PITCH OG PÅFYLL

WHERE: Prinsen Cinema 5
WHEN: Wednesday 19. March 08:30-15:00
PRICCE: 105,- incl hoopla fee (free for those with industry accreditation at Kosmorama)

Take the opportunity to gain exciting insights into film and video game projects currently in development in our region and explore the opportunities within the creative industries. Through smart partnerships and alternative financing, valuable added value can be created. PITCH OG PÅFYLL takes place during Kosmorama’s industry days.

Program for the Day

08:30: Registration, coffee, and mingling.

1. Mid-Norwegian Investor Pitch and Smart Partnerships in the Film Industry

09:00: Welcome!

• Eli Gjerde, Managing Director at Mid-Norwegian Film Center
• Arild Halvorsen, Director at Filminvest
• Silje Engeness, Director at Kosmorama

Moderator: Solveig Sigmond Ræstad, Midgard Film Commission

09:10-09:45: At the Berlin Film Festival, Frøya was named Europe's Best Film Location. Frøya’s mayor, Kristin Strømskag, and film commissioner Solveig Ræstad share their recipe for success.

09:25-10:00: Smart Partnerships in the Film Industry
Everything you wish you had known before the film was completed! Myths and opportunities in product placement, branding, and target audiences. How can filmmakers and businesses achieve a win-win through strategic partnerships?
Capa Cinema Advertising serves as a link between film, audiences, and businesses. Erik Beckman, Head of Capa Partnerships, offers an exciting and practical insight into maximizing a film's potential—without selling your soul.

10:00-11:00: MID-NORWEGIAN INVESTOR PITCH 2025 for Film and Games
Four Trøndelag-based film and game companies pitch their projects to an investor jury, audience, and press. Each company has 7 minutes to present their project, followed by 5 minutes for questions from the jury. The winner of the Mid-Norwegian Investor Pitch receives a prize of NOK 90,000, sponsored by SpareBank 1 SMN, Midgard Film Commission, and the Mid-Norwegian Film Center. The prize will be awarded at MIDTFEST later that evening.

Read more about the projects being pitched here

11:00-11:15: Coffee Break

11:15-12:15: Alternative Financing for Feature Films – Case Study: HEIM
The feature film HEIM from Trøndelag-based production company Blaane Film will premiere in Norwegian cinemas on June 13. With Capa as a key partner, producer Bente Maalen has secured financing from several regional actors, including Steinkjer Municipality, Trivgruppen, SpareBank 1 SMN, Steinkjer Mekaniske, and NTE.
What has she learned? Has it influenced the film? What do the partners gain from it?

Keynote by producer Bente Maalen and panel discussion.

2. Lunch

12:15-12:45: Light lunch in the foyer of Prinsen Cinema Center.

3. Film Policy Panel (TBA) and Filminvest Feature Film Pitch

Moderator: Asbjørn Tiller, Kosmorama

12:45-13:45: Film Talk with Brwa Vahabpour

Feature film debutant Brwa Vahabpour sits down for a conversation with film critic and culture journalist Ida Madsen Hestman. Vahabpour directed this year’s Kosmorama opening film, Onkel Jens, and is coming straight from the SXSW festival in the U.S. to present his debut.

Born and raised in Trondheim with a Norwegian-Kurdish background, Vahabpour has directed several short films before making his feature film debut. The conversation will explore key themes from the film and its production, including diversity.

13:45-14:00: Coffee Break

14:00-15:00: Filminvest Feature Film Pitch

Moderator: Mari Nørstegård Tomren, Filminvest

Three professional screenwriters based in Norway will compete for NOK 200,000 in funding for the development of a feature film script.

In 2025, Filminvest’s pitch award will go to a feature film idea that:

• Is thematically rooted in the Trøndelag/Innlandet region
• Is intended to be produced in the region with the help of the local film industry
• Has the potential to attract a large regional and national audience

The jury has selected the following three projects to pitch:

• "Takk for lånet" – Vegard Dahle and Anna Lian
• "Levva Livet" – Rebecca Wirkola Kjellmann and Idun Daae Alstad
• "Slaget ved Kringen" – Erik Ivar Sæther

The winner will be announced at MIDTFEST later that evening.

Jury for Filminvest’s Feature Film Pitch:

Eric Vogel – Producer & CEO, Tordenfilm

Eric Vogel is the producer and CEO of independent production company Tordenfilm. His recent work includes:

• NRK’s sci-fi series Kuppel 16 (2022, producer)
• Viaplay series Made in Oslo (2022, executive producer)
• ZombieLars (2017-2019, executive producer)
• Thriller series Valkyrien (2017, producer)
• Animated films Knutsen & Ludvigsen (2015 & 2020, producer)

Before founding Tordenfilm, Vogel worked as a journalist for NRK Radio. He studied at NTNU and the Norwegian Film School in Lillehammer.

