Italian
Göteborg Festival Nordic Film Market introduces new award to boost Nordic cinema
Unveiling the Film Finances Scandinavia Award
In an exciting development for the Nordic film industry, the Göteborg Festival’s Nordic Film Market has announced the launch of the Film Finances Scandinavia Award for its 2025 edition. This award aims to provide a significant boost to Nordic filmmakers by offering €15,000 ($16,500) in development support to an outstanding Nordic feature film from the Discovery Co-Production Platform.
Addressing industry challenges with financial support
The Nordic film industry is currently facing considerable financing challenges, making it difficult for creators and producers to bring their visions to life. The new award aims to address this issue by offering crucial financial support. One potential solution lies in increasing private sector finance, an area where Film Finances has been a key player for over 70 years, issuing completion bonds for both film and television projects.
“In the current financial climate, where it is particularly difficult to secure development capital, we hope this award will enhance production companies’ ability to clarify the film’s vision,” remarked Susanne Tiger, CEO of Film Finances Scandinavia. “This award will strengthen projects at their critical stage towards green light.”
Selection process and announcement
A jury of industry professionals will select the winning project, and the announcement will be made during an Award Ceremony on January 30, 2025, at the Nordic Film Market. The selection process promises to be rigorous, ensuring that the awarded project stands out for its creativity and potential impact on the Nordic film landscape.
Showcasing emerging talent
One of the core missions of the Nordic Film Market is to showcase emerging talent. Each year, the Discovery Co-Production Platform features around 15 promising projects, highlighting both rising stars and lesser-known filmmakers from the Nordic region. This initiative connects them with co-production partners and potential international finance sources, providing a valuable platform for networking and collaboration.
Recent titles unveiled at Discovery include:
- Ali Abbasi’s third feature, Holy Spider, which earned Zar Amir Ebrahimi the Best Actress award at Cannes Competition.
- Opponent by Milad Alami, a Berlin Panorama Ecumenical Prize winner.
- Ninja Thyberg’s Cannes and Sundance hit, Pleasure.
- Malene Choi Jensen’s The Quiet Migration, a 2023 Panorama Fipresci laureate.
- Ernst de Geer’s The Hypnosis, a triple Karlovy Vary winner.
- Kristoffer Borgli’s Sick of Myself, who later directed Nicolas Cage in “Dream Scenario.”
Ensuring a bright future for Nordic cinema
The introduction of the Film Finances Scandinavia Award highlights the importance of nurturing and developing talent within the Nordic film industry. By focusing on the Discovery line-up, this partnership emphasizes the need to invest in the future of Nordic cinema.
Josef Kullengård, Head of Industry at Göteborg Festival, expressed his excitement about the new award:
“The Film Finances Scandinavia Award offers much-needed support to filmmakers during a key stage of their project. By focusing on the Discovery line-up, this partnership highlights the need to nurture and develop talent and the importance of investing in the future of Nordic cinema.”
Nordic film institutes offer development support, but in today’s challenging financial climate, there’s a growing need to unite both private and public funding sources. This initiative, along with the partnership with Film Finances Scandinavia, is a step forward in securing the future of Nordic film.
Record submissions and looking ahead
The call for projects for Discovery 2025 closed on September 30, with a record number of submissions, indicating the high level of interest and enthusiasm within the industry. The 2025 Nordic Film Market will run from January 29 to 31, while the Göteborg Festival will take place from January 24 to February 2.
Rediscovering Nordic cinema
The Göteborg Festival’s Nordic Film Market continues to be a vital forum for the TV-movie industry in Scandinavia. With the launch of the Film Finances Scandinavia Award, the event is poised to further strengthen its role in supporting and showcasing Nordic filmmaking talent.
Did you enjoy this article? Share it on your social channels and let us know your thoughts! Don’t miss out on the latest updates! Follow us on social media to stay informed about the newest releases.
