In 2026 all Nordic film institutes will implement the border crossing standard developed by The Five Nordics and Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

The Nordic Ecological Standard for sustainable film and TV-production (NES) aims to significantly reduce the Nordic audiovisual industry’s environmental footprint through a set of green requirements.

The search for a Nordic ecological standard started in 2023 as part of Nordisk Film & TV Fond’s Nordic Green theme year. Together with the Nordic Film Commissions, the Fund summoned its film institute and media partners as well as Nordic producers’ associations and green experts to share knowledge on national strategies and to develop concrete Nordic standards. This work continued within the Nordic Green Action Group.

The development of a Nordic standard based on German and Austrian models was financed by The Five Nordics and Nordisk Film & TV Fond. NES will apply to all forms of productions, from pre- to post-production. Members can define their own level of commitment to the standard’s requirements.

Liselott Forsman, CEO of Nordisk Film & TV Fond, says: “Our region has long been a role model for cross-border co-production, and must be one for sustainability as well. We’ve rightfully cherished German and other national standards, but the special thing with NES is that from the start it is a cross-border initiative. In 2024 the Five Nordics came in as a strong driving force, and it is fantastic that all Nordic film institutes are now ready to implement NES. Five of NFTVF’s broadcaster members are already aboard as stakeholders. When all NFTVF partners are aboard, NFTVF will implement the standard.”

Starting in 2026, the Danish Film Institute, the Finnish Film Foundation, the Icelandic Film Centre, the Norwegian Film Institute, and the Swedish Film Institute will be the first members to implement the standard.

The other Nordic members that will confirm their implementation schedule later on, are:

Audiovisual Producers Finland - APFI, the Danish Producers Association, DR, Elisa Viihde, Film i Skåne, Film i Väst, Film Stockholm, Filmpool Nord, Filmreg (Arktisk Film Norge, Arktisk Film Norge Invest, Filminvest, Filmkraft, Internasjonalt Samisk Film Institutt, Midtnorsk filmsenter, Oslo Filmfond, Sørnorsk filmsenter, Vestnorsk filmsenter, Viken filmsenter (Norway)), the Icelandic Producers Association SÍK, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Norrköpings Film Fund, the Norwegian Producers Association Virke, RÚV (Iceland), Scen & Film, the Swedish Producers Association, TV 2 (Denmark), TV 2 (Norway), TV4 (Sweden).

CLICK HERE for today’s press release.

Info about the proposed NES standard: CLICK HERE.