16.4.2024Do you have a talent for writing stories? Do you have a unique voice?
We seek scriptwriters and storytellers to participate in the Northern Script Program 2024.
Northern Script is a scriptwriting program aimed at 18-29-year-old writers living in the Nordic countries. This year we are also inviting writers from the Baltic countries to submit their work.
Northern Script is a program that supports the participants in finding their own voice and in developing their scriptwriting skills. Earlier experience in scriptwriting is preferable, but it is not required. You have to have willingness to learn and be ready to develop your skills. Our program supports unique storytellers who want to write and tell their own stories.
The deadline of your submission is 2 May 2024.
All who have submitted their work can join local scriptwriting workshops organised in partner Nordic countries. Based on the work done in the workshops, the Northern Script jury will shortlist 10 writers and their scripts. OSAO media school students will further select a maximum of three short film scripts for film production. What is more, the same 10 scriptwriters are chosen to participate in a scriptwriting camp during Oulu Children’s and Youth Film Festival in the north of Finland. The camp is totally free for the participants. Transportation, food, accommodation, international workshops, international film lecturers, local sights, Finnish sauna and film festival tickets to the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival are included.
Northern Script program is run together with its long-term partners Oulun Kansainvälinen Lasten- ja Nuorten Elokuvien Festivaali, Odense Filmværksted, BUFF and Icelandic Film School. The program is supported by the Nordic Culture Point.
If you are an aspiring scriptwriter with a talent of telling and writing stories – this program is for you! Submit your work through this link! (In order to submit, you need to have a working googlemail address. If you do not have a googlemail address, please send us an email to metka(at)mediametka . fi. We will then guide you how to submit.) [...]
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23.11.2023Sauna, Salmon & Karaoke
What a camp Northern Script had this year at the Oulu Children’s and Youth Film Festival!! The Faroese writer and Director, Andrias Høgenni put once again all his heart into the Northern Script workshops and listened to the needs of the Nordic scriptwriters with the utmost respect and empathy.
From the beginning it was clear that the Nordic scriptwriters have not come to the camp to rest. From morning until midnight the camp days were filled with the scriptwriting workshops and evening programme.
We arrived at Oulu rainstation early hours of Wednesday morning after which the whole group had a big buffet breakfast in a local cafeteria. After breakfast, the workshops started. In his first workshop Høgenni talked about the character creation and gave feedback from everyone’s script. Høgenni also put everyone to act in some of the scenes of the stories they invented in the workshops. This worked surprisingly well as many of the Nordic scriptwriters had acting as their background besides scriptwriting. The workshops were filled with laughter, enthusiasm and motivated writers.
In the evening all the scriptwriters and the Oulu Film festival guests were put on a bus which landed in the middle of snow and dark forest 30 minutes away from the center of Oulu.
There at Pehkolanlampi we were greeted with a tasty tar drink and delicious salmon soup. Afterwards everyone was invited to a sauna. Men and women separate sauna houses, of course.
There in the middle of 80 degrees of heat, the laughter and talk was at its best. The young writers were able to talk with the film guests and network with them. Some of us jumped to the cold snow between the sauna visits and some of us chose to have a tarot card reading in the sauna by the camp participant from Iceland, Gógó Bergmann. After the sauna, the networking among the Film Festival guests and the camp participants continued. At the end of the evening most of us went to a local karaoke bar where all of us were bonding around karaoke & film discussions.
Chilly Workshop & a Circus theme Masterclas
On Thursday straight after breakfast all the scriptwriters were encouraged to the streets of Oulu in the chilling minus temperatures. There out in the streets, the writers had to observe everyday pedestrians and make up a storyline for them. Back inside the writers in groups of two started writing their stories. The funny part was to change the writer of the story halfway through the exercise. This all led to funny and surprising storylines..
In the afternoon a German documentarist, Natalie Halla, showed the camp participants and the OSAO Vocational College Media students a document about a family circus life behind the scenes. Halla’s masterclass ended with a Q & A. Afterwards the Northern Script finalists and the local media students from OSAO had a common networking event where they all in teams of 4 answered Movie Quiz questions related to different movie soundtracks. Most of the Film soundtracks were from 1970’s and 80’s but the young scriptwriters and local media students surprised the Northerrn Script coordinator, Johanna Lappalainen, with their good knowledge on older films as well.
Pitching exercises in 2 different ways & A long feature Film
Whole Friday focused on how to pitch your script from two different perspectives. While Høgenni focused on how to hook the producer to like your script, Jenni Koski, Executive Director of Mediametka, focused more on the perspective of the producer and what kind of things the producer needs to hear in the pitching sessions. In the evening we all went together to the Oulu Children’s and Youth Film Festival to see a Finnish Film called ‘This is Normal’ by Ali Al-Saffu. After the film, there was a Q & A.
This is Normal
The film tells the lives of four youngsters living in the East Helsinki suburbs. Ali, Nedim, Shahin and Flamur are old friends, whose paths have gone different ways. Ali decides to do a radical change in his life that will affect everyone.
