Three Netflix projects and the Hollywood movie with the working title Libra took the lion share of Norway’s NOK 103.3m of (€10.2m) filming incentives for the year 2020.

The NOK 49.6 million (€4.9m) allocated to Paramount Pictures’ project Libra (working title) is the biggest grant ever given by the Norwegian Film Institute, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, since the 25% filming incentives were launched in 2016.

No details were available at press time on the Hollywood blockbuster to be handled in Norway by line producer Per-Henry Borch (Truenorth), although according to the newspaper Bergens Tidende, Tom Cruise’s vehicle Mission Impossible 7 could be the Paramount Pictures project under the Libra code name. The seventh instalment in the successful franchise to be directed by Christopher McQuarrie is due to open July 23, 2021.

The second largest grant of NOK 22.3 million (€2.2m) was allocated to HBO Nordic’s Beforeigners 2, follow up to the sci-fi thriller created by Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad for Rubicon TV.

Blu Bayou – working title for the Scarlet Johansson’s Marvel movie Black Widow - produced by Romanoff Productions UK, was granted NOK 2.93 million (€293,939). The stellar ensemble cast comprises Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, William Hurt and Ray Winstone. Per-Henry Borch was the Norwegian contact person for the Marvel Studios/Walt Disney movie set to open May 1st. 

Furthermore, three Netflix Originals received support:

  • the series Rigor Mortis (6x45’) produced by Norway’s Motion Blur (The 12th Man, The Oil Fund) was granted NOK15.85 million (€1.56m). Producer Kristian Sinkerud told nordicfilmandtvnews.com that details on the show will soon be unveiled.
  • Ragnarok season 2 (6x45’), follow-up to the Norse mythology-inspired coming of age series, was granted NOK 8.8m (€769,890). Stine Meldgaard is producing for SAM Productions in Denmark. Season 1 created by Adam Price was launched on the US streaming service January 31st. 
  • Battle 2, sequel to the Norwegian youth-oriented film produced by Friland was granted NOK 4.75 million (€468,000). The original youth drama directed by Katarina Launing was the first Norwegian film to launch globally on Netflix, after its theatrical run in Norway.

Commenting on the 2020 filming incentive grants, Stine Helgeland, Head of Promotion & International Relations at the Norwegian Film Institute said the organisation has “never before experienced an interest of this scale from the international streaming services”, who “want Norwegian content and wish to go ahead and produce in Norway by making use of the incentive scheme.”

With the 2020 filming incentive budget now fully disbursed, applicants will have to wait for next year’s round of support. “Based on historical appropriations, the expected budget will be in level with the 2020 budget or somewhat above,” asserted Helgeland.

The Norwegian Incentive Scheme, which allocates grants up to 25% return on costs spent in Norway to projects partly or fully produced in Norway, is extremely popular, with demand often exceeding support, hence the lobbying from the industry either to increase the funding or to replace it with an automatic scheme without cap.

“The Incentive Scheme is a frequent subject of evaluation and discussion,” said Helgeland, who confirmed that the NFI is “aware that industry representatives and film commissioners are lobbying actively to get an automatic scheme without a ceiling.”

For further information on the NFI Incentive Scheme, check: https://www.nfi.no/eng/grantsfunding/the-incentive-scheme