Guest editors: Eva Novrup Redvall (University of Copenhagen), Anders Grønlund (Lund University) and Pietari Kääpä (University of Warwick)
The Nordic film industries have often cultivated popular approaches and commercially lucrative film culture alongside their reliance on public funding and accompanying calls for cultural and social relevance. The parallel and often intertwined developments of artistic innovation and commercial stability have escalated in the twenty-first century in all five Nordic nations (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), but also in the ‘ultra-small’ contexts of Sápmi, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.
Technological developments in film production, exhibition and distribution, the globalization of film markets, the rise of social media-integrated streaming services, and the integration of venture capital with national film and TV infrastructure have, on one hand, strengthened opportunities for Nordic films to network internationally. On the other hand, they have destabilized many of the existing structures these film industries rely on, leading to a necessary rethinking of Nordic creative processes, modes of production and film-focused cultural institutions.
Over the past 25 years, Nordic film studies have developed a substantial body of scholarship, including anthologies, monographs and studies of various film and TV themes. The field has expanded to cover areas such as political economy, production frameworks and sustainability policies, solidifying its importance in international film scholarship and reflecting the evolving landscape of Nordic cinema.
Now, a quarter into the first century of this new millennium, it is an opportune moment to reflect on these developments, especially as the film industry faces new crises, from the uncertain financial and cultural impact of streaming services to the disruption of AI and challenges surrounding European identity in a multipolar world. What is the place of Nordic film culture in these debates? How can Nordic film scholarship best respond to a field redefining itself to respond to an increasingly convergent, platformed film and media environment?
This Special Issue of the Journal of Scandinavian Cinema aims to map out some of the main developments that have taken place in the past 25 years. We are interested in articles and short subjects that evaluate continuities and changes inside and across the Nordic film industries, incorporating theoretical approaches ranging from national and transnational film studies to political economy, from sustainability to postcolonial critical analysis.
The editors encourage submissions on the following topics and themes (especially ones that draw connections and comparisons between the different cultural/industrial contexts), but we also welcome work outside or combining these areas:
- Equality, diversity, and inclusion in Nordic cinema: progress and challenges in representation on and off-screen
- Key trends in visual style and storytelling techniques: films and directors shaping aesthetic and narrative developments
- Film agencies, institutions, policy changes and their impact on film production and distribution
- Sustainability, environmental themes and green filmmaking practices
- The cultural significance and global impact of Sámi cinema and Indigenous film production
- Trends and themes in contemporary Nordic documentaries
- The Nordic Film and Television Fund’s influence on the industry
- Film festivals as platforms for Nordic cinema and their contributions to film culture
- Innovative educational Initiatives in film studies and their impact on the next generation of filmmakers and audiences
- New technologies and formats transforming storytelling: web series, VR and interactive films
- Engaging new audiences and the role of user-generated content
- Social, streaming and platform media and their impact on film production and consumption
Projected timeline: Proposals due 15 February 2025. Full article submission due 1 September 2025. All contributions will undergo double blind peer review with publication planned for early 2026. Both feature articles (max 8000 words) and short subjects (2000-3500 words) are welcome.
Please e-mail the guest editors Eva Novrup Redvall (eva@hum.ku.dk), Anders Grønlund (anders.gronlund@litt.lu.se) and Pietari Kaapa (P.Kaapa@warwick.ac.uk) to discuss potential contributions.