Nordisk Film

Danish entertainment company

This article is about the Danish entertainment company. For the secretariat to the Nordic Council, see Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Nordisk Film A/S

Nordisk Film's current logo since September 2020

Formerly| Ole Olsen Filmfabrik
Company type| Subsidiary
Industry| Entertainment
Founded| 6 November 1906; 118 years ago (1906-11-06)
Founder| Ole Olsen
Headquarters|

Valby, Copenhagen

Denmark

Key people

| Allan Mathson Hansen
(CEO)
Products| Motion pictures, television programs, cinemas, event tickets
Revenue|  559 million€ (2018)[1]

Operating income

|  €28 million (2018)[1]
Parent| Egmont Group
Subsidiaries| Avalanche Studios Group
Globalgate Entertainment[2]
Supermassive Games
MercurySteam (40%)[3]
Website| nordiskfilm.com
Nordisk Films promotional poster Nordisk Film 1906 logo Main gate of Nordisk Film in 2008

Nordisk Film A/S[4] (lit. 'Nordic Film') is a Danish entertainment company involved in film production and distribution and a subsidiary of Egmont Group. The multimedia entertainment company is also involved in television production, cinemas, computer games and advertising.

The film studio was established in 1906 in Valby, Copenhagen, by filmmaker Ole Olsen.[5] It is the fourth-oldest film studio in the world behind the Gaumont Film Company, Pathé, and Titanus, and the oldest studio to be continuously active.[6][7] The logo consists of a polar bear standing on the globe.

## History

[edit]

Olsen started his company in the Copenhagen suburb of Valby under the name "Ole Olsen's Film Factory," but soon changed it to the Nordisk Films Kompagnie.[8]

In 1908, Olsen opened an affiliate branch in New York, the Great Northern Film Company, to handle the distribution of his films to the American market. In 1909, having been excluded from the MPPC cartel in the United States, which Olsen had hoped to join, Nordisk participated in the Paris Film Congress in a failed attempt by major European producers to form a similar monopoly.[9] It became a publicly traded company in 1911 as Nordisk Film.[10] During the 1910s, the company created popular silent films with movie stars such as Valdemar Psilander and Clara Pontoppidan.[8]

When Germany invaded Denmark during World War II, the company was locked out of the nationalized German film industry and lost large amounts of revenue.[8]

In 1992, it merged with the Egmont media group, operating as electronic media production and distribution group. The total revenues in 2018 amounted to approximately €559 million.[11] Nordisk Film is one of the oldest movie production company still in operation in the world. Nordisk Film is the largest producer and distributor of electronic entertainment in the Nordic region.

## Operations

[edit]

The company produces and co-produces national and international feature films in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which are distributed to cinemas around the Nordic countries, including Nordisk Film Cinemas in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.[12] The films are also distributed internationally for viewing in cinemas, on video and on television.[13]

Furthermore, Nordisk Film produces games through a number of game studios invested in by Nordisk Film Games, distributes PlayStation in the Nordic and Baltic countries and develops global digital gifting solutions through GoGift.[14]

Through the Nordisk Film Foundation, Nordisk Film develops danish acting talents with travel scholarships of DKK 10,000 (Lille Isbjørn) or DKK 25,000 (Store Isbjørn).[15] As of 2024, the Nordisk Film Foundation stated an annual budget of DKK 7 million for the development of the Danish film industry though scholarships, project grants and awards.[16]

## Business areas

[edit]

### Nordisk Film Production

[edit]

Nordisk Film Production focuses primarily on the Scandinavian market but produces feature films, animation films, short films, TV series, and TV documentaries for both the Scandinavian and international market. They have a hand in roughly 15 productions per year, spanning a range of formats and genres. Nordisk Film Production [17]

In October 2009, Nordisk sold its TV production unit to the Banijay Group.[18]

### Nordisk Film Distribution

[edit]

Nordisk Film Distribution handles and distributes the rights to its own productions, a number of local films as well as independent productions. Nordisk Film also partners with international film studios for distribution in Scandinavia. [19]

### Nordisk Film Interactive

[edit]

Nordisk Film Interactive has exclusive distribution rights to Sony PlayStation products in the Nordic countries, and is thereby responsible for a substantial business area in Nordisk Film.[20]

### Nordisk Film Cinemas

[edit]

Nordisk Film Cinemas is a cinema chain in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, screening for approximately ten million cinema guests per year.[21] The company also offers two online platforms - kino.dk and filmweb.no (only available in danish) - where the customer can watch, review and discuss current films.

