Five Nordics, the alliance of the Nordic film institutes, are joining forces with the German film funds MOIN and Berlin-based German Federal Film Fund (FFA). The initiative, named Nordic NEST, aims to promote co-development of feature films and high-end TV drama series. The Five Nordics alliance consists of the Danish Film Institute, Finnish Film Foundation, Icelandic Film Centre, Norwegian Film Institute, and Swedish Film Institute.
The joint venture will launch with a kick-off event during the Industry Days at this year’s Filmfest Hamburg in late September, in collaboration with Germany’s Producers Alliance. The event will gather up to 60 producers - 30 from Germany and 30 from the Nordic countries. Eligible producers must have at least two feature films or TV drama series to their name, including at least one international co-production that has been commercially released in cinemas, on broadcast television, or via streaming platforms.
Following the kick-off, a Nordic NEST workshop will be held in January 2026. Five experienced German and five Nordic screenwriters will work on new story ideas, which they will present at the Göteborg Film Festival to 20 selected producers from Germany and the Nordic region. MOIN has committed to awarding development funding of up to EUR 20,000 to any project that secures both a German and a Nordic production company at the Göteborg matchmaking event.
In addition, three of these projects will have the opportunity to receive further script development funding from MOIN, up to EUR 60,000 each, once the treatment phase is complete. The ten developed projects will also be presented to industry professionals at a works-in-progress showcase during the 2026 edition of Filmfest Hamburg.