Awards Ceremony and a lot more karaoke..
Saturday was an exciting day for the camp participants. In the morning everyone had to pitch their own script in front of and international Jury.The International Jury members were:
Finnish Film Director and producer Tertta Saarikko
Icelandic actress and scriptwriter Kolbrún Anna Björnsdóttir
Finnish Film Director Ali Al-Saffu
All the Nordic scriptwriters were slightly nervous before entering the pitching room but everyone was extremely happy afterwards. The point wasn’t to nail your pitch but to learn from it. The best part of the pitching exercise was to get much valued feedback from it.
In the afternoon there was much anticipated the Oulu Children’s and Youth Film Festival Awards Ceremony in which both the Nordic scriptwriters and the OSAO Vocational College Media students were invited to the stage to be thanked for their participation in the Northern Script 2023 programme. The highpoint of the Awards Ceremony was to see the three magnificent Short Films shot and edited by OSAO Vocational College Media students. The scripts were written by Northern Script finalists
Lasse Krintel -Party Clown
Gógó Bergmann –Útrás
Frederik Grønning – A Modern democracy
The themes of the films were dealing with subjects such as self-doubt, self-awareness, democracy & finding your self. The films were received well by the festival audience and they all got round of a applause afterwards. After the Awards Ceremonoy both the Northern Script finalists and the local Media students were invited into a private Ceremony of their own where we got to see some behind the scenes of the three short films and got to network a bit more. The night ended with a dinner with the Festival Film quests and an unforgettable karaoke night. Karaoke seem to bond the Nordic people. There in the middle of the night in a local karaoke bar all the Nordic scriptwriters one after one went to sing in front of a local crowd and gave us powerfull musical performances. The night culminated in a common song by the Beatles ‘Hey Jude’ The main singer was the camp leader, Andrias Høgenni , and the nananaa -choir was all the Northern Script scriptwriters together. A night to remember rest of our lives for sure!!
Quiet but content night bus trip
After a almost a week long Northern Script camp, it was time to say Goodbye to Oulu and the Northern Script camp. However, the long hours put to the workshops, film people networking, hectic camp schedule & the evening programme took their toll on the young writers and the the atmosphere in the night bus from Oulu to the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport was quiet but content & happy.
Feedback from the camp participants
‘What I didn’t expect was to bond so closely in such a short time, learn so much not only about writing but myself and others as creatives’ (Noora Jalokinos (27) Finland)
Thank you and the rest of the Northern Script for this huge experience. I feel very lucky and thankful for the week in Finland – and would love to do it all over again. Lovely people and I feel motivated to keep on writing scripts and telling stories (Lasse Krintel (23) Denmark)
‘We were given different writing challenges and focused a lot on pitching and preparing ideas which was perfect for me since I am at the stage where I want to start pitching my ideas soon.’ (Rebekka Rut Svansdottir (23) Iceland)
‘The whole Northern Script experience was definitely one of the best in my life and I will carry the lessons and memories from there with me hopefully to the grave.’ (Vili Jauhiainen (24) Finland)
‘This week was exactly what I needed and didn’t even know I did.A week filled with inspiration, laughter, bonding and surprisingly, KARAOKE nights!’ (Gógó Bergmann (24) Iceland)
‘Being part of the Northern Script Alumni program was super inspiring. The workshops verified my skills and interest for scriptwriting, and after the camp I felt like I’ve learned more about myself as a writer. ‘ (Jaana Jääskeläinen (27) Finland)
After thoughts
It is fair to say that Northern Script 2023 camp was very successful creating long-lasting friendships. The scriptwriters bonded and connected beautifully with each other and I have no doubt in my mind that we will hear about these scriptwriters in the future!! When people share the same passion and put their heart in this camp, the result is just magical.
Northern Script 2023 thanks all the Nordic scriptwriters & the camp leader Andrias Høgenni for their 100℅ input in the camp!
Written by Northern Script coordinator Johanna Lappalainen
Photos by Johanna Lappalainen and the Northern Script 2023 finalists’ archive [...]
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13.11.2023This year’s Northern Script camp is just two days away. The camp will be organized together with the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival between 15th -19th of November 2023.
Ten Nordic scriptwriters from all over the Nordic countries are gathering tomorrow in Helsinki from where we start our trip towards Oulu where the camp is held. This year’s camp is special as the camp is only directed to previous year’s alumni. The standard of writing has been extremely high this year showing a glimpse of a very bright future for the next generation of Nordic film makers.
The camp leader is Faroese writer and director Andrias Høgenni who Northern Script was lucky enough to have as a camp leader also last year. Andrias is energetic and his way of teaching is captivating. His workshops will include a ‘writer’s room’ type of working environment where the participants write, brainstorm, pitch and develop their writing skills . The task of Mr.Høgenni is to mentor and coach the ten chosen Northern Script finalists in their professional development as a scriptwriter.
Northern Script works closely together with Oulu Vocational College. Each year the 2nd and 3rd year media students of Oulu Vocational College produce, shoot and edit three Northern Script short films. The scripts are made by the Northern Script camp finalists and the shooting, acting and editing by the media students from Oulu Vocational College. At the end of the camp in the Oulu Film Festival Awards Ceremony, the finished films will be presented in front of the festival audience.
