Norwegian Film Institute (NFI Norway)

Overview

The Norwegian Film Institute (Norsk filminstitutt, NFI) is the Norwegian government agency responsible for supporting the development, production, promotion, and preservation of Norwegian cinema. Founded in its current form in 2001, the NFI administers selective production grants, automatic support based on box office performance, co-production support for international projects with Norwegian minority producers, and the Norwegian Film Production Incentive for large-scale productions shooting in Norway. The NFI also promotes Norwegian cinema at international festivals and markets and maintains the Norwegian Film Archive. The current director is Kjersti Mo.

Norway's film industry produces work that reflects its distinctive culture, landscape, and social democratic values. Norwegian cinema has achieved international recognition through films including Kon-Tiki (Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary), the global television phenomenon SKAM, and the animated feature Flow which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2025 as a co-production involving Norwegian studio Mikros Animation. Contemporary Norwegian directors including Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World, Academy Award nominated for Best Original Screenplay in 2022) have achieved major international festival recognition.

2026 Fund Budget

The NFI's adopted fund budget for 2026 totals NOK 760 million (approximately EUR 65 million), consisting of NOK 693 million from the state budget plus NOK 67 million carried over from 2025. After setting aside NOK 126 million for conditional after-grants (etterhandstilskot), the budget for new allocations is NOK 634 million as of February 2026.

2026 Budget Allocation by Format

These figures include development, production, co-production, after-grants, and launch support where relevant. The NFI conducts budget revisions twice yearly (May and October) to adjust allocations based on industry needs and available funds.

For feature films, the NFI plans to award market-evaluated production grants to 7 films in 2026: 3 at the high level (NOK 14.2 million each) and 4 at the low level (NOK 9.8 million each). In the February 2026 application round, grants will be awarded to 2 high-level and 2 low-level films, with one low-level film selected by the feature film consultant.

Norwegian Film Production Incentive

The Norwegian Film Production Incentive, introduced on January 1, 2016, offers reimbursement of up to 25% of eligible production costs for productions made entirely or partially in Norway. The incentive is designed to attract major international productions and is administered by the NFI.

For the 2026 application round, the NFI offered reimbursement caps totaling NOK 84.7 million across 5 productions (1 feature film and 4 drama series). These productions are expected to generate up to NOK 339 million in Norwegian spending. 18 productions applied for a total of NOK 288 million in reimbursement. Reimbursement is paid only after production completion, based on documented costs incurred in Norway.

2026 Incentive Awards

Applications are ranked by total production budget, budget allocated to production in Norway, international distribution potential, proportion of private and international financing, and impact on the Norwegian film industry. The application deadline for 2026 was November 25, 2026. See the NFI incentive page for details.

Co-Production Funding for International Productions

The NFI provides co-production grants for international productions with a Norwegian minority co-producer. Funding is non-recoupable and available for fiction feature films, documentaries, drama series, and short films.

Fiction Feature Film Co-Production

• Annual budget: Approximately NOK 10 million
• Grant range: NOK 500,000 to NOK 3,000,000
• Maximum coverage: Up to 75% of the Norwegian budget portion
• Requirements: Project must be acknowledged as a cultural product in the delegate producer's country; a deal memo from a Norwegian distributor confirming theatrical release intention is required
• 2026 deadlines: February 26 at 12:00 and October 15 at 12:00

Documentary Co-Production

Applications evaluated by NFI documentary film commissioners. Priority given to productions with strong artistic potential or those providing experience and networking advantages for the Norwegian producer. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

Drama Series Co-Production

Applications evaluated by the NFI drama series consultant. Up to 50% of the Norwegian budget can be applied for. A distribution platform deal in Norway is required. 2026 deadlines: February 17 at 12:00 and August 12 at 12:00.

Short Film Co-Production

Up to 100% of the Norwegian budget can be applied for. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis. See the NFI co-production page for full details.

Srfond: Support for Films from the Global South

The NFI administers Srfond, a grant scheme supporting films from countries in the Global South with a Norwegian minority co-producer. In June 2026, Srfond awarded grants ranging from NOK 500,000 to NOK 625,000 to 10 projects, including films from Iraq, Iran, Colombia, Nigeria, Vietnam, South Africa, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 2026 Srfond deadline is March 12 at 12:00.

Nordic and European Co-Production Framework

Norway participates actively in Nordic co-production through the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, which provides pan-Nordic financing for multi-country Nordic productions. Norwegian-Danish, Norwegian-Swedish, and Norwegian-Finnish co-productions are common, and shared cultural and linguistic proximity facilitates creative collaboration. The NFI also participates in Eurimages and the EU MEDIA Programme.

Norway's distinctive landscape - fjords, mountains, Arctic environments - attracts international productions, and the country's experienced crew base can service both domestic and international productions. The NFI provides guidance on incentive eligibility and application processes for international productions considering Norway as a location.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For international co-productions with Norway, NFI co-financing provides non-recoupable funding that does not need to be repaid from revenues. The co-production grant range of NOK 500,000 to NOK 3,000,000 for feature films can meaningfully reduce the financing gap, but requires a Norwegian minority producer and a Norwegian distribution deal memo. Application deadlines are strict: February 26 and October 15, 2026, at 12:00 Norwegian time for fiction features.

For larger international productions considering Norway as a shooting location, the 25% production incentive reimbursement can offset significant costs. The 2026 round received 18 applications totaling NOK 288 million in requested reimbursement against NOK 84.7 million available, meaning roughly 29% of requested funds were awarded. Productions should apply early and structure their Norwegian spending to maximize qualifying expenditure.

For Norwegian filmmakers, NFI selective and automatic support provides the institutional framework for theatrical feature careers. The NFI's film consultant system assesses grant applications, with consultants evaluating artistic merit, Norwegian cultural relevance, and commercial viability. The dual funding model supports both artistically ambitious work and commercially oriented Norwegian mainstream cinema.

See Also

For the Swedish Film Institute that operates alongside NFI in the Nordic context, see Swedish Film Institute (SFI) in this directory. For pan-Nordic context, see Nordic Film Directors Association in this directory. Use the Indie Film Budget Calculator to estimate co-production budget structures with Norwegian financing.