Documentary, Film, Film Festival, Film ReviewLeave a comment

8 Documentary Film Picks from Nordisk Panorama Film Festival

Nordic Watchlist

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

Film, Film Review, What to WatchLeave a comment
The Summer Book

The Summer Book Review: A Brilliant 5-Star Page-to-Screen Triumph

Nordic Watchlist

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

Actor, ActressLeave a comment
Vigdís Pálsdóttir Interview

Behind The Fires: Vigdís Pálsdóttir on Iceland’s Volcanic Drama

Nordic Watchlist

“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

Film, Film FestivalLeave a comment
Locarno 2026: Anders Danielsen Lie and Kathrine Thorborg Johansen Star in Maria Bäck’s Brave New Love

Locarno 2026: Anders Danielsen Lie and Kathrine Thorborg Johansen Star in Maria Bäck’s Brave New Love

Nordic Watchlist

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

Book, Book Review, Books1 Comment
The Depths Yrsa Sigurdardottir book review

The Depths Review: Yrsa Sigurdardóttir’s Chilling Thriller

Nordic Watchlist

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

Book, Book Review, BooksLeave a comment

The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder Review: Icelandic Thriller

Nordic Watchlist

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

TV Series Reviews, TV Shows, What to WatchLeave a comment
The Sommerdahl Murders Season 4 Review: Sunny Danish Crime

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 4 Review: Sunny Danish Crime

Nordic Watchlist

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

TV Series Reviews, TV Shows, What to WatchLeave a comment
Suplex - TV Series Review

Suplex Review: Josephine Park Shines in a Gripping Danish Mystery Thriller

Nordic Watchlist

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

Director, FilmLeave a comment

Interview: Anders Thomas Jensen on ‘The Last Viking’

Nordic Watchlist

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’

author, Book, Book ReviewLeave a comment

Sauna Elf Book Review: A Darkly Beautiful Nordic Horror Grounded in Finnish Folklore

Nordic Watchlist

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

Actor, Director, Film FestivalLeave a comment
The Irresistible Rise of Diêm Camille

The Irresistible Rise of Diêm Camille

Nordic Watchlist

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