Nordics

NORDICS force of nature

A Boy Called Christmas © 2021 Netflix US, LLC & Studiocanal SAS.

From ice fjords, snow covered mountains and crystal clear lakes to dazzling modern architecture, the Nordics are not short of eyecatching locations. The Nordic film industries are also a unified force, strengthened by the individual offerings of each region.

Co-operation has proved key to the success of the production sector in the Nordic countries. Regional film commissioners work together to promote the destination to international shoots, while co-production has been a longstanding method of funding high-end, locally produced drama. The countries that make up the Nordic region – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland and the Faroe Islands –continue to become increasingly collaborative on a political, economic and cultural level.

Sweden has lagged behind it’s Nordic neighbours, it is yet to offer a production incentive, but the recent success of Swedish and French co-production Triangle of Sadness will hopefully help to address this. Directed by Ruben Östlund, the black comedy recently won the Palme d’Or in Cannes.

But is it right to judge Nordic countries as seperate entities at all when the crossover is so great? Swedish-based production company The Line, for example, leant its hand to Danish Oscar submission Holy Spider.

Directed and written by IranianDanish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, the film travels to Jordan, following a journalist’s investigation of a sex worker murderer known as the spider killer. Production was spearheaded by Profile Pictures which joined forces once again with Sweden through Nordisk Film Production as well as France’s Why Not Productions and Germany’s One Two Film.

LOCATION HIGHLIGHT

“ REGIONAL FILM COMMISSIONERS WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE THE DESTINATION TO INTERNATIONAL SHOOTS, WHILE COPRODUCTION HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING METHOD.” Frederiksborg Castle is one of Scandinavia’s most famous palaces. Situated on an island, the castle is surrounded by a lake and picturesque gardens so there are great views from every angle. The interior, which is home to the museum of national history, offers ornately designed cornices, as well as centuries old Danish artefacts.

From the eastern side, the castle appears to float in the waters that surround it, whereas on the west, the castle is shrouded by the foliage of the national park.

Making an appearance in the fifth season of Netflix’s critically acclaimed thriller Money Heist, the green of the aged copper and the brilliant repurposed red brick structure was strikingly different from the show’s usual Spanish architecture and landscapes.

Q&A

JAKE MEYERS PRODUCER

Mission: Impossible

© 2018 Paramount Pictures.

Q: What productions have you worked on in Norway?

A: I worked there on both Mission: Impossible –Fallout and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

Q: How would you describe the experience of filming in Norway for newcomers?

A: Norway is breathtaking. If you haven’t been there, its quite unique and very expansive.

Q: Where would you advise incoming filmmakers to go if they are looking for something new to capture?

A: On Mission: Impossible – Fallout we shot at a fairly well known destination called Preikestolen cliff (pictured above), which is a kind of flat rock outcropping. It looks like a large ledge and people hike there – although it can be tricky. We staged the finale of the movie at this location. It’s certainly worth seeing in real life and it was an incredible location for us to film.

Q: What makes Norway a special region to film in?

There are lots of interesting locations to visit, with roads, tunnels and ferries, subsidised by the government, giving you access to the kind of engineering that would cost millions of dollars to build in place in New York City.

Norway as a country offers the facilities to be able to work in their particularly tricky and remote locations. We were able to get the resources needed which can sometimes be very difficult to do. Following Denmark’s streaming platform battle with heavy hitters such as Netflix and ViaPlay, an emphasis has been applied to honing production skills through locally focussed projects. Danish powerhouse SAM productions is continuing to display the integrity of the local production industry with hit shows such as Borgen, The Chestnut Man and The Wife through streaming partner Studio Canal.

HBO’s newest season of Succession will travel to Norway for filming. Produced by Scott Ferguson, the fourth season will star Alexander Skarsgård as Lukas Matsson. Featuring a strong Norwegian identity, the show was shot in many local settings including in western Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road, the Romsdalen Gondola and the luxury Juvet Landscape Hotel used in sci-fi thriller Ex Machina.

The Norweigan film industry’s 25% production incentive is an attractive draw for foreign filmmakers venturing to the mountainous country. From the peninsula of Stadlandet used for fantasy blockbuster Dune to Langvann lending its quaint home structures in No Time to Die, a slew of feature films are familiar with the scenic spectacles on offer in the country’s borders.

“The local industry can currently service several international projects simultaneously in addition to local production, but as elsewhere the production boom is bringing both opportunities and with it, challenges,” commented Norwegian film commissioner Meghan Beaton.

