UP in english

The Norwegian Film Institute and Talent Norway have together launched the talent development scheme UP targeting female directors and producers working in film, documentary and TV drama.

The programme UP consists of 12 participants and focuses on the creative process, as well as on each individual’s development as filmmaker.

Each attendant receives a grant of NOK 50,000 (around €5,300) and access to professional workshops, networking and coaching. The goal is for at least 80% of participants to produce a feature film or TV-drama within three years after completing the training programme.

Stine Helgeland, Deputy Director, Communication, Insights & International Relations at the Norwegian Film Institute says: "In order to achieve a better gender balance in the film sector, we are completely dependent on everyone to join forces. We are therefore very pleased to be part of a collaboration with Talent Norway on a development programme for female filmmakers. This programme is one of several initiatives the NFI has implemented to achieve the 50/50 gender balance target by 2020.”

Commenting on the initiative, writer/director Iram Haq says she wished this programme was around when she started off in the film business. “I was unsure and insecure and hoped for an opportunity to exchange experience and lean on other people. To have someone who believes in you and strives for you will make a difference,” she said.

The programme consists of the following five components:

A grant of NOK 50.000 (€5.300)

30.000 NOK (€3100) for each participants individual mentoring, professional training

and courses. They decide how they want to spend the money.

Five workshops with top international names. These workshops centers around

communication in creative processes, tools for directing and working with actors, leadership, negotiation strategy, strategic positioning regarding international festivals, co-production/international funding.

Monthly 3-hour meetings in small groups discussing problem-spesific challenges that the women find themselves in. It can be a scene they need help solving in the edit, or a script they want feedback on, or just a work-related topic they need to talk about.

Mental training/coaching to learn how to better handle the rejection in our business.

Project Manger of UP 2018/2019 was Jannicke Stendal Hansen from the Norwegian Film Institute.
Working with this at Talent Norway is Maria Bock.

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