August B. Hanssen is a Norwegian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his critically acclaimed films such as The King of Devil's Island (2010), The Orheim Company (2012), and The Ash Lad: In the Hall of the Mountain King (2017).
Hanssen was born in Kløfta, Norway, in 1971. He studied film at the University of Oslo and then went on to study screenwriting at the National Film and Television School in London. Upon completing his studies, he worked as an assistant director and editor for various television series in Norway.
In 2005, Hanssen wrote and directed his first feature film, The King of Devil's Island. This film dealt with the subject of child abuse in a Norwegian reform school. It was well-received at film festivals around the world and earned him a nomination for the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Hanssen followed this success with The Orheim Company in 2012. This film follows a man's journey to reconnect with his estranged family and his attempts to make a new life for himself. This film was awarded the Amanda Award for Best Film, the Norwegian equivalent of the Academy Award for Best Picture.
In 2017, Hanssen wrote and directed The Ash Lad: In the Hall of the Mountain King. This is a fantasy adventure film which follows a young Norwegian man as he embarks on a perilous quest to save his sister from a powerful troll. The film was a huge success at the box office and has been translated into over 20 languages, making it one of the most successful Norwegian films ever.
Hanssen has since gone on to direct several other successful films, such as Out Stealing Horses (2018) and The Witch in the Woods (2019). He has also written and directed a number of short films and television series.
Hanssen is one of Norway's most successful filmmakers and has earned numerous awards and accolades for his work. He has become a role model for aspiring filmmakers in Norway and is credited with bringing a new wave of independent filmmaking to the country.
