Industry analyst and author of the Nostradamus Report, Johanna Koljonen, summed up her insights from TV Drama Vision 2024.

While we wait for the 11th Nostradamus Report to be published later this spring, Johanna Koljonen shared her insights from the TV Drama Vision days in her closing keynote.

Koljonen concluded that despite ongoing market challenges, Northern Europe remains relatively resilient compared to the rest of the world. Due to project delays, there is significant activity in 2024, and it is anticipated that we may enter a more stable and sustainable market phase in about 18 months.

The industry is gravitating towards higher quality productions with lower budgets. Medium-budget shows are struggling, while high-end flagship projects and low-budget productions are thriving. Shows are reaching wider audiences than ever before, although growth is slowing down in more established markets such as the Nordics.

Co-productions and creative collaborations across borders are becoming increasingly popular, indicating a significant shift in the industry, even if this is not yet reflected in the numbers. There is ample funding available through tax rebates and support schemes, competing to attract investments. This environment enables the creation of quality projects and may lead to producers sharing more rights.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic, with continuous advancements in technology. AI is not only enhancing storytelling but is also on the brink of producing visuals suitable for the big screen. This raises questions about the skills needed to harness these technologies, the future of filmmaking, and how to balance fear with opportunity. How do we continue producing dramas that are grounded in real-life and human experiences?

Koljonen ended her summary of the event by pointing out that technology is influencing political narratives. Thus, storytelling is becoming a battleground for freedom and democracy, offering hope and the chance to be part of this movement: “The Nordic countries are at the forefront, championing stories that need to be told— a tremendous privilege in today’s world, and something we should always keep in mind.”

As the focus in Gothenburg is turning from drama series to cinema, read our interview with Josef Kullengård on Nordic Film Market: CLICK HERE and Jonas Holmberg on his final GFF programme: CLICK HERE.