Nordic sustainability work and filming locations celebrated in Cannes

Monday night internationally outstanding production work was celebrated in Cannes. The Nordic Ecological Standard (NES) was awarded for its sustainability work at the fourth edition of the Global Production Awards (GPA), presented by Screen International on Monday evening. Project Manager Patrik Axén, received the sustainability award on behalf of NES on stage in Cannes. The award was handed out by one of the judges, Head of Studio, Film Soho, Kate Phibbs.

Arctic Film Norway was awarded for the Location of the Year for Svalbard in the Natural category. The Nordics were strong competitors this year, as all the three locations shortlisted for the award were Nordic countries – Norway, Sweden and Iceland. Last year, Norway also won a location award, as Frøya (Midgard Film Commission Norway) won the Emerging Location Award. This year’s win highlighted Svalbard’s distinctive appeal as a filming destination – from its dramatic landscapes and unique Arctic light to the expertise and collaboration of local crews and service providers who make international productions possible in the High North. Meghan Beaton, Chief Executive at the Norwegian Film Commission, and Cathrine Terese Persson, General Manager at Arktisk Film Norge, received the award from the judge John Rakich, President at Location Managers Guild International.

Among the eight nominees, NES was awarded for being an exceptional green initiative with tangible results for the environment in the production processes. The judges recognised NES as an innovative concept, and NES was also celebrated for being a cross-border initiative.

During its 2023 theme year Nordisk Film & TV Fond started a pan-Nordic ecological collaboration to achieve concrete goals such as a shared green standard for the industry. NES is a standard to reduce the environmental footprint in the region through shared green demands. It is thus also an effective framework for co-production within the region.

The border-crossing standard was initiated, developed and financed by The Five Nordics and Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Today it is supported by 38 organisations in the region and implemented by all Nordic film institutes and many broadcasters. Among the members we find broadcasters, producers’ associations, film institutes, regional film funds, and others. The guidelines of NES support sustainable practices across all stages of production, with some of them being mandatory and others targeting requirements.

To read more about NES: CLICK HERE.

All in all, 14 competitive awards and one special recognition prize were handed out at GPA. For the full list of the GPA: CLICK HERE.