This year’s edition of New Nordic Films, the industry strand of the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, ran from 19-22 August, marking the 20th anniversary of the Nordic Co-Production Market. The programme once again welcomed more than 200 accredited professionals and showcased 21 projects in development from ten countries, with a special spotlight placed on the Baltic region (see the news).

The Best Pitch Award, recognising both the quality of the presentation and the project itself, was decided upon by a jury comprising Marge Liiske (Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event), Josef Kullengård (Göteborg Film Festival) and Casey Baron (Tribeca Film Festival). The prize, which guarantees participation in the Producers Network at the Marché du Film in Cannes, went to the poetic and emotionally charged Danish project Wannabe, directed by Patricia Bbaale Bandak.

In their statement, the jury explained: “The jury individually and collectively fell for this team’s dynamism on stage. We were taken by this project featuring characters steeped in the specificity of time and cultural awareness, but also chock-full of tender personality. Only so many pieces can conjure sentiments of feeling lost yet feeling seen in such a moving way through their presentation and concept.”

Set in a Danish suburb in the summer of 1997, Wannabe follows four teenage girls who decide to form a group after a national TV show announces a music-video competition. For 14-year-old Flo, the only brown girl in the neighbourhood, it is a chance to be seen as something more than just different. Produced by Victor Rocha Da Cunha and Pernille Tornøe for Monolit Film, the project is a coming-of-age drama infused with cultural awareness and humour.

The Honourable Mention of the jury went to Silverwhite by Estonian filmmaker Martti Helde, a bold historical drama. They stated: “The jury wishes to recognise a bold and captivating project, a mosaic that intertwines eras and generations into a powerful portrait of human connections – a work that truly resonated in the room.”

This year also marked the launch of the brand-new Storyline Production Award, offered by Storyline Studios and worth NOK 250,000 (approximately €21,000) in services, including camera equipment rental and grading. The jury selected the Norwegian documentary The Greatest Illusion by Benjamin Ree as the first-ever recipient of this prize. Their reasoning was: “The jury was deeply moved by the story of a young man who carried the weight of lifelong trauma, and who now dares to revisit and reconstruct his past through art. With dedication, the filmmakers have laid the groundwork for an intimate journey of memory, resilience and forgiveness – one that will resonate universally.”

The Greatest Illusion depicts Alexx, a popular magician who has long repressed the childhood trauma of his father murdering his mother. Through the innovative use of magic as a metaphor and the reconstruction of memory, the film weaves a powerful story of loss, survival and forgiveness. It is being produced by Ingvil Giske for Medieoperatørene AS.

Finally, the Next Nordic Generation Award, dedicated to the best graduation film from the Nordic film schools and accompanied by a NOK 20,000 (€1,690) cash prize provided by CAPA, was decided upon by a separate jury formed of Bahareh Badavi, Marte Hansen and Bjørn Eivind Aarskog. The award went to My Name Is Hope, directed by Sherwan Haji, with The Lightning Rod also receiving an Honourable Mention, alongside Aalto University for its work in nurturing new talent.

The jury stated: “This year’s winner has made a film that deals with a central, current and burning issue. By limiting the framework to a narrow perspective and refusing to show the main character’s face or voice, the film compels us to recognise the story as our own lived experience, rather than a distant conflict. In the end, it confirms the little human truth we can all agree on – that there is always hope.”

Here is the list of winners at New Nordic Films 2025:

Best Pitch Award
Wannabe - Patricia Bbaale Bandak (Denmark)
Producers: Victor Rocha Da Cunha, Pernille Tornøe (Monolit Film)

Honourable Mention
Silverwhite - Martti Helde (Estonia/Latvia/Finland)
Producer: Elina Litvinova (Three Brothers)
Co-producers: Antra Gaile (Air Productions), Klaus Heydemann (Inland Film Company)

Storyline Production Award
The Greatest Illusion - Benjamin Ree (Norway)
Producer: Ingvil Giske (Medieoperatørene AS)

Next Nordic Generation Award
My Name Is Hope - Sherwan Haji (Finland)
Producers: Hadi Nikzad, Kari Ahotupa

Honourable Mention
The Lighting Rod - Helmi Donner (Finland)
Producers: Sandra Enkvist, Hadi Nikzad