Nordisk Film

This article is about the Danish entertainment company. For the secretariat to the Nordic Council, see Nordisk Film & TV Fond.
For other uses, see Nordisk.

Nordisk Film A/S
FormerlyOle Olsen Filmfabrik
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment
Founded6 November 1906 (1906-11-06)
FounderOle Olsen
Headquarters
Valby, Copenhagen
,
Denmark
Key people
Allan Mathson Hansen
(CEO)
ProductsMotion pictures, television programs, cinemas, event tickets
Revenue 559 million€ (2018)[1]
€28 million (2018)[1]
ParentEgmont Group (1992–present)
SubsidiariesAvalanche Studios Group
Globalgate Entertainment
Supermassive Games
MercurySteam (40%)[2]
Websitenordiskfilm.com

Nordisk Film A/S (lit. 'Nordic Film') is a Danish film studio owned by the Egmont Group. The multimedia entertainment company is also involved in television production, cinemas, computer games and advertising. The film studio was established in 1906 in Valby, Copenhagen, by filmmaker Ole Olsen. It is the fourth-oldest film studio in the world, and the oldest studio to be continuously active. The logo consists of a polar bear standing on the globe. It also distributes films created by other production companies.

Through the Nordisk Film Fonden (Nordisk Film Foundation), Nordisk Film develops Danish acting talents by means of scholarships, as well as awarding prizes in Denmark (several awards, collectively known as "Isbjørnen"), Norway (several awards, collectively known as "Isbjørnen"), and Finland (the Nordisk Film Prisen, presented at the Jussi Awards).

History

Ole Olsen started his company in the Copenhagen suburb of Valby under the name Ole Olsen Filmfabrik ("Ole Olsen's Film Factory"), but soon changed it to the Nordisk Films Kompagnie.[3][4]

In 1908, Olsen opened an affiliate branch in New York, the Great Northern Film Company, to handle the distribution of his films to the American market. In 1909, having been excluded from the MPPC cartel in the United States, which Olsen had hoped to join, Nordisk participated in the Paris Film Congress in a failed attempt by major European producers to form a similar monopoly.[5] It became a publicly traded company in 1911 as Nordisk Film.[6] During the 1910s, the company created popular silent films with movie stars such as Valdemar Psilander and Clara Pontoppidan.[4]

When Germany invaded Denmark during World War II, the company was locked out of the nationalized German film industry and lost large amounts of revenue.[4]

In 1992, it merged with the Egmont media group, operating as electronic media production and distribution group. The total revenues in 2018 amounted to approximately €559 million.[7]

Nordisk Film is the fourth-oldest film studio (as of 2011) in the world behind Gaumont, Pathé, and Titanus, and the oldest studio to be continuously active.[8][9]

Operations

Nordisk Film A/S[10] produces and co-produces national and international feature films in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which are distributed to cinemas around the Nordic countries, including Nordisk Film Cinemas in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.[11] The films are also distributed internationally for viewing in cinemas, on video and on television.[12]

Nordisk Film produces video games through a number of game studios invested in by Nordisk Film Games, distributes PlayStation in the Nordic and Baltic countries and develops global digital gifting solutions through GoGift.[13]

Business areas

Nordisk Film Production

Nordisk Film Production focuses primarily on the Scandinavian market but produces feature films, animation films, short films, TV series, and TV documentaries for both the Scandinavian and international market. They have a hand in roughly 15 productions per year, spanning a range of formats and genres. Nordisk Film Production [14]

In October 2009, Nordisk sold its TV production unit to the Banijay Group.[15]

Nordisk Film Distribution

Nordisk Film Distribution handles and distributes the rights to its own productions, a number of local films as well as independent productions. Nordisk Film also partners with international film studios for distribution in Scandinavia,[16] such as Lionsgate.[17]

Nordisk Film Interactive

Nordisk Film Interactive has exclusive distribution rights to Sony PlayStation products in the Nordic countries, and is thereby responsible for a substantial business area in Nordisk Film.[18]

Nordisk Film Cinemas

Nordisk Film Cinemas is a cinema chain in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, screening for approximately ten million cinema guests per year.[19] The company also offers two online platforms - kino.dk and filmweb.no (only available in Danish) - where the customer can watch, review and discuss current films.

Nordisk Games

Nordisk Games is an investor in and owner of several European game studios including, as of 2025, Avalanche Studios Group, Supermassive Games, MercurySteam, and Star Stable Entertainment. Former game investments included Nitro Games, Kogama, Flashbulb Games, Raw Fury and Reto-Moto.[20]

In May 2018, it was announced that Nordisk Games had acquired all of Avalanche Studios.[21]

In November 2021, it acquired the majority stake in the company of Star Stable Online.[22]

In July 2022, Nordisk Games acquired all of Supermassive Games[23]

In April 2023, the Founder of Nordisk Games, Mikkel Weider, exits as CEO.[24]

Foundation and awards

Not to be confused with Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Through the Nordisk Film Foundation, Nordisk Film develops Danish acting talents with travel scholarships.[25] As of 2024, the Nordisk Film Foundation stated an annual budget of DKK 7 million for the development of the Danish film industry though scholarships, project grants and awards.[26]

Isbjørnen

The "Isbjørnen" awards are awarded at the Nordisk Film studios in the Valby district of Copenhagen, Denmark.[27] They comprise a set of honorary awards.

