The Nordisk Film & TV Fond, in collaboration with the Göteborg Film Festival, has launched the Nordic Series Awards, a new initiative designed to highlight the best in Nordic drama series. This recognition will focus on both scriptwriting and innovative production within the region’s television landscape, with the call opening today.

The Nordic Series Script Award will succeed the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize, which has been an integral part of Göteborg’s TV Drama Vision since 2017. This award, which includes a prize of 200,000 NOK (roughly €17,000), will be presented to the lead writer(s) of a Nordic drama series that has debuted in the past year. The aim is to continue celebrating exceptional storytelling, particularly at a time when financial pressures may encourage safer, less inventive series.

Alongside this, the newly introduced Creative Courage Award will offer special recognition to the producer and commissioning team behind a series that embraces daring and innovative approaches. This honorary mention is meant to encourage creative risk-taking and recognise the key figures who push the boundaries of Nordic drama.

Liselott Forsman, CEO of the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, emphasised: “We at the fund continue to celebrate creators of excellent Nordic drama series through our renewed script award, in collaboration with TV Drama Vision. In economically tough times, there is a risk of playing it safe when commissioning series. Our new shared initiative, the Creative Courage Award, will shine a light on production companies and broadcasters/streamers whose brave efforts and fruitful collaboration have enabled an especially fresh, quality Nordic series [to be made].”

The awards will be presented annually at TV Drama Vision, the leading conference for Nordic drama, held during the Göteborg Film Festival. Cia Edström, head of TV Drama Vision, stated: “With the launch of the Nordic Series Awards, we aim to elevate the recognition of both the screenwriters who craft these compelling stories and the forces behind the scenes who take risks and push the industry forward.”

The nomination window is now open for broadcasters and streaming platforms to submit their top shows for consideration. Eligible series must be produced by Nordic companies, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and have premiered during the previous calendar year (1 January-31 December 2024). Only the first seasons of the series are eligible, and each broadcaster or platform can nominate up to two series, with at least one entry required for the Script Award. The deadline for submissions is 15 November.

The introduction of these awards not only honours outstanding talent, but also fosters a spirit of innovation, ensuring that Nordic drama remains at the forefront of global television production.