Nordisk Film A/S () is a Danish entertainment company involved in film production and distribution and a subsidiary of

Egmont Group The Egmont Group (officially Egmont International Holding A/S; known as Gutenberghus Group until 1992) is a Danish media corporation founded and rooted in Copenhagen, Denmark. The business area of Egmont has traditionally been magazine publishi ...

. The multimedia entertainment company is also involved in television production, cinemas, computer games and advertising. The film studio was established in 1906 in

Valby Valby () is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen Municipality, Denmark. It is in the southwestern corner of Copenhagen Municipality, and has a mixture of different types of housing. This includes apartment blocks, terraced housing, area ...

, Copenhagen, by filmmaker Ole Olsen. It is the fourth-oldest film studio in the world behind Gaumont,

Pathé Pathé SAS (; styled as PATHÉ!) is a French major film production and distribution company, owning a number of cinema chains through its subsidiary Pathé Cinémas and television networks across Europe. It is the name of a network of Fren ...

, and

Titanus Titanus (also called Titanus Distribuzione) is an Italian film production and distribution company, founded in 1904 by Gustavo Lombardo (1885–1951). The company's headquarters are located at 28 Via Sommacampagna, Rome and its studios on the Vi ...

, and the oldest studio to be continuously active. The logo consists of a polar bear standing on the globe, and currently distributes films from various companies including

Lionsgate Lions Gate, Lion Gate or similar terms may refer to: Gates *Lion Gate at Mycenae in Greece *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the ancient Hittite city of Hattusa, now in Turkey *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the gardens of Hampton Court Pala ...

Summit Entertainment Summit Entertainment, LLC (formerly the Summit Group, Summit Export Group, Summit Entertainment Group Inc., Summit Entertainment Limited, Summit Films Limited, and Summit Entertainment N.V.) is an American film production label of Lionsgate Film ...

and

FilmNation Entertainment FilmNation Entertainment, LLC is an American entertainment company focused on film production, financing, and distribution. History 2008–2012: Founding FilmNation Entertainment is an independent film production and distribution company co-f ...

among others.

History

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. 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 The Paris Film Congress was a major meeting of European film producers and distributors in the French capital Paris from 2–4 February 1909. It intended to create an association to protect the interests of the participants through the formation ...

in a failed attempt by major European producers to form a similar monopoly. It became a

publicly traded A public company is a company whose ownership is organized via shares of share capital, stock which are intended to be freely traded on a stock exchange or in over-the-counter (finance), over-the-counter markets. A public (publicly traded) co ...

company in 1911 as Nordisk Film. During the 1910s, the company created popular silent films with movie stars such as

Valdemar Psilander Valdemar Einar Psilander (9 May 1884 – 6 March 1917) was a Danish silent film actor, who was the highest-paid performer of his period and received critical acclaim as the greatest male lead during the golden era of Cinema of Denmark, Danish ci ...

and

Clara Pontoppidan Clara Pontoppidan (23 April 1883 – 22 January 1975), also known as Clara Wieth, was a Danish actress. She worked mainly in Swedish and Danish silent films, including ''A Victim of the Mormons'' (Denmark, 1911). Personal life Clara Pontop ...

. 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. In 1992, it merged with the

Egmont Egmont may refer to: * Egmont Group, a media corporation founded and rooted in Copenhagen, Denmark * Egmond family (often spelled "Egmont"), an influential Dutch family, lords of the town of Egmond ** Lamoral, Count of Egmont (1522–1568), the be ...

media group, operating as electronic media production and distribution group. The total revenues in 2018 amounted to approximately €559 million. 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

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. The films are also distributed internationally for viewing in cinemas, on video and on television. 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. 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). 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.

Business areas

Nordisk Film Production

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 In October 2009, Nordisk sold its TV production unit to the

Banijay Group Banijay Entertainment S.A. (formerly Banijay Group and later Banijay) is a French multinational television production and distribution company which is the world's largest international content producer and distributor with over 130 production co ...

Nordisk Film Distribution

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.

Nordisk Film Interactive

Nordisk Film Interactive has exclusive distribution rights to

Sony is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...

PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...

products in the

Nordic countries The Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or ''Norden''; ) are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe, as well as the Arctic Ocean, Arctic and Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic oceans. It includes the sovereign states of Denm ...

, and is thereby responsible for a substantial business area in Nordisk Film.

Nordisk Film Cinemas

Nordisk Film Cinemas is a cinema chain in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, screening for approximately ten million cinema guests per year. 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

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 Supermassive Games Limited is a British video game developer based in Guildford, Surrey. The studio is best known for developing horror games such as ''Until Dawn'' for Sony Interactive Entertainment, ''The Dark Pictures Anthology'' for Bandai ...

, Flashbulb Games,

MercurySteam Mercury Steam Entertainment S.L., doing business as MercurySteam, is a Spanish video game developer based in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid. It was founded by former members of Rebel Act Studios, who had developed '' Severance: Blade of D ...

