Roadmap to Co-Producing with the UK

Two-Year UK Focus at New Nordic Films in 2023 & 2024

In 2023 and 2024, New Nordic Films has had a focus on co-productions with the United Kingdom, aiming to promote collaboration and co-production opportunities between the UK and the Nordic countries.

For two consecutive years, New Nordic Films, in partnership with British Film Institute, Norwegian Film Institute and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in London, hosted delegations of UK film industry delegates. The program included discussion panels, networking events, film screenings, and a recent case study on co-production between the UK and the Nordics.

Over the two years, eight projects from the UK have been selected to pitch at the Nordic Co-Production Market in Haugesund, and the filmmakers have had one-on-one meetings with Nordic and International sales agents, festivals, and distributors. In April 2024, a Norwegian delegation of producers also traveled to London to meet with UK producers at the Norwegian Ambassador's residence for presentations of projects and one-on-one meetings. In addition, they attended a studio tour arranged by Film London, and a reception for the UK and Norwegian film industry.

– We are incredibly proud and happy to have a special Focus on the UK in collaboration with BFI, with the aim of facilitatingco-productions between our creative film industries into the future, says Programme Director for New Nordic Films Line Halvorsen.   

At this year’s UK Focus panel session How to Co-produce with the UK,  Kamilla Hodøl of Elation Pictures introduced a Roadmap to Co-Producing with the UK aimed at Norwegian producers considering a co-production, official or unofficial, with the UK. It foregrounds key facts and cultural differences that may be most relevant to co-producers seeking to collaborate with the UK. The document has been commissioned by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in the UK in co-operation with New Nordic Films and the Norwegian Film Institute.

During the session, attendees also heard a case study of Sebastian, a Finland-UK-Belgium co-production from James Watson and Mikko Mäkelä and gained insights from other producers with experience in co-production between the UK and the Nordics. 

Norwegian filmmakers may receive a copy of the Roadmap to Co-Producing with the UK, by sending an email to: bd@nfi.no.

Photo: Grethe Nygaard

The UK Focus was presented in collaboration with and supported by the British Film Institute through the BFI National Lottery International Fund, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in London, the British Embassy in Norway, Film London and the British Council.  

Panel discussion on UK/Nordic co-production with Benedikte Danielsen (Norwegian Film Institute), director/producer Mikko Mäkelä (FIN/UK), producer Gabrielle de Cevins (UK), producer James Watson (UK), producer and moderator Kamilla Hodøl (NOR/UK) and producer Roosa Toivonen (Aurora Studios, FIN). Photo: Grethe Nygaard

Reception with UK and Nordic producers, hosted by Norwegian Film Institute. Photo: Grethe Nygaard