26/10/2012 - The children's book character created by Swedish author Gunilla Bergström dreams of being big enough to have a dog in Norwegian Oscar-winner Torill Kove's first full-length film

When Alfie and the Soldier Daddy was published in 2006, it came out in seven countries simultaneously, which had never happened before with a Swedish children's book. Created by Swedish author Gunilla Bergström in 1972, Alfie Atkins – in Swedish, Alfons Åberg – has so far appeared in 25 titles, selling eight million copies worldwide.

Yesterday (October 25) Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel opened Alfie Atkins' Culture House in Göteborg – Bergström's home city – a new centre for childen's culture, with children's theatre and other activities for youngsters, but also lectures for the grown-ups.

Among the guests were Bergström, and Norwegian Oscar-winning director Torill Kove (The Danish Poet (2006)) and her team behind Hocus Pocus Alfie Atkins, the first full-length, fully animated feature and television series about Alfie, currently in production for Norway's Maipo Film & TV Produksjon AS.

Kove's feaure debut, which is "about reality, illusion and magic, but also lies and fantasy - and an intense desire to be big enough to get a dog", and follows the seven-year-old boy who plays pirates with his friends, but always dreams of having his own dog, a playful terrier like the old magician has.

Scripted by HansÅke Gabrielsson and Tora Berg from Bergström's books, the €2.8 million feature is produced by Kristin Ulseth for Maipo, with Rebecka Hamberger for Sweden's Fladen Film, Denmark's A.Film Productions and Swedish pubcaster Sveriges Television AB- SVT.

Nordisk Film Distribution AB will distribute the film in Scandinavia, with Norwegian and Swedish premieres scheduled for September 20, 2013; the €2 million, 13x13min TV series will start airing on Norway's NRK during the upcoming Christmas. Denmark's TrustNordisk handles international sales.