Throughout the camp, there will be collaboration between the local Media students and the camp finalists strengthening the international connection between the two. This year we have also increased the networking opportunities with the finalists and the film professionals. On the 18th of November there is a special International Pitching Event where the finalists get a chance to pitch their own script in front of a Nordic Film jury.
The Northern Script Camp finishes with a celebration with the local Media students and the Nordic scriptwriters in a hope to unite Nordic Film students more tightly with each other.
You can follow Northern Script on Instragram #mediametka where there will be daily articles about theNorthern Script camp.
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Article written by Johanna Lappalainen
Photos by Johanna Lappalainen [...]
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6.11.2023Northern Script organizes a Nordic scriptwriting camp each year in Oulu together with the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival. All together 10 Nordic scriptwriters gather around in Oulu for a week to brainstorm, pitch and develop their writing skills. The camp leader is Faroese writer and director Andrias Høgenni.
The Northern Script Camp culminates in three co-produced short films by the Northern Script 2023 Alumni Camp finalists and OSAO Media students. The short films will be shown at the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival Awards Ceremony 18th of November.
Here proudly presenting all the Northern Script finalists from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark Iceland.
FINLAND
NAME: Vili Jauhiainen
AGE: 24
COUNTRY: Finland
‘I participated in the Northern Script Alumni programme, because I saw there an immense potential for honing my screenwriting skills. The opportunity to receive constructive feedback and refine my work is a rare and invaluable resource, one from which I consistently draw lessons. As a fervent creative, writing serves as my most instinctive mode of self-expression. I find immense joy in diving into various forms of creative writing, searching for the best possible canvases for my stories to come alive. From crafting a backstory for a horror game to scripting a radio play featuring a sauna elf, and currently, developing a fantasy world for a physical card game, I’m always looking for new ways to expand my storytelling skills. My journey as a screenwriter has been blessed with amazing opportunities. I had the privilege of contributing to the 5th season of the animated series “Hullu – hullumpi – yläaste”, an endeavor that earned a nomination for the children and youth program of the year in the esteemed Golden Venla Awards of 2021.’
NAME: Jaana Jääskeläinen
AGE: 27
COUNTRY: Finland
‘I graduated from Metropolia UAS with a degree in film and television as a screenwriter/content producer. After graduation I worked as a screenwriter in some Youtube and television productions while becoming a mother. What inspires me as a writer is to bring more diversity to the Finnish television/film representation, and to make more fluent dialogue for characters. This year I participated in the Northern Script Alumni programme to get some boost and confidence for writing after a long maternity leave. My plan for the future is to study a master’s degree in screenwriting at Aalto University.’
NAME: Noora Jalokinos
AGE: 27
COUNTRY: Finland
“I participated in the Northern Script competition mainly for the opportunity of getting feedback for my writing, but also for having a good experience from being a finalist in 2020. I’ve graduated from the Turku Arts Academy focusing on Film & Media with a final thesis on
Screenwriting. After graduating I’ve worked with commercial scripts, but I’m trying to turn my focus back into fiction. My passion is in writing about the diversity in human experience and creating minimal but moving stories. Previously I’ve won a feminist short film competition “Tärkeä askel” by Naisten Linja ry (2016). I hope to keep learning about writing and to meet more amazing writers along the way.”
SWEDEN
NAME: Mathilde Graf
AGE: 21
COUNTRY: Sweden
I discovered my love of theater when I was little and have been studying acting ever since. However, I am passionate about several different art forms in addition to theater such as dance, singing and music, painting, crafting and of course writing stories. Writing has mostly been a side interest and now, when I heard about this contest, I saw the opportunity to delve into my writing a little more.
NORWAY
NAME:Brage Norløff Grindeland
AGE: 24
COUNTRY: Norway
‘Hey, my name is Brage Norløff Grindeland and I am a 24 year old filmmaker from Norway. I have bachelors in directing and I, together with Kjetil Heimdall, have written and directed two short films. I have a background on the stage and a year with musical theatre. I am for the time being working on the reality-television show “Farmen” as an editorial assistant, and we are currently in the works with new scripts for future short films.’
NAME:Kjetil Heimdall-Hansen
AGE: 24
COUNTRY: Norway
‘I’m currently finishing my bachelors degree in film directing, where I met my screenwriting partner, Brage N. Grindeland. Nowadays I primarily write and direct with Brage, and we have several exciting projects in development, but I’ve been writing and making films for as long as I can remember. My childhood was defined by watching old classic movies with my dad, and running around in the woods with my cousins, shooting films with an old video camera. Though I waited quite a while before actively pursuing a filmmaking career, I am now dedicating all my time and energy into improving as much as possible both as a writer and director. I’m always on the lookout for new opportunities to learn, and Northern Script has given me the perfect chance to do just that.’
DENMARK
NAME: Lasse Krintel
AGE: 23
Country: Denmark
‘I applied for Northern Script to challenge myself and my scriptwriting. As an actor I have read many scripts as it is the foundation for any production I am involved in, and It has planted a seed of interest and motivation which I am now trying to water. I have limited scriptwriting experience, but my creativity and willing to learn has gifted me with this opportunity at Northern Script. I hope to keep developing as a writer, and with the combination of my acting, I desire to keep on telling important stories in the future.’
NAME: Frederik Grønning
AGE: 27
COUNTRY: Denmark
‘With a start as an educated actor, I always found great freedom in analyzing scripts and writing my own scenes. In the last part of acting school, I went all in on my writing and started working behind the camera. Ever since, I have considered scriptwriting and filmmaking as not merely a hobby, but as the creative force that keeps me going. With different talented crews I have written and created a handful of short films and one miniseries. I applied to Northern Script in hopes of learning even more about scriptwriting. I believe that it is a profession that requires constant adaptation and can never fully be comprehended. There is always more and new exciting things to learn. I therefore take every available opportunity to strengthen my skills and understanding of scriptwriting’
ICELAND
NAME: Rebekka Rut Svansdottir
AGE: 23
COUNTRY: Iceland
‘I really enjoy writing and it’s what I spend most of my free time doing. I went to the Northern Script Camp last November where I learned a lot and had a great time. That’s why I had to apply again. I’m always looking to get better, meet fellow writers and be involved in the filmmaking community. I completed film school in 2022. Currently, I’m studying Italian at the Icelandic University and working on different writing projects, some on my own and some with collaborators.’
NAME: Guðbjörg Bergmann Skarphéðinsdóttir
AGE: 24
COUNTRY: Iceland
‘I have always taken a great liking to writing, as a child I would write short stories both in Icelandic and English and being a drama student as well I have found that story and character creation is incredibly fascinating to me. As to Joining the Northern Script 2023, to me it’s a great opportunity to learn something new, write more and create with likeminded people & it sounds like a good time!!
More detailed information about the Northern Script camp coming next week!!
Article written by Northern Script coordinator Johanna Lappalainen
Photo by Johanna Lappalainen
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3.10.2023Northern Script 2023 Alumni workshops in Iceland were held between 2nd & 23rd of September. The workshop mentor was Kolbrún Anna Björnsdóttir an Icelandic actress and scriptwriter from Reykjavik.
THE WORKSHOPS IN FOUR SESSIONS
The Icelandic workshops were conducted in four sessions, the first four Saturdays in September. Each session was two hours long. There were seven participants, but two of them had to miss some of the sessions due to a filming commitment, so five scripts were worked on and handed in for the competition.
Each participant brought their own script to work on during the workshop. The workshop was a lecture/conversation based learning experience, with the group participating all the time, although the focus was on one script at a time, thus creating a basis for all participants to benefit from communal problem solving and brainstorming, under the guidance and leadership of the teacher.
The last session of the four, was divided between the participants so they received one-on-one tutorage on their individual scripts, focused on their individual needs. The emphasis for the workshop was on finding a strong theme, or thesis, for the script and looking at how that theme informs the structure, story, characters and each scene.
FEEDBACK FROM THE WORKSHOPS
The five scripts benefited from the workshop and the final versions made both participants and teacher proud. The themes became clear, the main character‘s journey or arc were formed through the theme, and each scene was shaped by the need to convey a clear story.
BIOGRAPHY – KOLBRÚN ANNA BJÖRNSDÓTTIR
Kolbrún Anna is an Icelandic actress and scriptwriter, working both on stage and screen since her graduation from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Kolbrún Anna co-founded and ran two independent theatre companies: Theatre of the Republic and Ekka Dance Theatre, the latter pioneering in dance theatre in Iceland.
Kolbrún Anna has been working as a teacher in addition to her work as an artist and is currently the Head of Acting and Movement at the Icelandic Film School. She is also a published author of children’s fiction and educational materials. Kolbrún Anna recently wrote and acted in the 8-part TV-drama FRACTURES, airing in 2022, based on her original idea. The series was co-written with Vala Thorsdottir and co-created with Vala Thorsdottir and Eva Sigurdardottir. [...]
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28.9.2023Northern Script 2023 Alumni workshops in Sweden were held between 22nd & 30th of August. The workshop mentor was Torbjörn Jansson, a Swedish writer & script consultant who is currently based in Uppsala, Sweden.
PITCH STOP WORKSHOPS
The Pitch Stop work-shop provided five emerging screenwriters with the opportunity to listen in and get feed-back on their first draft short-film scripts as well as getting hands-on tools for development and re-writing.
During the course of the 3 x 90’ on-line workshop, Jansson focused on fine tuning the projects in accordance with their authors intended emotional core. Thus preparing it for a writer’s draft communicating the script’s ‘perfect pitch’, i.e. balancing EMOTION, STORY and RHYTHM.
During the first session, writers tuned in to the project as well as author’s personal pitch. By talking about movies in a self referential way, writers homed in on the art of abstracting ideas and emotions.
The second session was focusing on reading the scripts, casting the group as actors. The author of each project listened in: did it sound right? Did the new voices – outside of the authors head – generate new ideas or alternative readings of the story? Writers discussed the script’s emotion, story and rhythm, referencing Walter Murch’s ‘The Rule of Six’.
The third session wrapped it all up in preparation for the final re-write, by having the writers pitch their projects log-line, as well as following up on the core impetus of their projects.
After the first and last sessions , there were one-on-one feedback sessions. As much as the nitty gritty of script writing is hard work (transpiration), fuelling the creative energy (inspiration) and projecting it in the right direction: that’s when the magic happens!
The meeting between people is the essence of all storytelling, and the medium is the message: the script is an audio-visual spell, creating inner visions to be materialized and projected on the screen, there to be met and connected with the audience.
And it doesn’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing!
BIOGRAPHY – TORBJÖRN JANSSON
Writer & script consultant Torbjörn Jansson, has been developing international kids and (young) adult content in all media, on all platforms, for over 30 years. Having been working both as a development executive as well as talent himself, his approach as a script consultant is to help define synergies between creative and producery matters from the get go. Torbjörn’s own credits include animated tv series such as PETTSON & FINDUS and CREEPSCHOOL, as well as four theatrically released feature films. Torbjörn holds a degree in Media Production and History of Science & Ideas and is currently based in Uppsala, Sweden. [...]
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28.9.2023Northern Script 2023 Alumni workshops in Denmark were held between 23rd of August & 5th of September. The workshop mentor was Christian Bergstrøm, a Danish filmmaker and external lecturer from University of Southern Denmark.
WORKSHOPS IN THREE PHASES
The process and development of the alumni scripts was arranged in three phases.
First there was a 60-minute group session, where the goal was to get an overall feeling and understanding of the process, script ideas and the future development. In the second phase each alumni got written feedback and feedforward on the rough draft. In the last and third phases each alumni got a 30-minute long development and feedforward session based on their intention with the script and the written feedback.
All the sessions were online.
FEEDBACK OF THE WORKSHOPS
Workshop leader, Christian Bergstrøm notes that all writers participated actively and developed their stories for the better during the workshops. The feedback from the participants backs this up as the scriptwriters have been positive throughout via email stating that the workshops were a nice opportunity and exciting.
At the end of the workshops five writers decided to submit new drafts of their projects for further consideration. The scripts were read anonymously by the film consultant at Odense Film Workshop and two scripts and writers were selected for Oulu Int. Film Festival. The eligibility of both the writers and projects were confirmed by the Northern Script mentor Christian Bergstrøm.
NORTHERN SCRIPT DENMARK 2023 ALUMNI FINALISTS
The two chosen finalists from Denmark year 2023 are:
Frederik Grønning Ett moderne demokrati
Lasse Krintel Festklown
BIOGRAPHY – CHRISTIAN BERGSTRØM
Christian Skaarup Bergstrøm is an educated film director from the alternative Danish film school 18 FRAMES, as well as holding a Master of Arts in Film Studies degree.
Christian is an experienced film teacher and counselor in scriptwriting. He teaches screenplay writing at the University of Southern Denmark. Beside teaching he is a shareholder in the production company MakkerFilm located in Svendborg, where he also lives with his family.
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More information about the workshops in Sweden and in Iceland & about our alumni finalists coming in the upcoming weeks. [...]
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25.9.2023The Northern Script 2023 Alumni Programme had several online mentoring scriptwriting workshops during August & September in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. All the local workshops were a huge success. After the mentoring workshops, the scripts were given to the Nordic Jury to be judged.
The Nordic Jury used a common Northern Script Judging Criteria as a guiding line to choose the best scripts this year. The focus was on the text and in the professional development during the mentoring workshops. The Nordic jury was happily surprised by the level of writing in the Northern Script alumni participants. By writing more drafts, anyone of this year’s participants could reach the point where their script could be made into a short film.
THE NORTHERN SCRIPTS 2023 ALUMNI FINALISTS
The Northern Script 2023 alumni programme finalists are:
Vili Jauhiainen (Finland) –Overnight in Concentration camp
Noora Jalokinos (Finland) – Salainen tanssi
Jaana Jääskeläinen (Finland)– Lost and found
Mathilde Graf (Sweden) – Sagan om Nick
Maria Jacobsson (Sweden) – Att hela det onda
Kjetil Heimdall-Hansen (Norway) – In a New Light
Brage N. Grindeland (Norway)– In a New Light
Frederik Grønning (Denmark) – Ett moderne demokrati
Lasse Krintel (Denmark) – Festklown
Rebekka Rut Svansdottir – A Happy ever after
Gogo Bergmann – Útrás
Each of the Northern Script 2023 alumni programme finalists will present their own Nordic country this year at the Northern Script camp in north of Finland Oulu this November. The finalists can be proud of themselves as the ten scripts were selected from over 30 scripts from different Nordic countries.
