“The Nordic Bridge - How to strengthen Nordic content in the digital age” will be discussed by key Nordic and European film and media executives.

Norway’s Minister of Culture Linda Hofstad Helleland will host the seminar organised in collaboration with Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Norwegian Film Institute and the Norwegian International Film Festival.

Petri Kemppinen, Nordisk Film & TV Fond CEO said: “We at the Fund see this seminar as an ideal platform to exchange Nordic, European and Global views on the development of our industry, together with the key stakeholders. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to give our insight in the planning of this seminar initiated by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture as part of their Chairmanship at the Nordic Council of Ministers.”

The Norwegian Film Festival said in a statement: “All the Nordic countries are in the same situation regarding their film sector - looking for new business models that can both guarantee to the audience diversity and high quality of Nordic film and series and make sure that funds are reinvested in new productions. The Nordic countries are small markets, and it is difficult to build business models that are valid only for national content. How can we solve such challenges? What can we learn from each other in the Nordic region? In which areas could it be fruitful to have a Nordic cooperation? What do other countries in Europe do to solve the challenges of availability and co-financing?”

Speakers who will discuss these topics include Roberto Olla, Executive Director at Eurimages, Peter Dinges, CEO of the German Federal Film Board and General Secretary of the European Film Agency Directors, Petri Kemppinen and media analyst Johanna Koljonen, author of the Nostradamus Project.

Other highlights of the seminar include: 

  • a test-case about the Norwegian cult series SKAM with media researcher Vilde Schanke Sundet who will analyse the success of the NRK series in the Nordic context and lessons to be learnt, 
  • a panel discussion with Nordic industry players about how to make Nordic film and TV series available to the audience in today’s new distribution environment and how to optimise co-financing so all the players involved in the dissemination of content can also help finance new productions. Panellists will be announced soon.

The Norwegian International Film Festival will unspool August 19-25, 2017.

For more information on the festival CLICK HERE for accreditation to the seminar CLICK HERE.