Nordic Documentary Producer Award Nominees 2026
Nordisk Panorama is proud to present the nominees for this year’s Nordic Documentary Producer Award.
The award honours a producer whose leadership, courage and willingness to take risks have helped develop emerging talent and advance documentary as an art form. The winner is selected collectively by the Nordisk Panorama board and will be announced at the Nordisk Panorama Awards Gala. The Award is a cash prize of EUR 10.000, sponsored by Nordisk Panorama and Nordic Producers’ Associations.
One producer from each of the five Nordic countries is nominated for work completed over the past five years. As nominations are coordinated by the national directors’ guilds, the award offers directors a unique opportunity to honour the producers who have supported them in bringing their creative visions to life.
Read on to meet this year’s nominees and discover excerpts from the directors’ motivations.
Helle Faber, Denmark
Motivation
“The Danish Film Directors nominate Halle Faber for the Producer Award for her outstanding contribution to documentary filmmaking. As a founder of Made in Copenhagen, she has consistently championed films that give voice to overlooked people and tackle difficult truths with courage and integrity.
This year, her work received international recognition when Mr. Nobody against Putin won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. From Enemies of Happiness and Warriors from the North to The Chocolate War, Helle Faber has built an exceptional body of work, proving that documentary film can be both deeply human and and politically significant. ” – The Danish Film Directors
Photo credit: Martin Bubandt
Juha Löppönen, Finland
Motivation
“Juha Löppönen combines creative insight with a calm and steady approach to filmmaking. He is widely respected for his ability to navigate challenging situations without losing sight of the bigger picture, creating trust among collaborators and allowing films to develop in a constructive environment.
Over the years, Löppönen has worked on a diverse range of documentary films and has played an important role in supporting new voices alongside established filmmakers. His contribution is often most visible in the coherence and confidence of the finished film. His work reflects a long-term commitment to documentary cinema and to the conditions that allow it to flourish.” – The Finnish Documentary Guild
Photo credit: Ilkka Saastamoinen
Kristín Andrea Þórðardóttir, Iceland
Motivation
“The Association of Icelandic Filmmakers nominates Kristín Andrea Þórðardóttir for Nordisk Panorama‘s Nordic Documentary Producer Award.
A producer, turned director, with over 20 years’ experience, Kristín‘s focus has been on creative documentary for the past decade. She is currently wrapping an ambitious documentary series and is involved in international documentary co-productions.
In recent years, Kristin has been at the helm of Skjaldborg Icelandic Documentary Film Festival while also serving the documentary community through other key roles. Her dedication, leadership, and creative achievements make her an outstanding representative of Iceland. ” – The Association of Icelandic Filmmakers
Photo credit: Patrik Ontkovic
Elisabeth Kleppe, Norway
Motivation
“Elisabeth Kleppe has been a producer & CEO in Aldeles in Bergen for 20 years, mainly working with local directing talent and stories close to home.
Along with colleagues Turid Rogne, Elin Sander and Eskild Sander Halvorsen she has created a strong foundation far from the centre of power in the capital. Her productions have created new opportunities, greater stability and higher artistic standards, benefitting the whole west coast of Norway.
She has proved that the audience craves stories they can relate to, and the documentary Havfolket (Seasiders, dir. Kleppe, Sander and Hylland Uhlving) sold more than 111.000 seats in theatres this winter.” – Norwegian Directors Association
Photo credit: Petronelle Halvorsen
Elin Kamlert, Sweden
Motivation
“The Swedish Film Directors nominate Elin Kamlert for Documentary Film Producer of the Year.
Elin Kamlert has distinguished herself trough several award-winning and socially engaged documentary films in recent years. Her films explore deeply human and enduringly relevant themes – an engagement that does not end on the screen, but is also reflected in the way she works.
With unwavering determination, unfailing optimism, and genuine warmth toward the people involved in her projects, her audiences, and the film industry as a whole, Kamlert has established herself as one of the brightest shining stars in the documentary film landscape. ” – The Swedish Film Directors
Photo credit: Jenny Baumgartner
The Nordic Documentary Producer Award is generously sponsored by Nordisk Panorama, the Danish Producers’ Association, Virke Norwegian Producers Association, Filmproducenternas Rättighetsförening (FRF), and the Icelandic Filmmakers Association.