Also lending its spectacular landscapes to many feature films, Iceland’s 35% filming incentive is only promising an influx of more production activity. As the backdrop to many sci-fi and fantasy projects such as Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and the HBO phenom of Game of Throne’s, the integrity of the industry is reflected by the calibre of productions that continue to return to the country.

A go-to destination for snow covered sceneries and forested landscapes, Finland has a strong production base built on its location diversity and competent crews. The country’s 25% incentive has enticed a number of international productions, including Netflix’s A Boy Called Christmas.

Equipped with knowledgeable crews, Finland is home to a wealth of guidance for foreign filmmakers to make the most of their experiences. Film Service Finland give international newcomers a full service, form planning to post-production.

With an expansive range of locations, Lapland continues to bring people to its awe-worthy landscapes. Although stretching across the north of most Scandinavian countries, Finnish Lapland is the most built up destination for filming.

ESSENTIAL FACTS

TAX INCENTIVES 25-35%

While Sweden & Denmark do not offer a standalone regional filming incentive, Iceland offers a 35% rebate for production in the country, Norway offers 25% & Finland’s 25% reimbursement offered through business Finland is able to be taken advantage of by those working in Aland, Greenland & the Faroe Islands.

STUDIOS RVK Studios in Iceland, True North Studios in Iceland, Norway & the Faroe Islands, Apple Tree Productions in Denmark & Film i Väst in Sweden.

ATA CARNET YES

RECENT COPRODUCTIONS In the Pallid Light – Renars Vimba (Latvia/Iceland/Finland).

Raptures – Jon Blahed (Sweden/Finland). Producers: Andreas Emanuelsson, Tony Osterholm (Iris Film AB). Co-producer: Tiina Pesonen (Rabbit Films Oy).

The Soft Skin – Minka Jakerson (Sweden/Denmark). Producers: Annika Hellström, Erika Malmgren (Cinenic Film). Co-producers: Signe Leick Jensen, Morten Kaufmann (Toolbox Film).

The Swedish Connection – Thérèse Ahlbeck, Marcus A. Olsson (Sweden/Denmark/ Belgium). Producer: Julia Gebauer (Way Creative Films). Co-producers: Amalie Lyngbo Hjort (Beofilm), Cloe Garbay (Umedia). Made up of 18 mountainous islands, the Faroe islands are constantly developing their industry, slowly but surely making their mark in the Nordic and global screen industry. Championed by the Faroese Film Institute, the unique collective is home to a database of services, such as Faroe Guide.

Connected by road tunnels, ferries, causeways and bridges, visitors to the Faroe Islands are spoilt for choice with the breadth of backdrops. With rolling hills, winding rivers and valleys, and harbours home to a variety of sea birds, the islands possess a unique visual aesthetic. Gasadalur waterfall and hiking mountain is just one of the many quintessentially Nordic features that one can find in the pockets of land between the Norwegian sea and Atlantic ocean.

Whilst yet to prominently break into the international screen market, the Faroe islands, Greenland and Aland’s benefit from the 25% Finnish film fund. With the well connectedness to their Nordic counterparts, foreign filmmakers are able to partake in quick stop overs and spontaneous opportunities to discover the budding local industries.

With icebergs, snowstorms and the possibilities of catching a glimpse of the northern lights, Greenland is a force of nature. A great destination for documentary filmmakers and those curious of the natural wonders on offer in the country, Greenland is home to a thriving community of creatives and talented crews.

Lending its brilliantly white snow powdered mountains to a number of feature films, Greenland’s Russel Glacier has appeared in the Marvel’s 2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender.

SOMETHING ELSE Hygge is defined as a quality of cosiness and comfortability, encouraging a feeling of contentment and wellbeing. Deriving from the original Norwegian word hugga, the term has become a fixture in the Danish cultural identity. Coined by the Danish as the way of life, it has been widely adopted by other Scandinavian countries.

Author and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Meik Wiking, published his book The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living for the entire world to become familiar with the concept.

From candles to sweatpants, Hygge is the creation of anything that makes an individual feel cosy and stress free. With a focus on well-being, the Danish and surrounding Nordic open air landscapes are the perfect example of a Hygge environment.

Friluftsliv, first coined by playwright Henrik Ibsen back in the 19th century, is an amalgamation of the Norwegian words for fresh air and life or lifestyle. With a focus on overall quality of life, Friluftsliv is an integral part in a Hygge lifestyle.