Trygve Allister Diesen

Trygve Allister Diesen started his career as a journalist before studying film at the prestigious University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts in the early nineties, where he made his directorial debut with the short film Goosestep in 1991. He has since written and directed numerous commercials, music videos, shorts, documentaries, television series' and feature films, in addition to also working as an editor of the Norwegian film trade publication Rushprint. Diesen also has comprehensive experience as a cinematographer.

He made his feature film debut with the thriller Isle of Darkness in 1997. His second film, Hold My Heart (2002), was screened at over 25 international festivals - including Karlovy Vary, Palm Springs, Cinequest and Montreal World Film - and won several awards. It was also selected as the Norwegian entry for the Academy Awards of 2002.

In 2008 he directed his first film in the United States, Red, starring Brian Cox and Tom Sizemore, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. As the first candidate ever, Diesen also finished his Ph.D. in Directing at the Norwegian Film School in 2010.

Norsk Filminstitutt