07/05/2025 - The Norwegian producer spoke about her newly launched production firm, bold storytelling and challenges of her job, among other topics

As the co-founder of Empathitude Pictures, producer Janne Hjeltnes brings a cross-border mindset and a passion for emotionally resonant storytelling to the European film landscape. As this year’s Norwegian participant in EFP's Producers on the Move, she discusses creative resilience, the role of co-productions, and how she landed her job.

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Cineuropa: How did you enter this business? What motivated you to pursue the role of producer?
Janne Hjeltnes: I started out in theatre and spent nearly a decade studying and working in Paris, which gave me a strong foundation in artistic collaboration. Over time, I became increasingly drawn to film production—the process of shaping ideas, assembling creative teams, and bringing projects to life. Producing gives me the opportunity to lead from behind: to support bold artistic visions and help bring stories to the screen that challenge, move, and connect us.

Can you tell us about a project in your slate that best represents your vision as a producer right now?
One project that truly represents my vision as a producer right now is Anatema – a bold and emotionally charged body-horror drama currently in development with the highly original director-writer duo Ea Johanne Sandberg and Alpha Nord. With this debut feature, we want to challenge norms and explore the tension between personal freedom and societal expectations, particularly for women. These young filmmakers have a distinctive voice – visually playful, narratively fearless, and deeply human – and together we’re building a universe that feels both deeply personal and visually expansive. Anatema embodies the kind of work I want to champion: character-driven, boundary-pushing, and emotionally resonant, with a strong creative vision at its core. It’s the kind of project that reminds me why I became a producer in the first place.

How are you navigating the current funding and distribution challenges facing European co-productions today?
It’s tough, no doubt about it. We’re at a moment where traditional models are under pressure, so it’s essential to be both strategic and creatively resilient. I focus on early alignment with partners, developing projects with a distinct voice and cross-border relevance. We’re also exploring new pathways to audiences, whether through platform partnerships, staggered releases, or hybrid models. Flexibility is key – but without losing sight of artistic integrity.

In what ways are you adapting your approach to storytelling or production to reflect changing audience expectations, especially among younger viewers?
I think today’s audiences – especially younger ones – are drawn to authenticity, tonal boldness, and emotional precision. As a producer, that means supporting directors who are willing to take risks in form, voice, and perspective, while still crafting narratives that are accessible and emotionally resonant. We also consider platform from the outset: how a project will live and breathe, not just theatrically, but in a wider media landscape. It’s about relevance without chasing trends – staying true, but not static.

What have been the most fruitful international partnerships in your career so far, and what makes a co-production work well in your experience?
My most rewarding international partnership has been with my current partner, Danish producer Anne Borggaard Sørensen. What began as a strong creative collaboration on earlier projects with shared sensibility and complementary strengths, naturally evolved into a shared ambition to build something together. That journey led us to co-found Empathitude Pictures as a Norwegian-Danish company, leveraging a pan-Nordic setup to navigate funding, talent, and partnerships with greater strategic flexibility – without ever losing sight of the artistic core that drives each project.

In my experience, what makes a co-production truly work goes far beyond financing or access to local incentives. The best partnerships I’ve had have been built on trust, transparency, and mutual respect. It’s essential to align creatively and practically – to understand each other’s strengths and limitations. A good co-producer is someone who will go to war with you for the film.

How do you see your role evolving as a producer in the next five years? Are you aiming to branch into new formats or platforms?
With the launch of Empathitude Pictures, we’ve deliberately structured the company to reflect how we believe producers must work in the years to come – with agility, a cross-border perspective, and a deep commitment to both creative integrity and financial sustainability. For me, that means embracing a broader range of formats, from arthouse features to limited series, and being strategic from the start about how each project is developed, financed, and positioned. Our goal is to build a slate that is artistically strong, internationally viable, and flexible enough to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape – without compromising the depth and distinctiveness of the stories we want to tell.

What advice would you give to emerging producers trying to build sustainable careers in a fragmented and competitive industry?
My advice is to be clear about your taste, find your people, and build long-term relationships based on trust and shared values. Work hard, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to take up space. There’s no shortcut, but if you’re in it for the right reasons, the challenges are part of the thrill. We need new voices and new ways of thinking – so bring it on!