Forgiveness is a complicated word… It does not remove the wound, but it can stop the wound from controlling the rest of your life.” — Filmmaker Nefise Özkal Lorentzen on her documentary This Is Not an Apple Fresh from its … Continue reading Director Nefise Özkal Lorentzen on her documentary This Is Not an Apple, Youth Violence, and Rehabilitation
It’s been a while since we covered a doc festival, but returning to Nordisk Panorama felt overdue. While Nordic documentaries still face real hurdles securing UK and US distribution, championing these voices—especially in today’s global climate—is more essential than ever.
We hand-picked 8 standout documentary discoveries from this year’s line-up that you need on your radar. Continue reading 8 Documentary Film Picks from Nordisk Panorama Film Festival
Co-director Björn Hlynur Haraldsson speaks with Nordic Watchlist about directing the Icelandic drama series Vigdís, portraying history, and casting the first female president. Continue reading Vigdís TV Series: Björn Hlynur Haraldsson on Co-Directing the Iconic Icelandic Drama
Festival Directors Ylva Skarsgård and Heidi Elise Christensen give an inside look at Nordisk Panorama’s atmosphere, special pop-up events, and what makes this festival special. Continue reading Inside Nordisk Panorama Film Festival: Celebrating Short Films, Documentaries, and Nordic Talent
Read our The Last Tenant review. Eva Björg Ægisdóttir delivers a chilling, tightly controlled entry in her acclaimed Forbidden Iceland crime series. Continue reading The Last Tenant Review: Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir’s Latest Thriller
We chat with Dr Thomas Morcom about New Nordic Voices, UCL’s free contemporary Nordic film festival featuring 14 feature films and UK premieres. Continue reading New Nordic Voices: UCL’s Free Film Festival Celebrates Contemporary Nordic Cinema
Read our The Secret Woman review. Natalie Madueño and Claes Bang star in Barbara Topsøe-Rothenborg’s twist-filled Netflix Nordic thriller. Continue reading The Secret Woman Review: Netflix’s Twist-Filled Nordic Thriller
Read our No Place for Football review. Discover Brandon Scott Smith & Derek Sullivan Smith’s inspiring documentary on Greenlandic football. Continue reading No Place for Football – An Uplifting Sports Documentary
Read our Blood Sacrifice review of the terrifying new Nordic Netflix series, starring Jakob Oftebro, about a serial killer targeting the police. Continue reading Blood Sacrifice Review: Netflix’s Dark Nordic Thriller
Read our 4-star review of Inside the Trustor Scandal on Netflix. Karin af Klintberg’s documentary revisits Sweden’s most infamous financial crime. Continue reading Inside the Trustor Scandal Review: Sweden’s Biggest Financial Crime Saga Comes to Netflix
Read our 4-star review of The Sommerdahl Murders Season 5 on Walter Presents. A single serialised plot transforms the long-running Danish crime drama. Continue reading The Sommerdahl Murders Season 5 Review: A Bold, Darker Shift for the Danish Drama
Read our 4-star review of The Secrets from the Deep by Satu Rämö. The fourth book in the bestselling Hildur series dives into family secrets in the Westfjords. Continue reading The Secrets from the Deep Book Review: Satu Rämö’s Dark, Emotional Icelandic Thriller
Read our 5-star review of Vigdís, the award-winning Icelandic drama series about the early life of the world’s first elected female president, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. Continue reading Vigdís Review: A 5-Star Biopic Series Celebrating an Icelandic Trailblazer
Norwegian star Anders Danielsen Lie speaks to Nordic Watchlist about playing the father in The Summer Book, silent grief, and working on Finnish islands. Continue reading Anders Danielsen Lie on The Summer Book & Silent Grief
Adapting Tove Jansson’s celebrated 1972 semi-autobiographical novel The Summer Book for international theatrical distribution was a delicate undertaking.
In our latest feature at Nordic Watchlist, we review the film—starring Glenn Close, Anders Danielsen Lie, and Emily Matthews—and sit down with director Charlie McDowell (The One I Love, Windfall) to examine how he preserved the authentically Nordic, understated tone of Jansson’s work while shifting its episodic narrative structure for cinema audiences. Continue reading The Summer Book Review: A Brilliant 5-Star Page-to-Screen Triumph
Nordic films on BFI Player offer UK cinema lovers an exceptional gateway into Scandinavian film. Whether you want to revisit iconic masterpieces or discover recent festival favorites, the platform provides a rich selection of cinema from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, … Continue reading 10 Nordic Films to Stream on BFI Player
“Humanity builds its little homes and cities, and nature can just wipe us out…” We caught up with Icelandic actress Vigdís Hrefna Pálsdóttir over a video call to discuss starring in The Fires, hanging out of helicopters over live eruptions, collaborating with Pilou Asbæk, and working with director Ugla Hauksdóttir. Out now on Digital in the UK! Continue reading Behind The Fires: Vigdís Pálsdóttir on Iceland’s Volcanic Drama
Anders Danielsen Lie and Kathrine Thorborg Johansen star in Maria Bäck’s ‘Brave New Love’, heading to Locarno 2026. Read the synopsis & details at Nordic Watchlist. Continue reading Locarno 2026: Anders Danielsen Lie and Kathrine Thorborg Johansen Star in Maria Bäck’s Brave New Love
Just released – The Depths, the third book in Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s The Black Ice series.
