UpNorth Film is run by Volt Film’s Ton Hessen Schei and Jonathan Borge Lie, Faction Film’s Håvard Bustnes, and Gammaglimt’s Christian Falch and Torstein Parelius.

Tonje Hessen Schei who directed the Amanda winning documentary Drone said: ""Our goal is to make strong Norwegian documentary films that also focus on the international market. With UpNorth we have high ambitions and want to create an international brand that stands for quality and great film experiences for a wide audience.”

Leif Holst Jensen, chairman of the company said the merger of the three Norwegian production companies will strengthen their competence, flexibility and ability to development bigger projects in a tough and competitive environment for financing and distribution. Besides the projects initiated by the in-house producers/directors, UpNorth Film will pick up external projects.

The new company is attending IDFA with two films in official selection:

• Golden Dawn Girls is competing for the VPRO Best Feature Length Documentary. The film directed by Håvard Bustnes is an exclusive behind the scene portrait of the far right Greek political party, seen from the women at the heart of Golden Dawn. DR Sales handles world sales.   
• Recruiting for Jihad directed by Adel Khan Farooq and Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen is part of the Panorama programme. The film which dives into the world of a renowned Norwegian Muslim extremist and jihad recruiter has already received wide-praise from the media following its screenings at AFI Docs, HotDocs, and DOC NYC. East Village Entertainment handles world sales.