History and winners
Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize
Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize for outstanding writing of a Nordic Drama series was presented by the Göteborg Film Festival, the first of its kind in the Nordic region in between 2017–2024. From the 2025 edition, the award is replaced with Nordic Series Awards, consisting the Nordic Series Script Award, replacing the above mentioned award worth NOK 200,000 (€ 17,000) and is funded by Nordisk Film & TV Fond. The award is given to the main writer(s) of Nordic drama series from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Additionally, the honorable mention, Creative Courage Award, will be introduced to celebrate the producer and commissioner behind a series that pushes creative boundaries and embraces bold, innovative approaches.
The Nordic countries have stood out as one of the most engaging regions for drama series in the world. As a result of TV Drama Vision, Göteborg Film Festival has established itself as the most important meeting place in the Nordics for the international TV industry. In 2016, a new section Nordic Light: TV Drama was introduced within the festival programme, showcasing a wide range of new Nordic TV drama. The Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize, now Nordic Series Awards, is another step in the festival’s commitment to drama series.
Winner 2024
Power Play
Johan Fasting, Silje Storstein and Kristin Grue
Norway
Johan Fasting (born 1988) has written several scripts for both television and cinema. He was creator and showrunner on the award-winning show Home Ground, selected for the Berlinale Series 2018. Johan then wrote the script for Ninjababy which premiered in competition at Berlinale Generation 2021 and won the Global Audience Award at SXSW 2021. The jury consisted of Charlotte Winberg, journalist and critic, Finland; Joel Spira, actor, Sweden; Kateryna Vyshnevska, producer, Ukraine; Vinca Wiedemann, editor, producer and screenwriter, Denmark.
All nominated series 2024:
Estonia, Finland. Nominated writer: Miikko Oikkonen
Descendants, Iceland. Nominated writer: Tinna Hrafnsdóttir
Painkiller, Sweden. Nominated writers: Johan Lundborg and Gabriela Pichler
Power Play, Norway. Nominated writer: Johan Fasting, Silje Storstein, Kristin Grue (2024 winner)
Prisoner, Denmark. Nominated writer: Kim Fupz Aakeson
Winner 2023
Kids in Crime
Kenneth Karlstad
Norway
Kenneth Karlstad is a Norwegian director and screenwriter for fiction, music videos and commercials. His debut short film The Hunger earned him a Young Director Award at Cannes 2019 and the Film Critics Award at The Norwegian Short Film Festival. He’s also won several awards for his work on music videos. Kids in Crime is his long-format debut. The jury consisted of Amanda Collin, Actor, Denmark; Nebojša Taraba, producer, Croatia; Wanda Bendjelloul, journalist and critic, Sweden; Leif Holst Jensen, producer and Dean of faculty, TV and Games, Innland University of Applied Sciences, Norway.
All nominated series 2023:
As Long as We Live, Iceland. Nominated writer: Aníta Briem
Blackwater, Sweden. Nominated writers: Maren Louise Käehne, Karin Arrhenius
Carmen Curlers, Denmark. Nominated writer: Mette Heeno
The Invincibles, Finland. Nominated writer: Matti Kinnunen
Kids in Crime, Norway. Nominated writer: Kenneth Karlstad (2023 winner)
Winner 2022
Blackport
Gísli Örn Gardarsson, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson and Mikael Torfason
Iceland
Gísli Örn Gardarsson, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson and Mikael Torfason, writers of Blackport (Verbúðin), was the recipients of the 2022 Nordic TV Drama Screenplay Award. Directed by Gísli Örn Gardarsson, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, María Reyndal, produced by Nana Alfredsdóttir, Gísli Örn Gardarsson, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Nina Dögg Filippusdóttir (Vesturport), sales by About Premium Content. The 2022 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize jury consisted of Finnish actor Alma Pöysti, Hungarian writer and creative producer Gábor Krigler, Norwegian screenwriter and director Julie Andemand , Swedish journalist and television critic Mattias Bergqvist.
All nominated series 2022:
Blackport (Verbúðin), Iceland. Nominated writers: Gísli Örn Gardarsson, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Mikael Torfason (2022 winner)
Countrymen (Jordbrukerne), Norway. Nominated writers: Izer Aliu, Anne Bjørnstad
Suburbia (Vi i villa), Sweden. Nominated writer: Tove Eriksen Hillblom
The Shift (Det største), Denmark. Nominated writer: Lone Scherfig
Transport (Transport), Finland. Nominated writer: Auli Mantila
Winner 2021
Cry Wolf
Maja Jul Larsen
Denmark
Maja Jul Larsen, writer of Cry Wolf (Ulven kommer), was the recipient of the 2021 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize. Directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen, May El-Toukhy, Samanou Sahlstrøm and Niclas Bendixen, produced by Claudia Saginario (DR Drama). Sales by DR Sales. The 2021 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize jury consists of Swedish actor Evin Ahmad (Snabba Cash), THIS – Future Stories & Engagement Felicia Elisabeth Jackson , Head of International Content Development at Mediapro Studio Ran Tellem.