SHORT FILM COOPERATION WITH THE OULU VOCATIONAL SCHOOL MEDIA DEPARTMENT
The Northern Script cooperates with the Oulu Vocational School Media Department. All ten scripts will be translated into English this week and sent to Oulu Vocational School Media Department. The 2nd and 3rd year media students from Oulu Vocational School Media Department will read each script with care and choose three scripts to be made into a short film by the beginning of the Northern Script Camp 14th – 20th of November.
All three short films will be shown at the Awards Ceremony in the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival 18th of November 2023. The three chosen scripts & their scriptwriters will be working closely together online with the Finnish filming crew so that they can communicate about the short film development in its different stages.
The Northern Script camp will be held between 15-19th of November 2023 in north of Finland , Oulu, during Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival 18th of November 2023. The camp leader will be the talented Andrias Høgenni from the Faroe Islands.
Andrias Høgenni – Biography
Andrias Høgenni is a Faroese film director who moved to Denmark in 2009. He graduated from Super16 in 2018, and his thesis-film “Ikki illa meint” won the Canal+ Award for best short film at Semaine de la Critique in the Cannes 2019 festival. It also won the Danish Academy Award (Robert) for best short film the same year. He has since directed two Tv-series for Danmarks Radio. The latest one being “Ingen vej tilbage”, which premiered on DRTV in 2022.
The Northern Script camp will include a ‘writer’s room’ type of working environment where the participants write, brainstorm, pitch and develop their writing skills with the help of a Mr.Høgenni. The participants will also have the opportunity to watch some films of the Oulu Children’s and Youth Film Festival during the workshops and in their own freetime if wanted. There will also be a pitching opportunity to all finalists in front of an international jury. In addition each of the participants will get feedback in a group environment as well as 30min long individual feedback from Mr.Høgenni.
All the finalists’ trip, accommodation, food, workshops, VIP tickets to the Film festivals are paid by the Northern Script programme.
In the upcoming weeks we will continue introducing the Nordic workshop leaders and we will also present the Nordid finalists and their backgrounds.
Stay tuned for more interesting articles about the Northern Script and what happens next!
Article written by the Northern Script programme coordinator, Johanna Lappalainen
Photos by Johanna Lappalainen, Miikka Ylipekka & Andrias Høgenni [...]
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1.9.2023NORTHERN SCRIPT WORKSHOPS
The Northern Script 2023 alumni programme which unites young Nordic writers together has finally kicked off with several scriptwriting workshops starting all over the Nordic countries. This year Northern Script has online scriptwriting workshops in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. Northern Script respects different Nordic languages and that is why all the local workshops happen in the participant’s own local Nordic language.
Each week we present one Nordic workshop leader. Here is the story behind the Finnish Northern Script 2023 Alumni workshop leader.
NORTHERN SCRIPT 2023 – FINLAND WORKSHOPS
Northern Script Finland got very lucky this year as we were able to get hold of the talented scriptwriter Anna Heinämaa who happened to have some free weeks on her schedule and be this year’s Northern Script 2023 Alumni Finland mentor.
In her mentoring workshops Anna gives 30 minutes long feedback to each alumni twice. She also encourages peer-to-peer feedback. All the alumni students are therefore asked to read the other writers’ scripts before the mentoring workshops. The feedback sessions happen in a group environment making it possible to hear several feedback and learn to give feedback to others as well. Heinämaa feels it is important for young scriptwriters to hear different kind of feedback and learn from them.
Each of the alumni students have been thrilled so far of the constructive feedback they have received.
Northern Script Finland workshops are held between 29th of August until 14th of September.
BIOGRAPHY -ANNA HEINÄMAA
Anna Heinämaa who is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright, and novelist who writes both for adults and young people. She created the original script for “The Fencer” (2015) which made the Oscar-shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film and was nominated in the Golden Globes; her next film “One Last Deal” (2018) premiered at TIFF in the prestigious Contemporary World Cinema lineup. Both films were screened in numerous festivals and distributed worldwide. Heinämaa’s latest work is a feelgood comedy “The Second Act” (2023) which she co-wrote with writer-actress Vera Kiiskinen. The film premiered in Stockholm,starring Lena Olin and Rolf Lassgård. [...]
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4.8.2023The Northern Script 2023 programme was trying something completely new this year. The programme only reached out to the alumni students from the previous years and was inviting the alumni to write a script to us by 2nd of August. All together, the programme got over 30 scripts from all over the Nordic countries. We are happy that so many of our previous students wanted to be part of the Northern Script experience again.
All of the accepted alumni students will get local mentoring during August and September with their scripts in their own Nordic language. After the mentoring programme the participants’ scripts will be judged by the local Northern Script Jury. Each local jury will choose the best script writers to participate in the Northern Script camp in Oulu in November. The local jury will not only judge the writing skills but the active participation in the mentoring programme will be monitored as well. The programme seeks young writers who are passionate about writing and seek new learning experiences.
The Northern Script camp will be arranged together with the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival in Oulu in mid November 2023. All the finalists’ trip to Oulu and back, accommodation, food and other activities will be paid by the Northern Script programme.
