Mission

Nordic Genre Lab exists to strengthen the Nordic genre film ecosystem by giving emerging filmmakers the training, mentorship, and industry connections they need to get their films made.

Genre cinema – horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action, thriller – has a massive global audience, yet Nordic genre filmmakers often lack dedicated support structures. Nordic Genre Lab fills that gap.

We believe the next wave of great genre films is coming from the North. We’re here to make sure the world sees them.

How It Works

Each year, Nordic Genre Lab selects a cohort of producer + director teams with genre feature film projects in development. Over two intensive days during Finnish Film Affair in Helsinki, teams participate in:

• Mentoring sessions
• Workshops
• Panel discussions
• Pitch training and a live pitch competition
• Matchmaking with industry professionals

Selected panels and workshops are also open to the public, making Nordic Genre Lab a gathering point for the broader Nordic genre community.

Partners

The Team

This page will be updated as the attending industry experts are confirmed.

TODD BROWN (Mentor)

With more than twenty years experience in the film industry, Todd Brown is an
accomplished film critic, festival and project market programmer, acquisitions and
development executive, and producer. With a particular focus on emerging talents within
the genre world he has established himself as a global leader and trend setter within that
space.
Brown is best known for his work at XYZ Films – the film production, finance and sales
company which he joined in 2009 as Head Of International Acquisitions. His first title at
XYZ Films hailed from a then-unknown Welsh writer-director based in Indonesia named
Gareth Evans. That picture, titled MERANTAU, would open a long running collaboration
between Evans and Brown that would include the global martial arts hits THE RAID:
REDEMPTION and THE RAID 2: BERANDAL – both released globally by Sony and widely
considered landmark martial arts hits – as well as hit Netflix Original features APOSTLE
(starring Dan Stevens) and HAVOC (starring Tom Hardy).
Through his seventeen years with XYZ Films, Brown would build upon his reputation for
finding truly world class talent early in their careers and encouraging them through a
process of smart, controlled growth. Talents supported by him in the earliest stages of
their careers who have gone on to broad global success include Aaron Moorehead and
Justin Benson (Marvel’s DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN, LOKI and MOON KNIGHT); Adam
Wingard (GODZILLA VS KONG); Emma Tammi (FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S); Michelle Garza
Cervera (THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE); Timo Tjahjanto (NOBODY 2, THE
BEEKEEPER 2); Matt Johnson (BLACKBERRY, currently in post on Anthony Bourdain biopic
TONY for A24); Ciaran Foy (SINISTER 2); Richie Mehta (DELHI CRIME); Gerard Johnstone
(M3GAN); Tommy Wirkola (VIOLENT NIGHT), and many more.
Brown’s work includes original features for major streamers – including Netflix’s Sundance
grand prize winning title I DON’T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANY MORE and the launch
title for Netflix in Indonesia, THE NIGHT COMES FOR US along with its acclaimed spin off
title THE SHADOW STRAYS – and theatrical cult classics such as Panos Cosmatos’ critical
and commercial hit MANDY. Of his upcoming titles, Kenji Tanigaki’s THE FURIOUS has
secured global theatrical distribution via Lionsgate with Chandler Levack’s 2025 TIFF hit
MILE END KICKS (starring EUPHORIA’s Barbie Ferreira) also guaranteed a significant
theatrical run in 2026. Both THE FURIOUS and MILE END KICKS currently sit at a perfect
100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
A staple on the global festival scene, Brown has been involved with more than fifty features
selected to the Toronto International Film Festival; more than thirty features selected to
Sundance and literally dozens more selected to Cannes, Venice, Berlin, SXSW, Tribeca,
Busan, London and other major events around the globe.

CLAIRE WILLATS (Co-Founder, Mentor)

Claire is a seasoned film executive with 30 years of experience spanning production, distribution, acquisitions, and commissioning at some of the biggest names in the industry — including Netflix, Universal Pictures International, and Film4.

As Director of Nordic Film at Netflix, Claire commissioned 15 films out of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, overseeing every stage from script and development through production, marketing, and launch. Among them was Troll, which became the number one non-English language film on Netflix, and successful Swedish hit Black Crab. She also acquired the Spanish hit Platform, which reached the same milestone and remains in the top ten. Beyond the big titles, Claire championed first-time filmmakers and forged a groundbreaking partnership with the Sami Film Institute, developing and launching Stolen — the first film on Netflix in the Sami language.

Before Netflix, Claire spent a decade at Universal Pictures International working across marketing, distribution, acquisitions, and development, and held roles at Film4 and STX. She is a three-time BIFA jury member and has mentored at Stowe Story Labs and the London Film School. She recently co-founded Two Magpies Entertainment with Katie Davidson, continuing her work as a producer and consultant.

LAURA LAAKSONEN (Co-Founder, Head of Program)

Laura is an agent, publicist and producer with over fifteen years of experience in export promotion across cultural and creative industries. She holds an MSc in Tech from Aalto University and an MA in Screenwriting, and has built a career that uniquely bridges the creative and business sides of filmmaking.
She served as Head of Industry at Finnish Film Affair (20, where she shaped one of the Nordics’ key co-production markets, curating projects, inviting 60–90 international guests annually, and launching initiatives like the Nordic Flair award. She went on to lead two of Finland’s most prominent international film festivals as Executive Director — first Tampere Film Festival, then Espoo Ciné — managing teams, budgets, and strategic development.
In 2023, she founded Riimu Talent Agency, representing approximately 30 screenwriters and directors in Finland, with a growing international focus.
In 2026 she co-founded Purr PR, a film PR agency serving European feature and short films in their festival launch and awards campaigning needs.