Panu Aaltio wins the HARPA Award 2026
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Composer Panu Aaltio has won the prestigious Nordic Harpa Film Music Award for his score for the film Little Siberia. The award was presented on Saturday 14 February 2026 during the Nordic Film Music Days, held in connection with the Berlin International Film Festival.
Little Siberia is a dark comedy set in the remote village of Hurmevaara, where everyday life is turned upside down when, one night, a meteorite crashes through the roof of a car. At the centre of the story is Joel, the village priest and former peacekeeper, who ends up guarding the meteorite in an old museum. While protecting the stone from professional criminals, Joel also tries to solve the greatest mystery of his own life. “A musical bridge between everyday life and absurdity” Special recognition was given to Aaltio’s ability to build a musical bridge between the ordinary and the absurd. In the national nomination statement, emphasis was placed on Aaltio’s professionalism and inventiveness, through which he combines modern electronic sound design with traditional Finnish folk music. The result is a unique sonic world that lives and breathes with the story and masterfully shapes the rhythm of the on-screen events. The international jury, which granted the award, stated the following in its citation: “Comedy is a difficult and challenging genre for a composer, but the music for Little Siberia succeeds in elevating the film to a completely new level. The score is epic in scale, yet light and buoyant, and its themes unfold through imaginatively layered textures. Musical exaggerations turn to the film’s advantage, helping the absurd story find exactly the right tone. The composition and orchestration combine a wide range of sounds—from folk music to electronic elements—in an excellent way. The result is a soundscape that is imaginative, playful, beautifully executed, and perfectly suited to the film.” The film is directed by Dome Karukoski and is the first Finnish Netflix original feature film. Based on the novel published in 2018 by Antti Tuomainen, the film is currently available on Netflix. Its original release date was 21 March 2025. Panu Aaltio’s music for Little Siberia has also been selected as Finland’s entry for the European film and TV music award, the Camille Awards. About the Harpa Award The Harpa Film Music Award has been awarded since 2010 to Nordic film composers. Aaltio’s win is Finland’s fourth victory in the history of the award. The competition is organised in collaboration with Nordic music creator organisations and music export promotion agencies. Finland is represented jointly by Finnish Music Creators and Music Finland. Enquiries Nina Lith Head of Communications and Organisation Finnish Music Creators FMC Keilasatama 2 A, 02150 Espoo, Finland +358 41 517 8998 [email protected] musiikintekijat.fi |
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Announcing the 2026 programme
The composer organizations of the five Nordic countries invite you to Nordic Film Music Days 2026 in Berlin, February 13–16. Connect with fellow composers, gain insight from leading voices in the music and film industry, and experience film screenings and other curated events. For the 10th year in a row, activities will take place primarily at Nordische Botschaften (Felleshus), the European Film Market, and Orchestral Tools headquarters.
Since 2010, NFMD has been a meeting point where composers, musicians, producers, directors, and other creators within film and music come together to collaborate, learn, and hear acknowledged scores. At NFMD, the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award is handed out to a Nordic composer for outstanding work on a feature film, documentary, or TV series.
Find the full programme here.
Since 2010, NFMD has been a meeting point where composers, musicians, producers, directors, and other creators within film and music come together to collaborate, learn, and hear acknowledged scores. At NFMD, the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award is handed out to a Nordic composer for outstanding work on a feature film, documentary, or TV series.
Find the full programme here.
Introducing the nominees for the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award 2026
The composer organizations from the five Nordic countries have selected their national nominees for the 16th annual HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award. The award ceremony will take place on February 14th during this year’s Nordic Film Music Days in Berlin.
Every year, HARPA Nordic Film Music Days awards the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award, highlighting outstanding Nordic film composers. Nominees are selected by national juries from the Nordic countries and the selected composers represent a wide range of films, from biographical stories to documentaries
The five nominated scores for HARPA Nordic Film Composer Awards 2026 range from inventive electronic sounds to traditional folk music, from abstract and tonal elements to unsentimental moods, and seamless tapestries of sound and image.
Every year, HARPA Nordic Film Music Days awards the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award, highlighting outstanding Nordic film composers. Nominees are selected by national juries from the Nordic countries and the selected composers represent a wide range of films, from biographical stories to documentaries
The five nominated scores for HARPA Nordic Film Composer Awards 2026 range from inventive electronic sounds to traditional folk music, from abstract and tonal elements to unsentimental moods, and seamless tapestries of sound and image.
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DENMARK Jonas Colstrup
Quisling: The Final Days directed by Erik Poppe. Photo by Daniel Buchwald Jonas Colstrup has composed an exceptionally atmospheric and bold score for Erik Poppe’s film Quisling: The Final Days which elevates the drama and keeps the narrative in constant tension – even in silence. The orchestral expression is varied yet deliberately restrained, allowing space for reflection. The music is unsettling, expressive, and unsentimental, carried by a fateful energy that slowly draws the story towards the inevitable. The abstract and tonal elements are well balanced, enhancing the film’s complexity and underlying tragedy with remarkable artistic precision. |
SWEDEN Rebekka Karijord
Rörelser [Raptures] directed by Jon Blåhed. Rebekka Karijord’s transparent soundtrack grips listeners instantly and then gently guides us through the powerful emotions and unfolding events portrayed. With her sensitivity in handling tone, she observes suggestive and chaotic storytelling without taking sides. Her instrumentation is well chosen, tastefully reflecting the film’s time and setting through both folk and ecclesiastical themes, where Rebekka Karijord approaches the drama with a genuine and highly skilled artistic eye of the highest calibre. |
FINLAND Panu Aaltio
Little Siberia directed by Dome Karukoski. Photo by Elina Simonen Crafted with high-level professionalism, Aaltio's score weaves in and out, punctuating on-screen action just the right amount and making the score an integral part of the film’s storytelling, as only a well-crafted film score can. |
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NORWAY Anna Berg
Drømmer [Dreams] directed by Dag Johan Haugerud Photo by Sara Angelica Spilling The score in Drømmer may seem sparse - it moves at its own pace - but eventually we realize that it underlines the emotions of the viewer as much as the protagonist. The use of music is bold and expressive, and the result very confident and original. The music captures the seasons and atmosphere of Oslo and the undercurrents of a young person’s first love. |
ICELAND Viktor Orri Árnason and Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir
Poems: A Journey Through Icelandic Poetry directed by Robin Thomson The film captivates the audience in a delightful, musical journey through Iceland’s poetry and landscape, impressively impacting all senses at once, in a masterfully seamless tapestry of sound and image. Viktor Orri’s and Álfheiður Erla’s original music, and their extraordinarily intimate performances, gives a rare insight into their creative process and sources of inspiration. |
ICELAND Viktor Orri Árnason and Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir
Poems: A Journey Through Icelandic Poetry directed by Robin Thomson Photo by Hjordis Jonsdottir The film captivates the audience in a delightful, musical journey through Iceland’s poetry and landscape, impressively impacting all senses at once, in a masterfully seamless tapestry of sound and image. Viktor Orri’s and Álfheiður Erla’s original music, and their extraordinarily intimate performances, gives a rare insight into their creative process and sources of inspiration. |
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Next edition of HARPA and NFMD will be...
Friday February 13th - Monday February 16th, 2026
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Since 2010 Nordic Film Music Days has been the place where composers, musicians, producers and directors within the film and music industry communicate, start future collaborations, educate, and network. With 600 individual participants, amongst them more than 50 Nordic professional composers, Nordic Film Music Days has over the years become ‘the place to be-and-meet’ for anybody visiting the Berlinale and having an interest in the process, the work, and the art of scoring for film- and tv productions. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to be a part of the community, to meet and discuss the future of film composing!
The award As a part of Nordic Film Music Days, the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award is handed out to a Nordic composer who has shown excellent work in a composition for a feature, documentary, or TV series. The award, created by Icelandic Ragnar Kjartansson, will be handed out at an award ceremony, Saturday February 14th 2026 at Nordische Botschaften. Seminars & Workshops Earlier on, on that same day, you will also be able to meet the nominated composers, accompanied by selected Nordic colleagues, when they are taking part in speed meetings with producers and directors at European Film Market. On the same day Saturday February 14th, Nordic Film Music Days hosts seminars and workshops. Screenings Sunday February 15th Nordic Film Music Days wraps up with screenings of the nominated works of the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award. The screenings are free of charge at the Nordic Embassies' auditorium. Monday February 16th you can also meet the Nordic composers, as a part of Nordic Film Commissions event, Nordic Monday at Nordische Botschaften. |
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The winner of HARPA 2025 is...
The winner of the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award 2025 is Kåre Christoffer Vestrheim, Andréa Louise Horstad, Kristoffer Lo og Eivind Helgerød for the score in Makta.
The International jury released a statement about the composer team’s award winning score:
The score for Makta seamlessly complements the handheld, rough style of the series, skillfully integrating ambient noise to blend with the sound design. The music adds the tension and momentum essential for such a high-stakes political thriller, amplifying the energy needed to keep viewers captivated and intrigued. It plays on the characters' complex dilemmas, often humorously and with a satirical twist, and as such serves as a storyteller in its own right, alongside the dialogue. From the opening notes, the composers of Makta capture your attention, compelling you to watch the series through to its conclusion.
Read full press release here
The International jury released a statement about the composer team’s award winning score:
The score for Makta seamlessly complements the handheld, rough style of the series, skillfully integrating ambient noise to blend with the sound design. The music adds the tension and momentum essential for such a high-stakes political thriller, amplifying the energy needed to keep viewers captivated and intrigued. It plays on the characters' complex dilemmas, often humorously and with a satirical twist, and as such serves as a storyteller in its own right, alongside the dialogue. From the opening notes, the composers of Makta capture your attention, compelling you to watch the series through to its conclusion.
Read full press release here
Impressions from Nordic Film Music Days 2025
Photos by: Thomas Kolbein Bjork Olsen/Berlinkontoret
Partners & Collaborators
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Partners in HARPA Nordic Film Music Days 2026
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Collaborators 2026
Supported by
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