Congratulations to all the alumni students years 2017-2022 for your participation in the Northern Script 2023 Alumni programme! We are glad to have you back with us
More information about the programme coming later this autumn.
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Written by the Coordinator of the Northern Script 2023 Alumni programme, Johanna Lappalainen
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15.6.2023NORTHERN SCRIPT 2023 ALUMNI PROGRAM
Northern Script 2023 is seeking young storytellers & scriptwriters (age 18-29 years of age) from the previous years. If you have applied for the Northern Script Competition over the past years and you have a story to be told – seek into our first ever NORTHERN SCRIPT 2023 ALUMNI PROGRAM . The program makes it possible to reach out to other young scriptwriters across the Nordic countries and get online and onsite mentoring with your own script idea!!
HOW TO APPLY
You only need to send us your 10 page long short film script idea by 2 August Northern Script Alumni Submission 2023 (google.com) and follow the given guidelines. Each Northern Script alumni who send us their 1st draft by 2 August 2023 gets an opportunity to join FOUR (4) FREE ONLINE NORTHERN SCRIPT SCRIPTWRITING WORKSHOPS in each of the five Nordic countries. Expect intensive and fulfilling work on your own script supported by our Northern Script experts!
NORTHERN SCRIPT CAMP AND COLLABORATION WITH OSAO MOVIE PRODUCTION STUDENTS
After the online workshops, a Nordic expert jury will make a shortlist of scripts for two purposes. Firstly, for the selection of film production by OSAO in Oulu and secondly, for the selection of Northern Script Camp in 2023 in Oulu. The selection is based on your own work effort during the workshops and the quality of the final script.
At OSAO Film Department, the film students together with their teacher will choose 3 scripts from the shortlist. These scripts will go into production (storyboard, shoot, edit). The three chosen scripts and their scriptwriters have a chance to collaborate and work online together with the OSAO film students from mid-September until mid-November and have their say on the production. The emphasis will be on the voice of the Nordic youth and the collaboration with the other scriptwriters and the movie production team.
At Oulu Northern Script Camp you will be able to take part in the intensive Northern Script writers room to be inspired by experts, by peers and by the Nordic film community. A special prize will be offered for one of the participants, more about it later! The Northern Script Camp will be held in mid-November in Oulu in Northern Finland. Exact dates will be confirmed later! One of our Oulu workshop leaders will be the one and only, the amazing Faroese Film director, Andrias Høgenni.
Andrias Høgenni is a Faroese film director who moved to Denmark in 2009. He graduated from Super16 in 2018, and his thesis-film “Ikki illa meint” won the Canal+ Award for best short film at Semaine de la Critique in the Cannes 2019 festival. It also won the Danish Academy Award (Robert) for best short film the same year. He has since directed two Tv-series for Danmarks Radio. The latest one being “Ingen vej tilbage”, which premiered on DRTV in 2022.
More information about the Northern Script Alumni 2023 Program is about to follow in August. [...]
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2.12.2022It’s been little over a week since the young Nordic scriptwriters returned from the Northern Script Camp from the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival and what an incredible week we had there!!!
STORYTELLING WITH THE HELP OF A GAME CALLED ‘A WEREWOLF’
From the very first evening the participants hit it off and made true connections with each other. Rebekka Rut Svasdottir, a Northern Script finalist from Iceland made quite an entrance to the camp by introducing a fun storytelling game called ‘Werewolf. The ‘Werewolf’ game’ got all the camp participants to relax and get to know each other through storytelling, fantasy, imagination AND a lot of humor.
The game settled the spirit of the camp from the very early on and got everyone out of their shells to trust one another in a welcoming mood.
THREE NORDIC SHORT FILMS
This year the Northern Script made history as we collaborated for the first time ever with the local Film students of OSAO Vocational College, from Oulu Finland. Young Nordic scriptwriters from all over the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland & Faroe Islands) wrote together three short films with the help of their mentor, a Finnish professional scriptwriter, Milla Tuokkola. During the writing process, the writers were in contact with the local Film students who made the casting, edited & shot the short films.
Once the camp started, the Nordic writers and the Finnish Film students finally met each other for real and got to see the modern facilities of the OSAO Media department in Oulu, Finland. At the OSAO school the Nordic writers & the local film makers made an introduction video of themselves and the writers followed a bit of the raw cut editing process of the short films as well.
SCRIPTWRITING WORKSHOPS BY NORDIC TALENTS
Most of the camp relied on the scriptwriting workshops held by magnificent Faroese film director Andrias Høgenni and the excellent Icelandic actress and scriptwriter Kolbrún Anna Björnsdóttir.
Andrias Høgenni
Andrias Høgenni is a Faroese film director who moved to Denmark in 2009. He graduated from Super16 in 2018, and his thesis-film “Ikki illa meint” won the Canal+ Award for best short film at Semaine de la Critique in the Cannes 2019 festival. It also won the Danish Academy Award (Robert) for best short film the same year. He has since directed two Tv-series for Danmarks Radio. The latest one being “Ingen vej tilbage”, which premiered on DRTV in 2022
Kolbrún Anna Björnsdóttir
Kolbrún Anna Björnsdóttir is an Icelandic actress and scriptwriter, working both on stage and screen since her graduation from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Kolbrún Anna co-founded and ran two independent theatre companies: Theatre of the Republic and Ekka Dance Theatre, the latter pioneering in dance theatre in Iceland.
