How it Started
Alex has dedicated over two decades to the travel industry, with the last ten years spent specialising in the Nordic region. This deep immersion sparked an undeniable passion for Scandinavia and Iceland, driving him to travel extensively and help others craft their own dream holidays to the North.
Yet, there was another lifelong devotion: film. Captivated by storytelling on screen since childhood, Alex began exploring the rich world of Nordic cinema, television, and culture. He quickly realised this compelling content wasn’t reaching the global audience it deserved.
The solution was clear: pair his two great loves.
That is how Nordic Watchlist was born.
Today, Nordic Watchlist is more than just a site – it’s a growing collective of content creators, and fellow enthusiasts. We are proudly connected to the creators themselves, from directors and actors to composers and authors. We invite collaborators, sponsors, and advertisers to join us, or simply reach out for expert advice on your next Nordic viewing obsession or travel plans to Scandinavia!
Meet the Team
Alex Minnis | Founder & Content Creator
My connection with the Nordics didn’t begin with travel brochures; it started with cultural icons. From a young age, I was always fascinated by film and television, and this curiosity soon extended northwards. My earliest introductions were the high-impact presence of actors like Dolph Lundgren (I wish I could tell you it was Ingar Bergman but it wasn’t) and the groundbreaking sounds of Björk’s Debut album.
As I got older, the obsession deepened. My musical world was completely rearranged by the ethereal, mind-blowing sounds of Sigur Rós, and I quickly fell into the world of Nordic Noir, finding my true obsession with programmes like The Bridge.
In 2010 when I joined a travel company specialising in the Nordic region. Suddenly, my lifelong fascination became a professional reality. The more I travelled, the deeper I plunged into the music, film, TV, and culture, realising just how much was waiting to be discovered.
I now work professionally for Magnetic North Travel, designing Nordic travel products which keep me on the road and constantly immersed in the region. And in my spare time? I run Nordic Watchlist.
This platform is where we build connections, meet like-minded people, and give a dedicated space for promoting and discussing the very best of Nordic entertainment and culture to the world. It’s the perfect synergy: my work keeps me travelling, and my passion keeps me watching, reviewing, and interviewing the creators behind the magic.
Glen Pearce | Content Creator
I’ve always had a strong affinity with all things Scandi, growing up with tales of trolls, Norse Gods and the more childhood-appropriate smattering of Hans Christian Andersen. As I grew older that storytelling morphed into a love of Nordic literature and then later Scandinavian TV drama. In the age-old question The Bridge or The Killing? The Bridge narrowly wins for me, though Sofie Gråbøl did inspire a love of Nordic knitwear!
Still an avid Nordic Noir reader, my bookshelves currently groan under the weight of over 200 Scandi Noir hardbacks in a rapidly growing collection that is threatening to take over the house.
A former theatre and arts journalist, I now focus on Nordic literature, travel and culture.
Mary Muñoz | Content Creator
Like all good stories, it all started with Mads Mikkelsen. With his turn as Le Chiffre in the 2006 film Casino Royale, I was suddenly curious as to which other Scandinavian acting talent I had missed out on.
From there, it was all the usual suspects – The Killing, Borgen, The Bridge. I was fascinated by crime dramas that put spectacular female leads (and some pretty snazzy knitwear) at the heart of it all. It then became a case of voraciously consuming whatever else I could find.
Yes, I wanted the gritty, grisly thrillers but I also wanted to see what it was like to grow up in a different culture, to have different traditions, even a different (and, in my eyes, more sophisticated) sense of style.
And it’s not just Nordic film and TV I became obsessed with. I remember my first Jo Nesbø; my first Antti Tuomainen; my first Arnaldur Indriðason. I listen to artists such as Eivør and Aurora.
Tim Collison | Content Creator
Tim is passionate about design and loves all things Nordic. A copywriter and PR consultant, Tim spent many years as an international magazine editor and then worked in advertising as a global PR director. It was during this time that he travelled a lot to Sweden, Denmark and Finland and fell in love with the countries and their cultures.
Tim’s particular interest is in mid-century and modern Nordic design and he has spent many hours at design fairs and on online sites learning about everything from Danish chairs through to Swedish lighting and Finnish ceramics.
Jes Gislason | Content Creator
Jes Gislason is an Icelandic actor living in London with a passion for all things cinema.
Born and raised in Iceland, Jes studied acting both in his hometown of Reykjavík and in the UK. Since graduating university Jes has been seen in films, TV and on stage, both in Iceland and in the UK. Jes is known for his roles in the Icelandic comedy series Iceguys, and the HBO TV series The Flight Attendant. His passion for writing about cinema is just as much as his passion for making cinema.