Congratulations to Mari Nilsen Neira as the winner of NTNU Filmpris 2025

We congratulate Mari Nilsen Neira as the winner of the NTNU Film Prize 2025!

This year’s award winner has also carried out numerous assignments for NRK, including working as a production manager and coordinator for the popular children’s TV series about Brannbjørnen Bjørnis.

A highlight of her career so far came in 2023 when she made her theatrical debut as the main director of the documentary film Bunadsgeriljaen. The film premiered at the Haugesund Film Festival and was nominated for two Gullruten awards in 2024—Best Documentary and Best Direction. As a co-producer as well, she saw the film screened in cinemas across Norway before it was later broadcast on NRK.

This year’s NTNU Film Prize winner has several projects in development, both as a director and as a producer for others, spanning both documentary and fiction. In the fall, the upcoming feature documentary Hex, for which she is the producer, was selected for the prestigious Nordic Forum pitch at Nordisk Panorama.

She has also distinguished herself through interdisciplinary work and collaborations across different formats and fields, particularly in her interest in technological innovation and the development of new technology for film production. She holds a master’s degree in knowledge management, with a special focus on how creativity can be used as a tool in team leadership.

A key figure in the local film industry in Trondheim, she co-founded the production company Herstory, which has stood out for amplifying female perspectives in film and working towards a more gender-equal film industry. She is also strongly committed to including young professionals and students in her productions, using filmmaking to benefit the regional film community.

About the NTNU Film Prize

The NTNU Film Prize is a collaboration between NTNU and Kosmorama, recognizing individuals who contribute to the advancement of film production in Trøndelag. The award honors those who, through their work, help develop and showcase Trondheim and Trøndelag’s film industry.

Jury for NTNU Film Prize 2025:

• Brit Moen Tjørstad – Acting Group Leader, Communications Department, NTNU
• Sven Østgaard – University Lecturer, Department of Art and Media Studies, NTNU
• Eli Gjerde – Managing Director, Midtnorsk Filmsenter
• Eric Vogel – Producer and representative from the film industry
• Silje Engeness – Director, Kosmorama Trondheim International Film Festival