, Multiverse, Star Stable Entertainment, Nitro Games,

Raw Fury Raw Fury AB is a Swedish video game publisher, specialising in the publication of independent video game development, indie games, based in Stockholm. The company was founded in 2015 by Jonas Antonsson and Gordon Van Dyke. History The compan ...

, and

Reto-Moto Reto-Moto ApS was a Danish video game developer based in Copenhagen. Founded in 1997, its staff formed IO Interactive as a joint venture in September 1998. Following a decade of inactivity, some founders reformed Reto-Moto in April 2008, and th ...

, whereof the two ladder companies have been sold. In May 2018, it was announced that Nordisk Games had acquired all of

Avalanche Studios Avalanche Studios Group is a Swedish video game developer and publisher based in Stockholm. It is a parent company that includes Avalanche Studios, Expansive Worlds, and Systemic Reaction. Founded by Linus Blomberg and Christofer Sundberg in M ...

. In November 2021, it acquired the majority stake in the company of ''Star Stable Online''. In July 2022, Nordisk Games acquired all of

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

Selected feature films

* ''

The Crow ''The Crow'' is a supernatural superhero comic book series created by James O'Barr revolving around the titular character of the same name. The series, which was originally created by O'Barr as a means of dealing with the death of his fianc� ...

'' (2024; distribution in Scandinavia only) * ''

Sisu is a Finnish word variously translated as stoic determination, tenacity of purpose, grit, bravery, resilience, and hardiness. It is held by Finns to express their national character. It is generally considered not to have a single-word ...

'' (2022; distribution in Scandinavia only; internationally distributed by

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) is a specialty film division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The company specializes in acquiring and producing films for a wide variety of distribution platforms. History The group became a stand-al ...

) * ''

Dog The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the gray wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it was selectively bred from a population of wolves during the Late Pleistocene by hunter-gatherers. ...

'' (2022; Danish distribution only; produced by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

and

) * '' The Tunnel'' (2019) * ''

Midsommar ''Midsommar'' is a 2019 folk horror film written and directed by Ari Aster. It stars Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor as an American couple who are drawn into a violent cult in rural Sweden. Supporting actors include William Jackson Harper, Vi ...

'' (2019; co-production and distribution in Scandinavia) * ''

Before the Frost ''Before the Frost'' (''Innan Frosten'', 2002) is a novel by Swedish crime-writer Henning Mankell. The protagonist is Linda Wallander, daughter of Inspector Wallander. The book was to be the first in a three-book series with Linda as the ma ...

'' (2019) * '' Checkered Ninja'' (2018) * ''

Animals United ''Animals United'' is a 2010 German animated adventure comedy film directed and produced by Reinhard Klooss and Holger Tappe and released on 7 October 2010. The film stars Ralf Schmitz and Thomas Fritsch as a meerkat named Billy and a lion nam ...

(2016) * ''

A War ''A War'' () is a 2015 Danish war drama film written and directed by Tobias Lindholm, and starring Pilou Asbæk, Tuva Novotny and Søren Malling. It tells the story of a Danish military company in Afghanistan that is fighting the Taliban while t ...

'' (2015) - nominated for

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

* ''

Key House Mirror ''Key House Mirror'' () is a 2015 Danish drama film directed by Michael Noer. Cast * Ghita Nørby - Lily * Sven Wollter - Piloten, Erik * Trine Pallesen Trine Pallesen (born 19 June 1969) is a Danish actress, best known for her work in Dan ...

'' (2015) * ''

'' (2015) * ''April 9th'' (2015) * ''Testament of Youth'' (2015) * ''

When Animals Dream ''When Animals Dream'' (originally titled as ''Når dyrene drømmer'') is a 2014 Danish horror drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of Jonas Alexander Arnby. The film had its world premiere on 19 May 2014 at the Cannes Film Festiva ...

'' (2014) * ''

Speed Walking ''Speed Walking'' () is a 2014 Danish drama film directed by Niels Arden Oplev. It is based on the novel of the same name by Morten Kirkskov. Plot In 1976 in provincial Denmark, 14-year-old Martin ( Villads Bøye) is about to be confirmed whe ...

'' (2014) * ''

Sorrow and Joy ''Sorrow and Joy'' () is a 2013 Danish drama film directed by Nils Malmros. The autobiographical film recounts the tragic event in which Malmros' wife, suffering from bipolar disorder, killed their infant daughter with a knife. It was selected a ...

'' (2013) * ''Nordvest'' (2013) * ''Kon-Tiki'' (2013) *

A Royal Affair ''A Royal Affair'' () is a 2012 drama film directed by Nikolaj Arcel, starring Mads Mikkelsen, Alicia Vikander and Mikkel Følsgaard. The story is set in the 18th century, at the court of the mentally ill King Christian VII of Denmark, and focus ...

'' (2012) - nominated for

* ''

A Hijacking ''A Hijacking'' () is a 2012 Danish thriller film written and directed by Tobias Lindholm about a ship hijacking. Pilou Asbæk and Søren Malling star as a cook taken hostage and the CEO that attempts to negotiate for his release, respectiv ...

