A group of filmmakers and educators from Iceland, Sweden and Greenland have spent the week in Akureyri and Húsavík for a five-day workshop, laying the foundation for a new Nordic collaboration focused on young voices in rural filmmaking.
The project, titled Nordic Film Path, brings together professionals working in film, theatre and education, all with a shared goal: to create opportunities for young people in rural areas to develop their storytelling skills and connect across borders.
Participants in the workshop are: Maya Lindh and Siggi Holm from Sweden, Malik Kleist and Hanne M. Sørensen from Greenland, and Jenný Lára Arnórsdóttir and Örlygur Hnefill Örlygsson from Iceland.
Building something beyond film
The upcoming project will culminate in an eight-day youth film camp in Sweden this August, where selected participants from the three countries will learn all aspects of filmmaking, from scriptwriting and acting to cinematography, sound and editing, before producing their own short films.
But the ambition goes beyond technical training. “It’s not only about teaching filmmaking,” says Swedish filmmaker Maya Lindh. “It’s about giving young people a voice, strengthening their confidence, and creating a sense of community.”
Her experience working with youth in Sweden has shown how powerful film can be as a tool for inclusion and connection. Projects bringing together local youth and refugees, she explains, have led to improved language skills, stronger social bonds and increased self-confidence among participants.
A need in rural communities
Across all three countries, participants highlighted a shared challenge: limited access to film education and creative opportunities outside major urban centres.
“In rural areas, we don’t always have the same access to activities or platforms to express ourselves,” says Jenný Lára Arnórsdóttir, who runs a theatre school for young people in Akureyri. “Film is a powerful way to make voices heard, especially because it can travel beyond the place where it is created.”
In Greenland, where the film industry is still developing, access to funding and professional pathways remains a key challenge. Malik Kleist, a filmmaker and board chairman of the newly established Greenlandic Film Institute, sees the project as an important step forward.
“This is about building networks,” he says. “If young people connect across countries, it opens doors, not just creatively, but also for future collaboration and funding opportunities.”
From local stories to international screens
A central theme of the project is the importance of storytelling rooted in local culture and lived experience.
Young people today have unprecedented access to technology, but as participants emphasized, tools alone are not enough.
“They all have 4K cameras in their pockets,” says Siggi Holm, a filmmaker and educator based in Sweden. “But what really matters is the story and the heart behind it. And that is very strong among young people in rural areas.”
The workshops in Akureyri and Húasvík also highlighted the potential of connecting local infrastructure with international collaboration. Film Húsavík, for example, has been developing film education programs and facilities in North Iceland, including a studio and an upcoming cinema, creating new opportunities for young filmmakers in the region.
Looking ahead
The Nordic Film Path project is planned as a three-year collaboration, with film camps taking place in Sweden this year, followed by Iceland and Greenland in the coming years.
For participants, the long-term vision is clear: to build a sustainable Nordic network where young filmmakers can meet, collaborate and continue creating beyond the project itself.
“My hope is that they come back inspired,” says Örlygur Hnefill Örlygsson, creative director of Film Húsavík. “That they start their own projects, festivals, and creative communities. That’s how you build something that lasts.”
