New Nordic Films (Nordic Co-Production Market)

Overview

New Nordic Films is the Nordic co-production and financing market that runs during the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund. The 32nd edition takes place August 25 to 28, 2026, with the Nordic Co-Production Market pitch day on Wednesday, August 26 at the Maritim Hall, Quality Hotel Maritim. The market gathers approximately 350 film professionals including co-producers, film funds, distributors, sales agents, and festival programmers interested in Nordic cinema.

The market accepts feature film projects (fiction, animation, or documentary) in advanced development that are seeking co-producers, co-financing, and international sales agents. For 2026, the project submission deadline is May 28. The 2025 edition received a record 92 submissions, from which 21 projects were selected for pitching. The 2026 edition has a special focus on France, in cooperation with the Institut Francais de Norvege, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the CNC, making French producers eligible to apply alongside Nordic production companies.

For selected filmmakers, New Nordic Films provides accommodation and breakfast for 3 nights at the festival hotel for the director and producer, free festival and market accreditation, a project description in the New Nordic Films catalog and website, tailored one-on-one meetings with key industry players, and access to social events. The market is headed by Gyda Velvin Myklebust (gyda@kino.no), with program coordinator Line Halvorsen (line@filmfestivalen.no).

Key Sections

• Nordic Co-Production Market - the core pitching forum where selected projects are presented to an audience of co-producers, film funds, distributors, and sales agents, followed by one-on-one meetings
• Works in Progress - screenings of completed or near-completed films seeking distribution and sales representation (16 projects presented in 2025)
• Nordic Council Film Prize - presentation of nominees for the annual Nordic Council Film Prize, which carries a cash prize of 350,000 DKK
• Panel Discussions - seminars on distribution, co-production, and industry trends, organized in collaboration with Europa Distribution and other partners
• Market Screenings - screenings at Edda Cinema for market attendees throughout the event

Submission Details

Applications are submitted online via the New Nordic Films website. The submission requires a fully completed entry form with project materials.

What Selected Filmmakers Receive

• Accommodation and breakfast for 3 nights at the festival hotel for director and producer
• Free festival and market accreditation for director and producer
• Project description in the New Nordic Films catalog and website
• Tailored one-on-one meetings with co-producers, sales agents, distributors, and film fund representatives
• Social events and networking gatherings

What Filmmakers Should Know

The Nordic Co-Production Market is the primary venue for Nordic feature film projects to find co-production partners. The 2025 edition attracted over 250 delegates, including nearly 20 sales outlets such as Coproduction Office, Le Pacte, Beta Cinema, and The Playmaker, plus programmers from Sundance, Tribeca, Rome, and Karlovy Vary, and buyers including Netflix and HBO Max.

The market is particularly valuable for producers whose projects have at least 30% of the budget covered and need co-financing from Nordic or European partners. The one-on-one meeting format means that selected projects get direct face time with decision-makers rather than relying on cold outreach.

The 2026 France focus means French producers can apply with projects that have a Nordic connection, and French producer delegates can attend to explore co-producing with Nordic companies. This expands the co-financing pool beyond the usual Nordic partners.

The Works in Progress section is separate from the pitching forum and targets films in post-production. In 2025, 16 projects were presented, including Linda Hambaeck's animation Dante, voiced by Stella Skarsgard and David Dencik. This section is where sales agents and distributors evaluate near-complete films for acquisition.

Festival History

New Nordic Films began in 1995 as the industry arm of the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund. The market has operated for over three decades as a meeting place for Nordic and international film professionals. The Nordic Co-Production Market has grown from a regional networking event into a structured financing platform that attracts major European sales agents, distributors, and streaming buyers.

The market has adapted to shifts in Nordic film financing. In recent years, cuts in TV investment, pauses in Icelandic film funding, and a finite number of Norwegian development grants have created a bottleneck for projects in development. New Nordic Films has positioned itself as an alternative route to financing for producers who cannot rely solely on national film institute support.

The 2025 edition opened with a Cannes Premiere entry and closed with a Palme d'Or winner, both screened as market titles. The 2026 edition marks the 21st year of the Nordic Co-Production and Finance Market.

See Also

For European co-production financing, see Film Financing Guide. For Nordic documentary and short film submission, see Nordisk Panorama Film Festival. To estimate production budget requirements for co-production applications, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator.