Impressions from 2026
The Nordic Film Music Days 2026 in Berlin gathered composers, filmmakers and industry professionals for several days of discussions, networking and celebration of Nordic screen music. Through panels, workshops, film screenings and informal meet-ups, the event created space for artistic exchange, professional development and cross-border collaboration.
Photos by Thomas Kolbein Bjørk Olsen
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Speed Meetings: Creating concrete opportunities
Professional networking was a central part of the programme. The curated speed meetings at the European Film Market offered selected composers focused one-to-one conversations with international film industry representatives. These structured encounters created direct access to potential collaborators. As reflected in the strong participation and engagement, the format continues to be an important platform for connecting Nordic composers with the wider European and international market. |
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Panels and conversations: Collaboration in focus
Dialogue and knowledge-sharing shaped this year's programme. At the European Film Market, a panel discussion between composers and producers explored the realities behind film music production, from early creative involvement, to budgets and the impact of new technologies. The conversation highlighted both the artistic and practical dimensions of collaboration within today’s film industry. In addition, the Women in Film Composing gathering, organised in collaboration with the Alliance for Women Film Composers, created an open space for discussion, networking and shared professional experiences. The session highlighted the importance of inclusion and representation within the field. |
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Photos by Thomas Kolbein Bjørk Olsen
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Photos by Thomas Kolbein Bjørk Olsen
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The HARPA Nordic Film Music Award
One highlight of the programme was the HARPA Nordic Film Music Award ceremony, where composer Panu Aaltio won the prestigious award for his score for the film Little Siberia. 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 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. |
Photos by Thomas Kolbein Bjørk Olsen
The HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award 2026 nominees
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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The full programme
The composer organizations of the five Nordic countries held the Nordic Film Music Days 2026 in Berlin, February 13–16. The attendees were able to connect with fellow composers, gain insight from leading voices int he music and film industry and experience film screenings and other curated events. During the The Nordic Film Music Days, the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award is handed out for outstanding work on a feature film, documentary, or TV series.
Stories Behind the Cue (by Screen Composers Guild of Canada)
Friday 13.02.2026
17:00-18:30 @ Orchestral Tools Headquarters
A special live event featuring “Stories Behind the Cue” — a curated international panel of composers sharing insights into their creative processes, challenges, and inspirations behind their film and television compositions. Composers engage each other in conversations about their work: production tips, political stories with the film crew, inside look at spotting notes, recording session horror stories, etc.
Panelists:
Freya Arde, Composer (DE)
Anna Berg, Composer (NO)
Amanda Brown, Composer (AU)
Daisy Coole, Composer (UK)
Lisa Nordström, Composer (SE)
The panel will be moderated by Rebecca Everett, Member of the Board, SCGC (CA).
Networking reception
Friday 13.02.2026
18:30–21:00 @ Orchestral Tool Headquarters
A relaxed environment for collaboration and connection among composers, producers and partners. Nordic participants can contact their national member organization for an invitation.
Walk & talk with fellow composers
Saturday 14.02.2026
10:30–11:30 @ Motel One -> European Film Market
Meet your fellow composers! A casual walk from Motel One to the European Film Market provides you with a chance to meet your colleagues. Wandering through Tiergarten in a company is a healthy way to start the day. Meet up at the lobby bar at 10.30, and we will take you from there!
The Dynamics of Composing for Film (in collaboration with ECSA, co-funded by Creative Europe)
Saturday 14.02.2026
11:45–12:45 @ European Film Market
Behind every successful score lies a complex set of relationships between director, producer, composer and editor — shaped by artistic vision, time pressure, budgets, temp tracks, and shifting creative priorities.
This panel explores how film music is really made from idea to finished product. Where do conflicts typically arise? How early should composers be involved? And how do workflow, technology, and tightening production schedules affect creative freedom? We’ll also look ahead to a rapidly changing future — from remote collaboration and virtual production to the growing impact of AI on authorship, speed, and the value of music in film.
Our panel brings together perspectives from across the filmmaking ecosystem:
Chiara Sambuchi (IT) — Documentary filmmaker and board member of the Federation of European Screen Directors (FERA)
Matthew Whiteside (GD-SCT) — Composer, sync agent, and HARPA Award international jury member
Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (NO) — Producer of Oscar-nominated "Sentimental Value”/ Eye Eye Pictures
Moderated by composer and artist Torgny Amdam.
Speed meetings
Saturday 14.02.2026
13:00–14:15 @ European Film Market
The preselected composers will meet up with Sydney Levine at 12:50 to conduct speed meetings with film industry professionals. Composers who are not a part of the speed meeting will kindly be asked to leave the room.
Contract workshop by composer Flemming Nordkrog
Saturday 14.02.2026
15:00–16:30 @ Felleshus Auditorium
It has never been more important to be able to negotiate a fair contract, but contracts tend to get more and more complicated and difficult to understand. In this workshop we will mainly focus on the different right issues (publishing rights, re-use rights and moral rights) but also look into how we can valorise our work and negotiate decent budgets.
Hosted by Flemming Nordkrog.
CASE STUDY: "Quisling – The Final Days"
Saturday 14.02.2026
16:45–17:45 @ Felleshus Auditorium
A fine example of true Nordic collaboration! Professionals throughout the Nordic countries came together to make a HARPA Award nominated film. The case will be revealed from the different points of view of the makers and it will open the collaboration and production process cross-borders.
Panelists include:
Jonas Colstrup composer
Viktor Orri Árnason soloist
Finn Gjerdrum producer
Kristina Börjeson, the co-producer
The panel will be moderated by Reetta Turula, BusinessOulu/North Finland Film Commission
HARPA Nordic Film Music Award Event
Saturday 14.02.2025
Opening reception & meet the nominated composers
19:00–20:00 @ Felleshus exhibition area
HARPA Award Ceremony
20:00–20:30 @ Felleshus exhibition area
Film screenings & composer interviews
Sunday 15.02.2026
10:00–19:15 @ Felleshus Auditorium
10:00 Quisling – The Final Days (147 mins); Jonas Colstrup interview at 12:30
13:00 Dreams - Drømmer (110 mins); Anna Berg interview at 14:50
15:00 Poems: A Journey Through Icelandic Poetry (67 mins); Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir and Viktor Orri Árnason interview at 16:20
16:45 Raptures - Rörelser (148 mins); no composer interview follows
Women in Film Composing - an informal meeting
Sunday 15.02.2026
12:00-14:00 @ the Canteen at Felleshus - Nordische Botschaften
In collaboration with the Alliance for Women Film Composers, this networking session invites women working in film composing to connect around shared experiences and professional insights. Through small-group discussions on collaboration, diversity, and cross-cultural creativity, participants can broaden their networks. The session begins with a women-only segment and opens to all attendees in the second part starting at 13:15.
Tour of European Film Market
Monday 16.02.2026
09:00–10:30 @ European Film Market
Stories Behind the Cue (by Screen Composers Guild of Canada)
Friday 13.02.2026
17:00-18:30 @ Orchestral Tools Headquarters
A special live event featuring “Stories Behind the Cue” — a curated international panel of composers sharing insights into their creative processes, challenges, and inspirations behind their film and television compositions. Composers engage each other in conversations about their work: production tips, political stories with the film crew, inside look at spotting notes, recording session horror stories, etc.
Panelists:
Freya Arde, Composer (DE)
Anna Berg, Composer (NO)
Amanda Brown, Composer (AU)
Daisy Coole, Composer (UK)
Lisa Nordström, Composer (SE)
The panel will be moderated by Rebecca Everett, Member of the Board, SCGC (CA).
Networking reception
Friday 13.02.2026
18:30–21:00 @ Orchestral Tool Headquarters
A relaxed environment for collaboration and connection among composers, producers and partners. Nordic participants can contact their national member organization for an invitation.
Walk & talk with fellow composers
Saturday 14.02.2026
10:30–11:30 @ Motel One -> European Film Market
Meet your fellow composers! A casual walk from Motel One to the European Film Market provides you with a chance to meet your colleagues. Wandering through Tiergarten in a company is a healthy way to start the day. Meet up at the lobby bar at 10.30, and we will take you from there!
The Dynamics of Composing for Film (in collaboration with ECSA, co-funded by Creative Europe)
Saturday 14.02.2026
11:45–12:45 @ European Film Market
Behind every successful score lies a complex set of relationships between director, producer, composer and editor — shaped by artistic vision, time pressure, budgets, temp tracks, and shifting creative priorities.
This panel explores how film music is really made from idea to finished product. Where do conflicts typically arise? How early should composers be involved? And how do workflow, technology, and tightening production schedules affect creative freedom? We’ll also look ahead to a rapidly changing future — from remote collaboration and virtual production to the growing impact of AI on authorship, speed, and the value of music in film.
Our panel brings together perspectives from across the filmmaking ecosystem:
Chiara Sambuchi (IT) — Documentary filmmaker and board member of the Federation of European Screen Directors (FERA)
Matthew Whiteside (GD-SCT) — Composer, sync agent, and HARPA Award international jury member
Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (NO) — Producer of Oscar-nominated "Sentimental Value”/ Eye Eye Pictures
Moderated by composer and artist Torgny Amdam.
Speed meetings
Saturday 14.02.2026
13:00–14:15 @ European Film Market
The preselected composers will meet up with Sydney Levine at 12:50 to conduct speed meetings with film industry professionals. Composers who are not a part of the speed meeting will kindly be asked to leave the room.
Contract workshop by composer Flemming Nordkrog
Saturday 14.02.2026
15:00–16:30 @ Felleshus Auditorium
It has never been more important to be able to negotiate a fair contract, but contracts tend to get more and more complicated and difficult to understand. In this workshop we will mainly focus on the different right issues (publishing rights, re-use rights and moral rights) but also look into how we can valorise our work and negotiate decent budgets.
Hosted by Flemming Nordkrog.
CASE STUDY: "Quisling – The Final Days"
Saturday 14.02.2026
16:45–17:45 @ Felleshus Auditorium
A fine example of true Nordic collaboration! Professionals throughout the Nordic countries came together to make a HARPA Award nominated film. The case will be revealed from the different points of view of the makers and it will open the collaboration and production process cross-borders.
Panelists include:
Jonas Colstrup composer
Viktor Orri Árnason soloist
Finn Gjerdrum producer
Kristina Börjeson, the co-producer
The panel will be moderated by Reetta Turula, BusinessOulu/North Finland Film Commission
HARPA Nordic Film Music Award Event
Saturday 14.02.2025
Opening reception & meet the nominated composers
19:00–20:00 @ Felleshus exhibition area
HARPA Award Ceremony
20:00–20:30 @ Felleshus exhibition area
Film screenings & composer interviews
Sunday 15.02.2026
10:00–19:15 @ Felleshus Auditorium
10:00 Quisling – The Final Days (147 mins); Jonas Colstrup interview at 12:30
13:00 Dreams - Drømmer (110 mins); Anna Berg interview at 14:50
15:00 Poems: A Journey Through Icelandic Poetry (67 mins); Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir and Viktor Orri Árnason interview at 16:20
16:45 Raptures - Rörelser (148 mins); no composer interview follows
Women in Film Composing - an informal meeting
Sunday 15.02.2026
12:00-14:00 @ the Canteen at Felleshus - Nordische Botschaften
In collaboration with the Alliance for Women Film Composers, this networking session invites women working in film composing to connect around shared experiences and professional insights. Through small-group discussions on collaboration, diversity, and cross-cultural creativity, participants can broaden their networks. The session begins with a women-only segment and opens to all attendees in the second part starting at 13:15.
Tour of European Film Market
Monday 16.02.2026
09:00–10:30 @ European Film Market
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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