Overview

Nordic Genre Lab takes place September 23–25, 2026 during Finnish Film Affair in Helsinki. The program combines mentoring, workshops, panels, matchmaking, and a live pitch competition to give Nordic genre filmmakers the tools, connections, and visibility they need to move their projects forward.

Selected teams participate in the full program. Panels and select workshops are also open to the public.

Mentoring

Each selected producer + director team receives two dedicated mentor sessions with Claire Willats, covering:

• Script notes – dramaturgical and market-facing feedback on your screenplay
• Market notes – where does your project sit in the current genre landscape? How do you talk about it?

Additional mentoring with Todd Brown focuses on global genre market insights and strategic project positioning.

Pitch Training & Competition

Pitch Training

Before the competition, all teams receive dedicated pitch training sessions to refine their verbal pitch and visual materials.

Deck Consulting

Work with mentors to sharpen your pitch deck – from concept art to financial positioning.

Pitch Competition

Selected teams pitch live in front of a jury of top industry experts – sales agents, producers, financiers, and filmmakers. Winners receive post-production vouchers and other prizes.

Jury: Noëmie Devide (Goodfellas/France), Sydney Brumfield (Serchlight/US), Espen Aukan (screenwriter/Norway)

Workshops

Nordic Genre Lab offers 2 hands-on workshops, for selected teams. First Lecture will be held in person during Finnish Film Affair Friday Sept 25th 12:30-13:30 and the topic in Creating Social Media Buzz. Workshop is held by Samuli Kyttälä, a social media strategist. The second workshop will be organised online later in the fall of 2026.

Panel

Nordic Genre Lab hosts a panel discussion during Finnish Film Affair.

The Market is the Monster

The uncomfortable positioning questions nobody asks until it’s too late: language, casting, budget, festivals, and who actually programs, buys, and watches your film.

Panelists: Camille Gatin, Todd Brown, Claire Willats, Hanna Begholm, Roar Uthaug
Moderator: Laura Laaksonen

Where does the money actually come from now? Home video paid for genre cinema for thirty years, then the streamers paid for everything. Today both models are unwinding and nothing has replaced them. This panel maps that shift, and asks what it means for a Nordic genre film in development right now: language, casting, budget, festival strategy, and the uncomfortable question of who programs, buys and watches your film. And most importantly: who finances your film and why? Todd Brown, Claire Willats, Roar Uthaug, Camille Gatin and Hanna Bergholm work through where the market is heading next, with short case studies from their own films — on the positioning decisions that made all the difference. Q&A at the end the panel.

Selected teams also receive one-on-one meetings with panelists

Panels are open to all FFA attendees.

Matchmaking & Networking

Beyond structured sessions, Nordic Genre Lab creates dedicated matchmaking opportunities – connecting your team with:

• Sales agents
• Co-producers
• Financiers and investors
• Distributors
• Post-production partners
• Other Nordic genre filmmakers

Your full Finnish Film Affair accreditation gives you access to the broader industry program, networking events, screenings, and more.

Studio Visit

All selected teams visit Fireframe LED Screen Studio in Helsinki — Finland’s state-of-the-art virtual production facility. Experience the technology firsthand and explore how it can serve your project.

Schedule

WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

09:00–16:30 One-to-one mentoring sessions with Todd Brown and Claire Willats
16:45–17:45 Finnish Film Affair opening reception
18:00–19:30 FFA opening screening: Nightborn (dir. Hanna Bergholm)
19:30–21:30 Nordic Genre Lab opening reception (by invitation only)

THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

08:30–13:10 One-to-one mentoring sessions with Todd Brown and Claire Willats
13:25–14:15 NORDIC GENRE LAB PITCH — eight projects, five minutes each
Bio Rex
16:00–19:00 One-to-one matchmaking meetings with international industry guests
19:00–22:00 Sauna, dinner and the Nordic Genre Lab Award Ceremony in Löyly

FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

09:00–12:15 One-to-one mentoring sessions with Todd Brown
12:30–13:30 Creating Social Media Buzz / Samuli Kyttälä / Scandic Hub
14:00–15:00 The Market is the Monster Panel @Gilda
15:15–15:45 Bus transfer from Lasipalatsi to Fireframe Studio
15:45-17:00 Visit to Fireframe Studio
17:00-17:30 Bus transfer from Fireframe to Lasipalatsi
19:00-20:00 Closing reception at Kino K13
20:00-21:00 Surprise screening Kino K13