Film and gaming policy

Government policy instruments must be designed to address these changes and facilitate an innovative, competitive industry within Norway, as well as access to a wide range of good-quality Norwegian audiovisual productions.

The grants in the film industry are aimed at facilitating

• a diverse range of high-quality films throughout the country
• equality and diversity both in front of and behind the camera
• a strong, sustainable industry
• market penetration for Norwegian productions nationally and internationally

The grants in the gaming industry are aimed at facilitating

• a varied range of high-quality Norwegian computer games
• a professional and diverse gaming industry
• market penetration for Norwegian computer games
• an inclusive and accessible gaming culture

The Norwegian Film Institute (NFI) works within a framework of objectives and resources established by the Ministry with a view to achieving the goals of the Government’s film and gaming policy.

NFI administers policy instruments relating to the development, production, launching and dissemination of films, series and computer games. NFI also administers the incentive scheme for film and series productions and provides funding for co-productions with other countries. Furthermore, NFI facilitates the promotion of Norwegian productions at international festivals, funding forums, sales markets and trade fairs.

Through courses, workshops and seminars and the sharing of knowledge, NFI fosters the further development of expertise in the audiovisual industry in Norway.

NFI stimulates interest in the history of film via Cinemateket in Oslo, and provides funding to regional Cinematekets as well as the curation of films for streaming services. NFI also promotes the use of film in schools to ensure that children and young people have positive experiences with film.

Gaming strategy for the period 2024-2026

• Time for games – the Government’s gaming strategy 2024-2026 (Norwegian only)

The Norwegian Government presented a new gaming strategy in December 2023. The new strategy has the following objectives:

• A diverse and impactful selection of high-quality computer games
• Equality and diversity in Norwegian games and the Norwegian gaming industry
• Professionalism and growth in the Norwegian gaming industry
• An inclusive, safe and accessible gaming culture

Norwegian computer games and the Norwegian gaming industry are in a period of good development characterised by economic growth in the industry, a higher proportion of female developers and the release of high-quality games. At the same time, there are significant and untapped potential for the Norwegian games and gaming industry in terms of equality, commercial growth and cultural impact in Norway. One of the strategy’s main initiatives to that end is to strengthen the Norwegian Film Institute’s (NFI) grant schemes for the development and launch of Norwegian computer games. Among other things, the strategy presents a new automatic marketing scheme under the Norwegian Film Fund for grants for finalising computer games that have received development grants.

In addition, the strategy includes measures in the following areas:

• Strengthening regional film funds and film centers
• Strengthening the general business-oriented policy instruments and following up the Storting’s petition resolution for the Government to present a strategy for growth in the creative industry.

The strategy points to the strengths and the potential of gaming culture as a leisure activity, an expression of art and culture, for e-sport and as a tool for learning. At the same time, the strategy highlights significant challenges related to hate speech, insults and harassment in gaming culture. The strategy’s initatives in this area will help strengthen knowledge and expertise, activity and content, and the infrastructure for safe and inclusive meeting places, both physical and digital.

One of the most important measures is the establishment of a national competence centre for gaming culture under NFI, in collaboration with Kulturtanken and the Norwegian Media Authority. The mandate of the competence centre will be to collect, strengthen and share knowledge and expertise about computer games and gaming culture, primarily as a cultural expression, leisure activity and e-sport.

In order to strengthen content and activity in public spaces and events, the Government will, among other things, introduce a trial scheme under the NFI for grants for the purchase of computer games and computer game licenses to be used by children and young people in public spaces (libraries, leisure clubs etc.). The grant can also be used to organise physical and digital public events. The scheme targets both the dissemination of computer games as a cultural expression, and as a leisure activity and e-sport.

Regional film policy

The regional film centres and film funds currently receive grants for a variety of regional film initiatives. State grants are administered by regional film industry players according to the same regulations as the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI).

The regional film centres are to use the state funding for the development and production of short films and documentaries, the development and launch of computer games, competence-building and industry-promoting measures at the regional level, and initiatives aimed at children and young people. 

The regional film funds are intended to help increase the financial support for Norwegian filmmaking by obtaining regional/local funding of at least the same amount as the State support. The funds are also designed to build and strengthen a professional regional film industry and to promote greater diversity in forms of expression and target groups within Norwegian film production. The funds aim to invest their grant funding in audiovisual productions.

Sámi film

The International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) aims to maintain and develop Sámi film culture. ISFI receives subsidies from the State budget, and allocates grants to Sámi filmmakers in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The organisation also promotes indigenous films and collaboration between different filmmaking communities for indigenous peoples around the world. ISFI is a limited company owned by the Sámi Parliament and Kautokeino local authority.

Film dissemination

Cinemas are an important meeting place and arena for people to come together. They are also the most popular cultural activity in Norway. Throughout the year, cinemas, including the mobile cinema Bygdekinoen, reach a broad section of the population throughout Norway. Cinemas often serve as a gateway to film culture and film art. Digitisation, however, is challenging the cinema’s position in the market and in local communities around the country.

The Government aims to facilitate a decentralised cinema structure. The Ministry of Culture and Equality will therefore take a closer look at how the public sector can ensure good-quality, diverse cinema and film productions throughout the country going forward. In order to ensure that more films reach their audience, active film dissemination is also necessary. The Ministry aims to devise a strategy for cinema and dissemination in order to further develop this part of film policy in 2023.

Bygdekinoen

The mobile cinema, Bygdekinoen, screens productions in around 140 municipalities and thus makes a significant contribution to the decentralised cinema structure in Norway. The Government provides funding for the operation of Bygdekinoen.  

Filmparken AS

The State owns 77.6 per cent of the shares in Filmparken AS, which provides filmmaking facilities, including studios and office premises. The Government’s objective as owner is to facilitate the production of films in Norway and high-quality film production. Filmparken is in a phase of positive growth and is currently being developed in response to long-term changes in the market.

Creative Europe

Norway is a participant in the EU’s programme for the cultural and audiovisual sector, Creative Europe 2021–2027. The programme has a budget of EUR 2.4 billion for the period 2021–2027 and consists of grant schemes and various initiatives.

The main objectives of the programme are to

• promote cultural and linguistic diversity and cultural heritage
• increase competitiveness in the audiovisual sector

Through Creative Europe, Norwegian cultural and media actors gain access to European networks and projects, professional and artistic development, greater cultural and linguistic diversity, as well as a larger audience and market share.