The effort aims to provide clearer professional standards for productions dealing with scenes involving nudity, simulated sex or emotionally demanding material

Norway's national guidelines for filming intimate scenes

Norway has joined a growing group of European countries establishing formal standards for shooting intimate scenes in film and television, with the launch of a new set of national guidelines unveiled in Oslo earlier this week.

The initiative follows similar frameworks already introduced in Finland and Sweden, and aims to provide clearer professional standards for productions dealing with scenes involving nudity, simulated sex or emotionally demanding material. The guidelines were presented during a launch event in the Norwegian capital on 11 March.

Developed by certified intimacy coordinator Caroline Roka in conjunction with fellow coordinators Camilla Glaister and Catrin Sagen, the framework seeks to ensure safer and more transparent working conditions on set while maintaining creative freedom for filmmakers.

Intimacy coordinators, whose role has gained increasing recognition across the international audiovisual industry in recent years, are responsible for safeguarding performers, and facilitating communication between actors, directors and production teams during the filming of sensitive scenes. The function is often compared to that of stunt coordinators, who oversee safety during action sequences.

According to Roka, establishing national standards was essential for the Norwegian screen sector. “Norway needs clear national guidelines for intimacy work in film, TV and performing arts. Predictable and professional workplaces are essential for both safety and creativity, and consistent standards help ensure that everyone – from performers to producers – knows what is expected,” she revealed, adding that the initiative aligns the country with current international best practices.

Work on the guidelines began in 2024, and included research, documentation and consultations with industry professionals. The goal was to design a framework capable of protecting performers while avoiding limitations on artistic expression.

By the end of 2024, only a handful of European countries had established national intimacy guidelines for the audiovisual sector, including Finland, Sweden, Poland and Spain. Finland was the first to introduce such standards in 2020. The Norwegian framework draws inspiration from both the Finnish and the Swedish models, with input from coordinators involved in drafting those earlier documents.

Roka believes the initiative will strengthen the Norwegian industry’s professional environment. “Clear frameworks support better communication, stronger consent practices and more sustainable working conditions. Ultimately, implementing national intimacy guidelines will provide a meaningful boost in competence and confidence across the entire sector,” she further explained.

The Finnish guidelines, available in Finnish, Swedish and English, provide practical recommendations for actors, directors, producers, production managers, and costume and make-up departments (available here). Sweden introduced its own guidelines in 2022, offering definitions and examples of procedures to follow at different stages of the production process (available here).

The Norwegian guidelines can be perused (in Norwegian) here.