmed, Ingvild Holthe Bygdes (Monster), Hamza Kader (22. July), and Shana Mathai (Makta), among others.
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