Niels Arden Oplev

Best known for directing the international Swedish blockbuster "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," Niels Arden Oplev was a Danish director who won acclaim for his unique visionary prowess. Oplev was born Niels Pedersen on March 26, 1961 in Denmark. He initially followed an agricultural education like his father had, but switched directions and ventured into film. He enrolled into the National Film School of Denmark, where he directed a prize-winning documentary about his father's farm titled "Hugo fra Himmerland" (Hugo From Himmerland, 1987). By 1989, he graduated as a director from the prestigious film school and quickly began directing plays and short films, which included "Nogen" (Naked, 1992). Four years later, Oplev made his feature film directorial debut "Portland" (1996), a violent story about two brothers navigating the criminal underworld of a small town. The movie received critical acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear award. After directing his second film, "Fukssvansen" (2001), Oplev began working on TV shows. Two of them, "Rejseholdet" (Unit One, 2000-04) and "Ornen" (2004-06), nabbed the Best Foreign Language Television Series at the International Emmy Awards and brought recognition to the Danish director.