In 2024, a one-off prize, the Ballings Særpris (Special Prize), was awarded to mark the 100th birthday of Danish filmmaker Erik Balling. This was awarded to director Anders Thomas Jensen.[28] A new award was inaugurated in 2025, the Alice Prisen (Alice Prize), which celebrates the work of the first female Danish film director, who directed over 70 films, Alice O'Fredericks.[29]

The regular awards are (since 2025):[30]

  • Nordisk Film Prize
  • Ove Sprogøe Award
  • Erik Balling Travel Grant
  • Alice Prisen (Alice Prize)[29]

Finland

In Finland, the Nordisk Film Prisen, worth EUR 20,000, is awarded as part of the Jussi Awards.[31]

Norway

The awards given in Norway are sometimes referred to as Isbjørnen Norway. They comprise:[32]

  • Nordisk Films Talentpris (formerly known as Nordisk Film Prisen), for an emerging filmmaker
  • Kon-Tiki-prisen (formerly known as Olsen Banden Prisen), a filmmaker or actor who has achieved international recognition
  • Veiviseren, for a person or organisation that has made a significant industry contribution and created a positive difference in Norwegian film

Selected feature films

TV series

References

  1. ^ a b "About". Nordisk Film. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Nordisk Games acquires 40% ownership of MercurySteam". 22 December 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. ^ Arnedal, Poul (2006). Nordisk Film - en del af Danmark i 100 år (1 ed.). Aschehoug Dansk Forlag A/S and Nordisk Film A/S. ISBN 87-11-30008-6.
  4. ^ a b c "Ole Olsen". dfi.dk. Danish Film Institute. 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  5. ^ Thorsen, Isak. Nordisk Films Kompagni 1906–1924, The Rise and Fall of the Polar Bear. Indiana University Press, 2017. pp. 71–73.
  6. ^ "The History of Nordisk Film". www.nordiskfilm.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  7. ^ "About". www.nordiskfilm.com. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  8. ^ Bergan, Ronald (September 2011). The Film Guide: A Complete Guide to the World of Cinema. DK Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 9780756691882.
  9. ^ "Brief History about Copenhagen". Copenhagen Portal. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  10. ^ "Nordisk Film A/S: Private Company Information". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Nordisk Film Cinemas". www.nordiskfilm.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Nordisk Film Distribution". www.nordiskfilm.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  13. ^ "About | Nordisk Film".
  14. ^ "Nordisk Film Production". www.nordiskfilm.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  15. ^ "Banijay acquires Nordisk Film's TV arm". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Nordisk Film Distribution | Nordisk Film".
  17. ^ Lieberman, David (2 May 2016). "Lionsgate Partners With Execs At Film Initiative Targeting Global Local Markets". Deadine.
  18. ^ "PlayStation". www.nordiskfilm.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  19. ^ "Nordisk Film Cinemas | Nordisk Film".
  20. ^ "Game Studios". nordiskgames.com. Nordisk Games. 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Nordisk Film Acquires Avalanche Studios". Nordisk Film. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  22. ^ Dealessandri, Marie (19 November 2021). "Nordisk Games takes majority stake in Star Stable". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  23. ^ "Nordisk Games News". supermassivegames.com.
  24. ^ "Nordisk Games CEO exits". gamesindustry.biz.
  25. ^ "Our study grants:Store Isbjørn & Lille Isbjørn". nordiskfilm.com. Nordisk Film. 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Empowering film talents". nordiskfilm.com. Nordisk Film. 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  27. ^ "ISBJØRNEN Denmark". Nordisk Film. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  28. ^ "This year's ISBJØRNEN awards have been announced!". Egmont (in Danish). 7 November 2024. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  29. ^ a b "New award to be introduced at ISBJØRNEN". Nordisk Film. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  30. ^ "ISBJØRNEN Denmark". Nordisk Film. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  31. ^ "Honorary Awards Finland". Nordisk Film. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  32. ^ "Isbjørnen Norway". Nordisk Film. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  33. ^ Squires, John (10 June 2022). "'The Crow' Reboot Taking Flight With Several Big Deals Made for International Rights". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  34. ^ Kay, Jeremy (10 June 2022). "FilmNation sells out on 'The Crow' reboot in Cannes (exclusive)". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  35. ^ Mitchell, Wendy (14 June 2021). "Sony boards Jalmari Helander's Second World War title 'Immortal'". Screendaily. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  36. ^ Christian Monggaard, Ukuelig Optimist Archived December 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Kultur Kanon, Kultur Ministeriet retrieved 22-06-2010.
  37. ^ "Film Production". www.nordiskfilm.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  38. ^ "Fenris". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
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