Haugesund 2025 – New Nordic Films
Country Focus: Norway
New Nordic Films lifts the veil on its Nordic Co-Production Market line-up
- The Norwegian festival's market will showcase pitches for a total of 21 new projects currently in development, with six of them coming from the Baltic countries in focus

The 31st edition of New Nordic Films will take place from 19-22 August as part of the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund. The well-established industry market has already announced its Work in Progress line-up (see the news). Meanwhile, on 20 August, during the 20th Nordic Co-Production Market, a curated selection of 21 projects will be presented to accredited industry professionals, in search of funding, co-production partnerships, sales representation and other opportunities.
Among the highlighted projects is Abyss by Finnish director Aino Suni (Heartbeast [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), a gripping drama about Aamu, who, after meeting Melissa – newly sober and planning a future for them together – finds herself drawn into a passionate affair with Sacha. Sweden’s Måns Månsson (The Real Estate [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Axel Petersén and Måns Måns…
film profile]) presents The Cannibal, a psychological thriller set on Ingmar Bergman’s estate on the island of Fårö. David, a screenwriter in crisis seeking inspiration for a film about Bergman, encounters a demonic presence and realises that the only way to escape is to face Bergman’s ghost.
From Iceland, Baldvin Z (Let Me Fall [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Baldvin Z
interview: Kristin Thora Haraldsdóttir
film profile]) offers up Dark Ocean, a visceral survival drama following 19-year-old Hákon aboard a fishing vessel. After a crewmate’s suicide and the captain’s refusal to return to shore, the crew is plunged into psychological torment. Norway’s Torfinn Iversen (Oskar's America [+see also:
trailer
interview: Torfinn Iversen
film profile]) returns with Kicksled Choir, a moving drama about 12-year-old Gabriel, who lives on a remote farm and dreams of singing in the local choir.
Icelandic filmmaker Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (Blackport [+see also:
interview: Olivier Wotling
series profile]) presents Klara, a supernatural thriller where a police detective in Reykjavík, grieving the death of his wife, is approached by a medium promising communication from the afterlife, offering an escape from a criminal racket. Ninna Pálmadóttir’s (Solitude [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ninna Pálmadóttir
film profile]) On a Scale of One to Ten tells the story of 17-year-old Tamar, admitted to a psychiatric unit as she wrestles with guilt over the death of a school friend. Finnish-based Bulgarian director Tonislav Hristov (The Good Driver [+see also:
film review
film profile]) brings Quiet Lake, a tense thriller set in Kilpisjärvi, Finnish Lapland, where middle-aged boat driver Virpi must clear her name and confront her past by searching for a missing Japanese tourist she is accused of robbing.
Several notable documentaries are also part of the selection. God Is Tango by Swedish-born Finnish director Annika Grof (There Will Be Spring [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) explores the Argentine tango as a source of solace and connection for tangueros living in crisis areas worldwide. Benjamin Ree (The Painter and the Thief [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Benjamin Ree
film profile], The Remarkable Life of Ibelin [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Benjamin Ree
film profile]) presents The Greatest Illusion, a documentary that uses magic as a metaphor to unravel the story of Alexx, a popular magician haunted by childhood trauma.
As previously announced (see the news), New Nordic Films will also spotlight co-productions with the Baltic countries to enhance collaboration, presenting six projects, two from each country. Estonian director Vallo Toomla (Pretenders [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) presents Beatrice, a deeply human drama about identity, grief and enduring love, where Kristi’s consciousness is implanted into a new body after a tragic accident. Martti Helde (In the Crosswind [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Martti Helde
interview: Martti Helde
film profile]) presents Silverwhite, a mythic, multi-layered tale inspired by the Kaali meteorite impact 7,500 years ago.
Lithuanian filmmaker Jorūnė Greičiūtė directs Flood, a tense relationship drama set on a secluded island. Inesa Kurklietytė (A Butterfly’s Heart) returns with I’m Going to Change the World, following 11-year-old Luka, who escapes loneliness in the city for a subterranean world filled with imagination.