### Nordisk Games

[edit]

Nordisk Games is an investor in and owner of several European game studios. Nordisk Games has invested in nine game companies since its foundation in 2016: Avalanche Studios Group, Supermassive Games, Flashbulb Games, MercurySteam, Multiverse, Star Stable Entertainment, Nitro Games, Raw Fury, and Reto-Moto, whereof the two ladder companies have been sold.[22][23]

In May 2018, it was announced that Nordisk Games had acquired all of Avalanche Studios.[24]

In July 2022, Nordisk Games acquired all of Supermassive Games[25]

In April 2023, the Founder of Nordisk Games, Mikkel Weider, exits as CEO.[26]

## Selected feature films

[edit]

* The Crow (2024; distribution in Scandinavia only)[27][28]
* Sisu (2022; distribution in Scandinavia only; internationally distributed by Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions)[29]
* Dog (2022; Danish distribution only; produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and FilmNation Entertainment)
* The Tunnel (2019)
* Midsommar (2019; co-production and distribution in Scandinavia)
* Before the Frost (2019)
* Checkered Ninja (2018)
* Animals United (2016)
* A War (2015) - nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
* Key House Mirror (2015)
* A War (2015)
* April 9th (2015)
* Testament of Youth (2015)
* When Animals Dream (2014)
* Speed Walking (2014)
* Sorrow and Joy (2013)
* Nordvest (2013)
* Kon-Tiki (2013)
* A Royal Affair (2012) - nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
* A Hijacking (2012)
* The Reunion (2011)
* A Funny Man (2011)
* Ronal the Barbarian (2011)
* In a Better World (2010) - Won Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
* R (2010)
* Ploddy the Police Car Makes a Splash (2009)
* Rejsen til Saturn (2008)
* Kurt Turns Evil (2008)
* Jungledyret Hugo 3: Fræk, flabet, og fri (2007)
* Quest for a Heart (2007)
* After the Wedding 2006 - nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
* Terkel in Trouble (2004)
* Help! I'm a Fish (2000)
* Hard Rain (1998; co-production and distribution in Scandinavia)
* Barbara (1997 film)
* Jungledyret Hugo 2: Den store filmhelt (1996)
* Jungledyret Hugo (1993)
* Fuglekrigen i Kanøfleskoven (1990)
* Waltzing Regitze (1989) - nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
* Babette's Feast (1987) - Won Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
* Kispus (1956) - first Danish feature movie in color
* Qivitoq - Fjeldgængeren (1956) - nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
* Adam and Eve (1953)
* Ditte, Child of Man (1946) - listed in Denmark's cultural canon[30]
* Præsidenten (1919)
* Atlantis (1913)

## TV-series

[edit]

* The Team (2015)[31]
* Första Kärleken (1992)
* BECK (1997-2015)
* Arne Dahl (co-pro) (2015)
* Jungledyret Hugo (2002-2003)
* Fenris (2022)[32]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "About". Nordisk Film. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
2. ^ Lieberman, David (2 May 2016). "Lionsgate Partners With Execs At Film Initiative Targeting Global Local Markets". Deadine.
3. ^ "Nordisk Games acquires 40% ownership of MercurySteam". 22 December 2020.
4. ^ "Nordisk Film A/S: Private Company Information". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
5. ^ Arnedal, Poul (2006). Nordisk Film - en del af Danmark i 100 år (1 ed.). Aschehoug Dansk Forlag A/S and Nordisk Film A/S. ISBN 87-11-30008-6.
6. ^ Bergan, Ronald (September 2011). The Film Guide: A Complete Guide to the World of Cinema. DK Publishing. p. 145\. ISBN 9780756691882.
7. ^ "Brief History about Copenhagen". Copenhagen Portal. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
8. ^ a b c "Ole Olsen". dfi.dk. Danish Film Institute. 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
9. ^ Thorsen, Isak. Nordisk Films Kompagni 1906–1924, The Rise and Fall of the Polar Bear. Indiana University Press, 2017. pp. 71–73.
10. ^ "The History of Nordisk Film". www.nordiskfilm.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
11. ^ "About". www.nordiskfilm.com. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
12. ^ "Nordisk Film Cinemas". www.nordiskfilm.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
13. ^ "Nordisk Film Distribution". www.nordiskfilm.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
14. ^ "About | Nordisk Film".
15. ^ "Our study grants:Store Isbjørn & Lille Isbjørn". nordiskfilm.com. Nordisk Film. 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
16. ^ "Empowering film talents". nordiskfilm.com. Nordisk Film. 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
17. ^ "Nordisk Film Production". www.nordiskfilm.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
18. ^ "Banijay acquires Nordisk Film's TV arm". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
19. ^ "Nordisk Film Distribution | Nordisk Film".
20. ^ "PlayStation". www.nordiskfilm.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
21. ^ "Nordisk Film Cinemas | Nordisk Film".
22. ^ "Nordisk Games".
23. ^ "Nordisk Games | Nordisk Film".
24. ^ "Nordisk Film Acquires Avalanche Studios". Nordisk Film. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
25. ^ "Nordisk Games News". supermassivegames.com.
26. ^ "Nordisk Games CEO exits". gamesindustry.biz.
27. ^ Squires, John (10 June 2022). "'The Crow' Reboot Taking Flight With Several Big Deals Made for International Rights". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
28. ^ Kay, Jeremy (10 June 2022). "FilmNation sells out on 'The Crow' reboot in Cannes (exclusive)". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
29. ^ Mitchell, Wendy (14 June 2021). "Sony boards Jalmari Helander's Second World War title 'Immortal'". Screendaily. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
30. ^ Christian Monggaard, Ukuelig Optimist Archived December 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Kultur Kanon, Kultur Ministeriet retrieved 22-06-2010.
31. ^ "Film Production". www.nordiskfilm.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
32. ^ "Fenris". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nordisk Film.

* Official website
* Nordisk Film in the Danish Film Database

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* t
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Avalanche Studios Group

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