'' (2012) * ''The Reunion'' (2011) * '' A Funny Man'' (2011) * ''

Ronal the Barbarian ''Ronal the Barbarian'' (Danish: ''Ronal Barbaren'') is a 2011 Danish adult animated fantasy comedy film co-directed by Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen and Philip Einstein Lipski, and their third cinema feature. The film paro ...

'' (2011) * ''

In a Better World ''In a Better World'' (, "The Revenge") is a 2010 drama thriller film written by Anders Thomas Jensen and directed by Susanne Bier. The film stars Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, and Ulrich Thomsen in a story which takes place in small-town ...

'' (2010) - Won

Academy Award for Best International Feature Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

* ''R'' (2010) *

Ploddy the Police Car Makes a Splash ''Ploddy the Police Car Makes a Splash'' (; also released as ''Police Patrol''Police ...

(2009) * '' Rejsen til Saturn'' (2008) * Kurt Turns Evil (2008) * '' Jungledyret Hugo 3: Fræk, flabet, og fri'' (2007) * ''

Quest for a Heart ''Quest for a Heart'' () is a 2007 animated film directed by Pekka Lehtosaari. It is based on the Rölli character created by Allu Tuppurainen, and while it is the third Rölli film (previous films are '' Rolli: Amazing Tales'' from 1991 and ...

'' (2007) * ''

After the Wedding After the Wedding may refer to: * After the Wedding (1962 film), ''After the Wedding'' (1962 film), a Soviet film directed by Mikhail Yershov * After the Wedding (2006 film), ''After the Wedding'' (2006 film), a Danish film directed by Susanne Bier ...

'' 2006 - nominated for

* ''

Terkel in Trouble ''Terkel in Trouble'' () is a 2004 Danish adult animated musical comedy film starring Anders Matthesen. It is the first Danish computer animated feature film. The film is an adaptation of Matthesen's 2001 comedy album ''Arne fortæller... Terkel ...

'' (2004) * ''

Help! I'm a Fish ''Help! I'm a Fish'' (; also known as ''A Fish Tale'') is a 2000 animated science fantasy musical film directed by Stefan Fjeldmark, Greg Manwaring, and Michael Hegner, and written by Fjeldmark, Karsten Kiilerich, John Stefan Olsen, and Tracy J. ...

'' (2000) * '' Hard Rain'' (1998; co-production and distribution in Scandinavia) * '' Barbara'' (1997 film) * '' Jungledyret Hugo 2: Den store filmhelt'' (1996) * ''

Jungledyret Hugo ''Jungledyret Hugo'' (Danish for "Hugo the Jungle Animal") is a Danish media franchise created by Flemming Quist Møller based on a lullaby he wrote for his son, and was later turned into a full-length animated feature, produced at A. Film. Th ...

'' (1993) * '' Fuglekrigen i Kanøfleskoven'' (1990) * ''

Waltzing Regitze ''Waltzing Regitze'' (), also known as ''Memories of a Marriage'', is a 1989 Danish drama film directed by Kaspar Rostrup. Based upon a popular Danish novel by Martha Christensen, the film is an unsentimental portrait of the history and changes ...

'' (1989) - nominated for

* ''

Babette's Feast ''Babette's Feast'' () is a 1987 Danish drama film directed by Gabriel Axel. The screenplay, written by Axel, was based on the 1958 story by Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen). It was produced by Just Betzer, Bo Christensen and Benni Korzen, with f ...

'' (1987) - Won

* ''

Kispus ''Kispus'' is a 1956 Danish romantic comedy film written and directed by Erik Balling. The film was the first Danish feature movie to be filmed in colour. Synopsis The eccentric fashion designer Mr. Marcel gives his newly designed gown to the ...

'' (1956) - first Danish feature movie in color * '' Qivitoq - Fjeldgængeren'' (1956) - nominated for

* ''

Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...

'' (1953) * ''

Ditte, Child of Man ''Ditte, Child of Man'' () is a 1946 socio-realistic Danish drama directed by Bjarne Henning-Jensen based on the novel by Martin Andersen Nexø. The film stars Tove Maës in the tragic story of an impoverished young girl who becomes the victim o ...

'' (1946) - listed in Denmark's cultural canon * '' Præsidenten'' (1919) * ''

Atlantis Atlantis () is a fictional island mentioned in Plato's works '' Timaeus'' and ''Critias'' as part of an allegory on the hubris of nations. In the story, Atlantis is described as a naval empire that ruled all Western parts of the known world ...

'' (1913)

TV series

* ''The Team'' (2015) * '' Första Kärleken'' (1992) * ''BECK'' (1997–2015) * ''Arne Dahl'' (co-pro) (2015) * ''

'' (2002–2003) * ''

The Fairytaler ''The Fairytaler'' () is a 2002 Danish animated television series based on the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. It was also the second anthology series adapted from Hans Christian Andersen's works right after Andersen Stories ended. An E ...

'' (2002–2003) * '' Fenris'' (2022)

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Companies based in Copenhagen Municipality Danish companies established in 1906 1906 establishments in Denmark Danish film studios Film distributors Film production companies of Denmark Mass media companies based in Copenhagen Mass media companies established in 1906 Television production companies of Denmark Valby