Norwegian-Latvian director Ilze Burkovska-Jacobsen (My Favorite War [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ilze Burkovska Jacobsen
film profile]) debuts her fiction feature Legato, a coming-of-age story about Sophie, who journeys to Latvia to meet her estranged father and confront family secrets. Finally, Aik Karapetian (The Brazen [+see also:
film review
film profile]) comes clutching Sorcerer’s Eye, a supernatural thriller in which two twins confront ancient magic that has been unleashed from a painting.
Here is the complete selection of the 20th Nordic Co-Production Market:
Wannabe – Patricia Bbaale Bandak (Denmark)
Producers: Victor Rocha Da Cunha, Pernille Tornøe (Monolit Film)
Into the Ice – Nicolai Cleve Broch (Norway)
Producer: Kristin Emblem (Einar Film)
Legato – Ilze Burkovska-Jacobsen (Latvia)
Producer: Matīss Kaža (Trickster Pictures)
How to Steal a Bike – Johan Fasting (Norway)
Producers: Vilje Kathrine Hagen, Yngve Sæther (Motlys)
Flood – Jorūnė Greičiūtė (Lithuania/Sweden)
Producers: Rūta Petronytė, Justinas Pocius (Smart Casual)
Co-producer: Peter Krupenin
God Is Tango – Annika Grof (Finland/Estonia)
Producer: Joon Tervakari (Tarasow Films)
Co-producer: Marianna Kaat (Baltic Film Production)
Klara – Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (Iceland/UK)
Producers: Rakel Garðarsdóttir, Ágústa M Ólafsdóttir, Sjón (Vesturport)
Co-producer: Stella Harnström (Boom Films)
Silverwhite – Martti Helde (Estonia/Latvia/Finland)
Producer: Elina Litvinova (Three Brothers)
Co-producers: Antra Gaile (Air Productions), Klaus Heydemann (Inland Film Company)
Quiet Lake – Tonislav Hristov (Finland/Bulgaria/Sweden)
Producers: Kaarle Aho, Kai Nordberg (Making Movies Oy)
Co-producers: Andrea Stanoeva (Soul Food), Erika Malmgren, Annika Hellström (Cinenic)
Blood – The Devil in Helsinki – Viivi Huuska (Finland)
Producers: Mika Pajunen, Aleksi Hyvärinen (61°North)
Kicksled Choir – Torfinn Iversen (Norway)
Producer: Julia Andersen (Fjordic Film)
Sorcerer’s Eye – Aik Karapetian (Latvia)
Producers: Inese Boka-Grūbe, Gints Grūbe (Mistrus Media)
I’m Going to Change the World – Inesa Kurklietytė (Lithuania)
Producer: Živilė Gallego (Fralita Films)
Lisa & Lilly – Julia Lindström (Sweden)
Producer: Josefine Tengblad (Nordic Drama Queens)
The Cannibal – Måns Månsson (Sweden/Norway)
Producer: Martin Persson (Anagram Sweden)
Co-producer: Ole Marius Araldsen (Anagram Norway)
On a Scale of One to Ten – Ninna Pálmadóttir (UK)
Producer: Alice Lusher (Lushkin Films)
The Greatest Illusion – Benjamin Ree (Norway)
Producer: Ingvil Giske (Medieoperatørene AS)
Save Our Souls – Jonas Steinacker (Germany/France)
Producer: Simon Pilarski (Lichtschloss Filmproduktion)
Co-producer: Ghislain Vidal-Giraud (Orphée Films)
Abyss – Aino Suni (Finland)
Producers: Emilia Haukka, Jussi Rantamäki (Aamu Film Company)
Beatrice – Vallo Toomla (Estonia/Lithuania/Italy/Finland)
Producer: Evelin Penttilä (Stellar Film)
Co-producers: Giovanni Pompili (Kino Produzioni), Dagne Vildziunaite (Just a Moment), Aleksi Bardy (Oxymoron Imagination)
Dark Ocean – Baldvin Z (Iceland)
Producer: Gudgeir “Gucci” Arngrimsson (Glassriver)
Co-producer: Christine Haebler (Terminal City Pictures)
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