The Norwegian Film Institute predicts a 33% boost to admissions over the next 12 months.

After a weak 2012, when domestic productions in Norway sold 24.1% fewer tickets than in 2011, Norwegian Film Institute managing director Nina Refseth, said it would be ”a good year, both audience and quality-wise.

She added: “My personal bet is we will reach 2.8 million admissions, if not more.” In 2012, admissions totalled 2.1m

In total, 30 new features - 24 Norwegian, six co-productions - are set for release throughout the year.

During the first six months, 10 will be released that were described by Refseth as “a varied and exciting repertoire, from warm and witty children’s films, touching love dramas over light comedy to engaging documentaries”.

She emphasised that the 2013 schedule includes no fewer than seven children’s films. “They have been rare, in recent years, so at the institute we have now decided to support at least five children’s film projects annually,” said Refseth.

First in the theatres will be Arne Lindtner Næss’ Karsten og Petra blir bestevenner and Rasmus A Sivertsen-Rune Spaans fully-animated Ploddy the Police Car on the Trail (Pelle Politibil på sporet).

Refseth also observed that Torun Lian and Nishta Jain are the only woman directors with spring premieres – “we obviously want woman filmmakers, but our New Ways to Features scheme seems to have already found some.”

Lian has signed the first Norwegian-language take on Norwegian Nobel Laureate Knut Hamsun’s 1898 love story, Victoria, with newcomer Iben Åkerlie in the lead, and produced by Filmkameratene.

2013 premiere list – Norwegian films

Jan 15: Before Snowfall (Før snøen faller). Dir: Hisham Zaman

Jan 18: Gulabi Gang (documentary). Dir: Nishta Jain. Mercy (Nåde). Dir: Matthias Glasner

Feb 1: Must Have Been Love (En som deg). Dir: Eirik Svensson

Feb 15: Karsten og Petra blir bestevenner (English title tba). Dir: Arne Lindtner Næss. Chasing the Wind (Jag etter vind). Dir: Rune Denstad Langlo

March 1: Victoria. Dir: Torun Lian

March 22: Eventyrland (English title tba). Dir: Arild Østin Ommundsen

May 3: Ploddy the Police Car on the Trail  (Pelle Politibil på sporet). Dirs: Rasmus A Sivertsen, Rune Spaans

July 26: Pornopung (English title tba). Dir: Johan Kaos