Silje Nikoline Glimsdal – Senior Acquisition Manager, SF Studios

Silje Nikoline Glimsdal is a trained dramaturge and began her career as an intern at Zentropa in 2009. She later joined TrustNordisk, one of Europe’s leading sales agencies, where she was responsible for incoming projects, scripts, and development.

Since 2021, she has worked at SF Studios, one of Scandinavia’s leading distribution companies. She oversees Nordic acquisitions, working closely with Norwegian producers and distributors to identify the best local films.

Andrea Bræin Hovig – Actress

Andrea Bræin Hovig graduated from the Norwegian National Academy of Theatre and has performed at both Det Norske Teatret and Nationaltheatret. She has starred in productions such as Hedda Gabler, The Lady from the Sea, Ghosts, and Peer Gynt.

In film and TV, she has been nominated for multiple Amanda Awards and won Kanonprisen for Som du ser meg. She also won Kanonprisen 2020 and Amandaprisen 2020 for Håp, earning a European Film Awards nomination for the same role. She has received the Edith Carlmar Award for her contributions to film and is currently starring in Kjærlighet by Dag Johan Haugerud.

19:00 MIDTFEST at Tyven

In the heart of Norway and at the center of Kosmorama, Kosmorama, Midtnorsk Filmsenter, and Trondheim Kino invite you to MIDTFEST at Tyven from 7:00 PM!

Welcome to MIDTFEST – a gathering point for the national and local film industry. The evening kicks off with the presentation of several awards:

• Midtnorsk Investor Pitch, where the winner receives NOK 90,000, sponsored by SpareBank 1 SMN, Midgard Film Commission, and Midtnorsk Filmsenter.
• Filminvest Feature Film Pitch, where the winner receives NOK 200,000, sponsored by Filminvest.
• NTNU Film Award, where the winner receives NOK 20,000, sponsored by NTNU.
• The Edith Carlmar Award, where the winner receives NOK 50,000, sponsored by SpareBank 1 SMN and Kosmorama.

Throughout the evening, you can expect a great atmosphere, something delightful in your glass, and an exciting new twist on potato chips from the local Frostachips, courtesy of Tyven’s new kitchen.

Drop by and say hello to old and new friends!

Knut Eilif Halgunset (Jury Chair) Head of Transformation and Strategic Partnerships, SpareBank 1 SMN

Halgunset is a strategist, business developer, and implementer, exploring current initiatives, particularly in new technology. He collaborates closely with startups, innovation environments, incubators, and accelerators. In 2024, he was named "Community Builder of the Year" at Tech Week’s Tech Hugs & Rock’n Roll event—an honorary award recognizing individuals who have contributed to strengthening the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in Trøndelag.

Eva KleinHead of Trondheim / CCO, Converto AS

Educated in economics and management at BI Norwegian Business School, Klein has worked commercially in leadership, HR, recruitment, and organizational development across multiple companies. She has also run her own business and worked as a financial advisor at SpareBank 1 SMN. In 2018, she co-founded The Assessment Company’s Trondheim office, where she served as both Trondheim office lead and Commercial Director for Central and Northern Norway. In January 2024, she became Managing Director of Converto in Trondheim.

Ingvild Farstad Head of Operational Excellence (OpEx), Viking Venture

Farstad leads the Operational Excellence team at Viking Venture, where she supports portfolio companies with various growth initiatives, including strategy projects, pricing and packaging, and commercial models. She previously worked in strategic and operational consulting at BDO AS and holds an MSc in Business Administration from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Gudny Hummelvoll

Hummelvoll is an established film producer with over 30 years of experience in the film and TV industry. She founded the production company Hummelfilm and now works as a producer at Rubicon. She is known for feature films such as Buddy, Limbo, Phoenix, and Captain Sabertooth and the Treasure of Lama Rama, as well as TV series like Occupied, Headhunters, and most recently the Netflix production Billionaire Island, filmed on Frøya and in Trondheim. Hummelvoll has also been a co-producer on numerous international productions. She served as President of the European Producers Club from 2020 to May 2024 and remains on the board.

Ellen Lyse Einarsen

Einarsen is a screenwriter educated at the Norwegian Film School in Lillehammer. She has co-written several TV series and feature films, including Sara & Selma and Elias: The Little Rescue Boat. Since 2007, she has worked in the gaming industry on titles such as Age of Conan and Angry Birds Epic. She is currently Head of Production at Hyper Games, which has achieved major international success with Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, released in 2024. Hyper Games is also known for titles like Mørkredd and Eggggg.

Torstein Langeland

Langeland is a business developer at the Trondheim Region Business Association, responsible for creative industries. He has a background in the film industry.

Collaborators: Midtnorsk filmsenter, Næringsforeningen i Trondheimsregionen, Midgard Film Commission Norway, Filminvest, Kosmorama og SpareBank 1 SMN