All nominated series 2021
Cry Wolf (Ulven kommer), Denmark. Nominated writers: Maja Jul Larsen (2021 winner)
Cargo (Rahti), Finland. Nominated writer: Matti Kinnunen
Sisterhood (Systrabönd), Iceland. Nominated writer: Jóhann Ævar Grímsson
Thin Blue Line (Tunna blå linjen), Sweden. Nominated writer: Cilla Jackert
Welcome to Utmark (Velkommen til Utmark), Norway. Nominated writers: Kim Fupz Aakeson
Winner 2020
22 July (22. juli)
Screenwriter: Sara Johnsen
Norway
Sara Johnsen, the writer of 22 July (22.juli), was the recipients of the 2020 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize. Directed by Pål Sletaune and produced by Elisabeth Tangen and Per Berge Engebretsen (NRK Drama). International distributor: Digital Rights Group(DRG). The 2020 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize jury consists of acclaimed Norwegian actor Jakob Oftebro (Agent Hamilton, Kon-Tiki), Swedish actor Moa Gammel (Jordskott, Tommy), Polish award-winning producer and director Dariusz Jabłoński (Photographer, The Pleasure Principle) and Norwegian journalist Cecilie Asker (Aftenposten).
All nominated series 2020
22. July (22.juli), Norway. Nominated writer: Sara Johnsen (2020 winner)
Caliphate (Kalifat), Sweden. Nominated writers: Wilhelm Behrman and Niklas Rockström
Happily Never After (Pabbahelgar), Iceland. Nominated writer: Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir
The Paradise (Paratiisi), Finland. Nominated writer: Matti Laine
When the Dust Settles (Når støvet har lagt sig), Denmark. Nominated writers: Dorte Høgh and Ida Maria Rydén
Winner 2019
All the Sins (Kaikki Synnit)
Screenwriters: Merja Aakko and Mika Ronkainen
Finland
Merja Aakko and Mika Ronkainen, writers of All the Sins (Kaikki Synnit), were the recipients of the 2019 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize. Directed by Mika Ronkainen and produced by Ilkka Matila (MRP Matila Röhr Productions Oy) for Elisa Viihde. International distributor: SKY Vision. The 2019 jury consisted of Finnish actress Laura Birn (The Innocents, A Walk Among the Tombstones), Swedish actor Alexander Karim (The Lawyer, Tyrant, Zero Dark Thirty), Swedish/American journalist and TV and podcast producer Christina Jeurling Birro (Pop Culture Confidential) and British content consultant and producer Justin Judd (Hulu, Content Media Corporation, Nevision)
All nominated series 2019
All the Sins (Kaikki Synnit), Finland. Nominated writers: Merja Aakko and Mika Ronkainen (2019 winner)
The Flatey Enigma (Flatey Jargátan), Iceland. Nominated writer: Margrét Örnólfsdóttir
The Inner Circle (Den inre cirkeln), Sweden. Nominated writer: Håkan Lindhé
Kieler Street (Kielergata), Norway. Nominated writers: Stig Frode Henriksen, Jesper Sundnes, Patrik Syversen
The New Nurses (Sygeplejeskolen), Denmark. Nominated writers: Claudia Boderke, Lars Mering
State of Happiness (Lykkeland), Norway. Nominated writer: Mette M. Bølstad
Winner 2018
Ride Upon The Storm (Herrens Veje)
Screenwriter: Adam Price
Denmark
Adam Price, writer of the Danish TV series Ride Upon the Storm (Herrens veje), was the recipient of the 2018 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize. Directed by Kaspar Munk and produced by Camilla Hammerich at DR Drama for DR. International distributor: Studiocanal. The 2018 jury consisted of jury president Walter Iuzzolino, Italy/UK, TV executive/curator of the streaming service Walter Presents; Sofia Helin, Sweden, actress (Bron/The Bridge) and Kirpi Uimonen Ballesteros, Finland, entertainment journalist, board member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association TV committee.
All nominated series 2018
Ride Upon the Storm (Herrens veje) Denmark. Nominated writer: Adam Price (2018 winner)
Stella Blómkvist, Iceland. Nominated writers: Jóhann Ævar Grímsson, Andri Óttarsson and Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir
The Lawyer (Advokaten), Sweden. Nominated writers: Karin Gidfors and Charlotte Lesche
Deadwind (Karppi), Finland. Nominated writers: Rike Jokela, Kirsi Porkka and Jari Olavi Rantala
Borderliner (Grenseland), Norway. Nominated writers: Megan Gallagher, Alexander Opsal, Bjørn Ekeberg
Winner 2017
Nobel
Screenwriters: Mette. M. Bølstad and Stephen Uhlander
Norway
The first Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize in 2017 was awarded to Nobel (Norway) written by Stephen Uhlander and Mette M. Bølstad. The series is directed by Per-Olav Sørensen and produced by Håkon Briseid and Tone Rønning from Monster Scripted. The 2017 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize jury consisted of Head of Jury Lars Blomgren Managing Director at Filmlance (Sweden), LA-based Swedish-American producer Gudrun Giddings from G4C Innovation (USA), Drama Consultant Isabelle Pechou (Denmark/France) and Film/TV critic Leena Virtanen (Finland).
All nominated series 2017
Nobel, Norway. Nominated writers: Mette. M. Bølstad and Stephen Uhlander (2017 winner)
The Bonus Family (Bonusfamiljen), Sweden. Nominated writer: Jesper Harrie
The Day Will Come (Der kommer en dag), Denmark. Nominated writer: Søren Sveistrup
Love and Order (Myrskyn Jälkeen), Finland. Nominated writer: Kaarina Hazard and Leea Klemola
Prisoners (Fangar), Iceland. Nominated writers: Ragnar Bragason and Margrét Örnólfsdóttir