Held for the first time over a four-day period instead of three (May 19-22) during the Cannes Film Festival, the Young Nordic Producers Club brought together 26 rising Nordic producers and more than 20 industry people (for more information on experts - CLICK HERE), who shared with them their trade secrets and tips on topics ranging from how to co-produce, how to attend a festival, how to interact with trade press, how to access public funds and deal with new formats.

Tine Wagner Sørensen, head of post-graduate training at the National Film School of Denmark and organiser of the event with the Danish Film Institute’s Head of International Noemi Ferrer, said the longer programme allowed for a better balance between case studies and presentations from top international experts.

“Everyone was impressed by the level of guest speakers and many young producers said they valued the packed programme that still gave them time to watch films and connect with other professionals in Cannes.”

Among the selected young attendees Dagur Benedikt Reynisson of Iceland’s Bobblehead said he particularly enjoyed the presentation of the Nordic public bodies. “I didn’t realise how much public support was available across the Nordics,” said the young entrepreneur who produced the comedy feature Reykjavik and chiller Cruelty.

Producers Eirik Smidesang Slåen of Norway’s Qvisten Animation and Sari Lempiäinen of Zodiak Finland who each have ten-year experience in film production, said the input from many experts such as Zentropa’s Sisse Graum Jørgensen-confirmed their personal thoughts. “The Club helped me gain more confidence,” said Smidesang Slåen who worked on In the Forest of Huckybucky and has five animation projects in development. “I learnt hard facts’, concurred Lempiäinen. “The Club was inspirational and I enjoyed sharing similar challenges with my Nordic colleagues. I haven’t co-produced yet, so this was the right place to get started,” she said.

Another established producer, Sweden’s Michael Krotkiewski of Momento Films (Ouaga Girls, Madre) took advantage of the platform to discuss specific projects, but felt a project-based workshop would have been perhaps more beneficiary.

Wagner Sørensen and Ferrer are now collecting feedback from attendees to design next year’s Cannes event and are planning to evaluate the Nordic collaborations that have resulted from the networking event. “I have heard many examples of collaborations and I believe we’ll be very surprised by the results’” said Wagner Sørensen.

Young Nordic Producers Club was supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the five Nordic film institutes and Creative Europe Nordic Media desks.