PITCH OG PÅFYLL

WHERE: Prinsen Cinema 5
WHEN: Wednesday 4. March 08:30-15:30
PRICE: 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.

Programme for the Day:
08:00 Registration, coffee and networking

Part 1: Investor Breakfast with the Mid-Norwegian Investor Pitch and Presentations

08:30 Welcome!

08:40 Film as a Strategic Industry

Panel discussion with Kristin Strømskag – Mayor of Frøya, Jan Grønningen – Chair of the Main Committee for Culture, Trøndelag County, and others.

Moderator: Torstein Langeland, The Trondheim Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

09:10 Mid-Norwegian Investor Pitch 2026 for Film and Games

Four film and game companies from Trøndelag will pitch one project each to an investor jury and the audience. Each company will have seven minutes to present its project, followed by five minutes to answer questions from the jury.

Read more about the jury and the Mid-Norwegian Investor Pitch here.

The winner of the Mid-Norwegian Investor Pitch will receive a prize of NOK 100,000, awarded by SpareBank 1 SMN, the Mid-Norwegian Film Centre, Filminvest and the Midgard Film Commission. The prize will be presented at MIDTFEST later that evening.

10:30 Two Trøndelag Projects Going Global

SNØ – Studio Gauntlet is experiencing global success and has gained devoted fans worldwide with the game SNØ: Ultimate Freeriding (2025), their fastest production to date. The duo share tips and pitfalls from seven years in the industry.

The Huggingtons – Klipp og Lim has won prestigious awards for the animated short film Ovary-Acting (2025). Now their original animated series The Huggingtons will be produced and launched internationally.

11:00 Mid-Norwegian Talent
As part of Kosmorama’s Talent Mid-Norway initiative in film and games, three newly admitted talents will present their projects. The initiative is supported by Talent Norway and SpareBank 1 SMN.

The session opens with an introduction by Hilde Sem Lykke, Head of Social Impact at SMN, about the bank’s investment in regional talent.

Moderator: Silje Riise Næss, Director of Talent Norway.

11:50 Mid Nordic Visual Lab
Games and film meet across borders – brief introduction.

Light lunch: 12:00–12:45

Part 2: Masterclass and Film Policy Panel (12:45–15:30)

12:45 Masterclass with Louise Say
Louise Say is the producer of the popular crime drama series Shetland, one of the BBC’s most successful drama series with a large international audience. She previously worked on high-budget dramas such as Les Misérables (BBC/Netflix, 2018) and Dracula (BBC/Netflix, 2019). In addition, she has a long career in documentary filmmaking, both as a producer and director. The session concludes with a Q&A.

Moderator: Solveig Ræstad.

14:00 The Value of Drama Production in the Region
What impact can visiting drama productions have on industry and talent development in a region? The series Rinnan (Miso/Blaane) was filmed in Trondheim and on Frøya in autumn 2025. Regional co-producer Bente Maalen (Blaane Film) and Vegard Dahle, who worked as assistant director and script supervisor on the series, share their experiences in conversation with Solveig Ræstad.

14:40 Film Policy Discussion
When Success Is Not Enough – Norwegian Film Between Breakthrough and Reality. Norwegian film has never been stronger internationally. At the same time, many in the industry are experiencing increasing uncertainty. We invite representatives from the industry, public administration and politics to join the conversation.

Panel: Eric Vogel, Arild Halvorsen and others.
Moderator: Silje Riise Næss.

19:00 MIDTFEST at Tyven

In the heart of Norway and at the center of Kosmorama, Kosmorama, the Mid-Norwegian Film Centre, and Trondheim Kino invite you to MIDTFEST at Tyven from 7:00 PM!

Welcome to MIDTFEST – a meeting place for the national and local film industry. The evening begins with the presentation of several awards:

• Mid-Norwegian Investor Pitch, where the winner receives NOK 90,000, sponsored by SpareBank 1 SMN, Midgard Film Commission, and the Mid-Norwegian Film Centre.

• 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 take on potato chips from the local producer Frostachips, courtesy of Tyven’s new kitchen.

Stop by and say hello to old and new friends!

Knut Eilif Halgunset (Jury Chair) is Head of Transformation and Strategic Partnerships at SpareBank 1 SMN. He has extensive experience as a strategist, business developer and entrepreneur, with a particular focus on emerging technologies and forward-looking initiatives.

Halgunset works closely with startup and innovation environments, incubators and accelerators, and is a key contributor to the development of the regional entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. In 2024, he received the “Community Builder of the Year” award at Tech Week’s event Tech Hugs & Rock’n Roll — an honorary distinction awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to innovation and collaboration in Trøndelag.

Knut Eilif Halgunset has served as Jury Chair for the Mid-Norwegian Investor Pitch since its launch in 2023.

Eva Klein is the founder of EK Bluebridge AS, which collaborates with several companies on growth strategies by connecting capital, ideas and commercial drive. She has broad experience in leadership, HR, recruitment and business development, and has held key positions in several companies in the region. In 2018, Klein co-founded and led The Assessment Company in Trondheim, helping to establish the company as a leading player in Norway. She has also headed Converto Trondheim and served as Commercial Director for Central and Northern Norway.

Eva Klein has solid experience at the intersection of business, leadership and growth, and contributes valuable expertise in assessing business models, teams and market potential. She also served on the investor jury for the Mid-Norwegian Investor Pitch 2025.

Trond Mellingsæter is CEO of Reitan Eiendom and a prominent figure in Trøndelag’s business community. He has extensive experience from the finance and energy sectors, including serving as Country Manager of Danske Bank Norway, as well as holding roles at Enova SF, the Ministry of Trade and Energy, and Norges Bank.

Mellingsæter is Chair of the Board at Statskog SF and at the Trondheim Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Oslo, a Master of Management from BI Norwegian Business School, and has completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School and INSEAD.

Torstein Langeland (Jury Chair) is a business developer at the Trondheim Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NiT), with a particular focus on creative and culture-based industries. He has a background in the film industry and has served as Jury Chair of the expert jury since its inception in 2023. Langeland contributes to the jury with expertise at the intersection of creative industries, business development, and commercialization – and brings a keen eye for market opportunities, execution capabilities, and industry-relevant partnerships.

Jack Kristoffersen leads the company Games People Play, known for titles such as Killer in the Cabin and The Devil’s Due. Previously, he led Artplant for many years, a company known for a wide range of children’s games including Captain Sabertooth, Captain Sabertooth – The Curse of Gruesome Gabriel, and Elias – Operation Lunvik, as well as games for other audiences, such as the shooter Block N Load and the strategy game Battlestar Galactica. Kristoffersen is also a board member of Krillbite Studio, known for games like Among the Sleep and Fruitbus. In this year’s expert jury, he brings extensive hands-on experience in game production, publishing, and product/market adaptation, with a clear perspective on what it takes to develop projects with international potential. He also has experience as a games consultant, including work for Filminvest.

Terje Strømstad is a film producer at Motion Blur and has been behind several of the most widely watched Norwegian film and TV productions in recent years. He has produced feature films such as Kill Buljo: The Movie (2007) and Dead Snow (2009), as well as the internationally distributed HBO TV series Beforeigners. In 2024, he produced the feature film Nr. 24, which was seen by over 266,000 cinema-goers in Norway, making it the most-watched Norwegian film of the year. It was later distributed globally on Netflix, quickly becoming the most-watched non-English language film on the platform during its release period. Strømstad contributes to the expert jury with extensive experience in project development, financing, and execution, achieving both creative and commercial success nationally and internationally.

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