Set against the dark and unforgiving waters of the North Atlantic, The Depths is a chilling thriller that intertwines long-buried secrets, family tragedy, and murder with masterful precision.
With expertly controlled pacing, richly atmospheric settings, and a climactic twist that lands with the force of a tidal wave, The Depths demonstrates why Yrsa Sigurdardóttir remains one of the leading voices in Nordic noir.
Read the full review now Continue reading The Depths Review: Yrsa Sigurdardóttir’s Chilling Thriller
Read our review of The Fires (Eldarnir). Ugla Hauksdóttir’s thriller balances scientific realism, disaster drama, and compelling performances. Continue reading The Fires Film Review: Icelandic Volcanic Thriller
What if one careless sentence turned a struggling hotel supervisor into a corporate fixer… and a murder accomplice? Erlendur Arason’s The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder blends Nordic Noir, dark humour and corporate intrigue into a thriller where office politics can be just as dangerous as a killer on the loose. When Torfi accidentally convinces his bosses that he knows too much about their shady dealings, he finds himself promoted, paid off, and drawn into a deadly conspiracy he barely understands.
Our latest review explores why this Icelandic debut is far more than a conventional crime novel. Read the full review on our website via the link in bio. Continue reading The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder Review: Icelandic Thriller
Read our 4-star review of Chorus Girls on Walter Presents. A powerful, mid-1970s Danish drama tackling sexism, sisterhood, and the dark side of showbiz Continue reading Chorus Girls Walter Presents Review: A Gritty Danish Drama
The Sommerdahl Murders may have you reaching for your sunglasses If you think that all Nordic Police procedural TV series take place in the bleak gloom of Scandinavian winters, all monochrome with brooding soundtracks, The Sommerdahl Murders may have you … Continue reading The Sommerdahl Murders Season 4 Review: Sunny Danish Crime
Read our 3-star review of the Cold Prey Trilogy on Limited Edition Blu-Ray from Second Sight Films. Discover Norway’s ultimate winter slasher franchise. Continue reading Cold Prey Trilogy Blu-Ray Review: Classic Norwegian Slasher
A slow-burn, sweltering Danish mystery that handles its tension like a tight wrestling hold, slowly tightening its grip until you are completely hooked The last time we saw wrestling play such a visceral role and metaphor in Nordic cinema was … Continue reading Suplex Review: Josephine Park Shines in a Gripping Danish Mystery Thriller
Danish filmmaker Anders Thomas Jensen returns with The Last Viking, a masterful blend of pitch-black comedy, visceral violence, and deep emotional resonance. Known for his long-standing collaborations with the cream of Danish cinema, Jensen’s latest feature pushes his regular ensemble … Continue reading Interview: Anders Thomas Jensen on ‘The Last Viking’
My first introduction to Anders Thomas Jensen was very late, it was Riders of Justice (five years ago) and I was absolutely taken by his style of film. The way his cast worked and played off each other made for … Continue reading Anders Thomas Jensen: 6 Essential Films From The Danish Dark Comedy Master
We review Aki Mäkiaho’s atmospheric horror novel Sauna Elf, a chilling yet beautifully written journey through centuries of Finnish folklore, sacred rituals, and bloody purification.
If you love distinct, folklore-driven Nordic literature, this one is an absolute must-read. Just be careful the next time you look under the sauna bench… Continue reading Sauna Elf Book Review: A Darkly Beautiful Nordic Horror Grounded in Finnish Folklore
Whether she is navigating the high-octane sets of Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth or redefining Danish television with her history-making series Bad Bitch, Diêm Camille is a force of nature. We caught up with the multi-hyphenate star to discuss her transition from the “family-friendly” world of The Sommerdahl Murders to the global stage, and why her latest project, The Barbershop, is her most personal story yet. Continue reading The Irresistible Rise of Diêm Camille
Read our full Kraken film review. Pål Øie’s Norwegian creature feature boasts a strong climate change premise but falls short on monster screen time. Continue reading Kraken Film Review: Visually Stunning Eco-Horror Short on Screen Time