Kolbrún Anna has been working as a teacher in addition to her work as an artist and is currently the Head of Acting and Movement at the Icelandic Film School. She is also a published author of children’s fiction and educational materials. Kolbrún Anna recently wrote and acted in the 8-part TV-drama FRACTURES, airing in 2022, based on her original idea. The series was co-written with Vala Thorsdottir and co-created with Vala Thorsdottir and Eva Sigurdardottir.
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The Northern Script workshops focused both on the theory of storytelling and the character creation as well as practical exercises about feedback and pitching. One of the most memorable exercises was given at the end of the camp when the participants were asked to go outside to the snowy streets of Oulu to observe people and choose one person to write a fictional character analysis.
Once back inside the participants in pairs of two had to create a story where two of these fictional characters met. All the stories created by the finalists turned out to be really fascinating and it was a perfect way to teach in a practical way about character creation and its importance in a story.
DIVERSITY IN FILMS
On Friday, Venla Hellstedt, a Finnish producer from Tuffi Films, came to hold a lecture about the scripts with diversity and about the presentation on the films. Hellstedt really got the participants to talk freely about the subject. In the end it was concluded that as much as diversity is in everyone’s lips at the moment in the film industry- it can be considered quite multidimensional and there are no easy answers.
I think many participants got the feeling that whilst acknowledging the diversity issues in the scripts of today, at the end of the day you just have to believe in your story and stay true to yourself no matter what.
PEHKOLA SAUNA EVENING
Besides the scriptwriting workshops, the participants of the camp got nearly VIP treatment by the Oulu Film Festival. Each Northern Script finalist got VIP tickets to the Oulu Film festival and also invitations to some VIP Film events. One of the high points of the week was certainly our trip by bus to Pehkola Sauna which was situated in the middle of a thick forest and pure white snow. After our arrival to Pehkola, we all got to taste the most delicious salmon soup and afterwards to bathe with the international film directors, scriptwriters and producers in the guest saunas. In the mist of the sauna – everyone feels equal. Therefore the communication between the professionals of the film industry and the Northern Script finalists was absolutely genuine and effortless.
OULU FILM FESTIVAL
Northern Script camp is always held at the same time as the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival. Each year the festival organizes some film screenings for the Northern Script finalists. This year was no exception. First we were invited to view a long feature film called, Freeskate, by Roope Olenius and scriptwriter Veera W. Vilo. The idea for the script came from Vilo’s own past in the world of gymnastics. The script wanted to show the brutal and somewhat impossible requirements of the sports industry towards young girls. Some of the scenes were brutal to watch but important to see. The side role by Finnish actress,Leena Uotila, was spot on. Afterwards the finalists were given a chance to ask multiple questions from both the director and the scriptwriter.
In the evening we were invited to watch a new children’s film ‘Detective Agency Henkka & Kivimutka’ by directors Väinö Weckström and Jarkko Felin. The script was based on the book series by Kalle Vierto. It was delightful to see such a colorful and truly well done Finnish children’s film with a positive message.
At the end of the Northern Script camp, the whole audience of the Oulu Film Festival, the Northern Script finalists & the local OSAO Film students were all invited to a first ever screening of the three common Nordic Short Films. The films were written by the Nordic Northern Script finalists together in small groups and shot & edited by the local OSAO Film students. Each of the project participants got diplomas of the hard work they had done during the autumn 2022 in front of the live audience in the Valve Cultural Centre. Hopefully these diplomas will help the participants in their search to pursue a career in the film industry.
GROWING PAINS
(Emma Finot (DE), Ester Högberg (SE) & Mimmi Riikonen (FI)
A WARMING REMEMBRANCE
(Brage Grindeland (NO), Kjetil Heimdall-Handen (NO), Anna Hirvi (FI) & Khali Hashi (DE)
SCARF
(Rebekka Rut Svansdóttir (IS), Kerttu Pakkasvirta (FI), Sølvi Næs Hoydal (FO)
The short films dealt with themes and topics such as compulsion, otherworldly & regret. Each of the three short films were well scripted and surprisingly well edited & shot. Keeping in mind that all the people involved in this project are still aspiring filmmakers, the end result was amazingly good. The fact that these young people were able to put it together and evoke real emotions among the audience in such a short and tight time schedule, I can’t but applause to them all !!
A FAREWELL PARTY – A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
At the end of the whole one-week-long Northern Script Camp, both the Northern Script finalists & the local OSAO Film students were invited for a common Nordic farewell party at the Turusen Saha which worked as the finalist’s accommodation and workshops place throughout the week. There in the big dining room, the lights were dimmed and decorations were put out for a big party.
In my own end speech the tears were near as all the emotions concerning this project came through. All the proudness of these young aspiring scriptwriters, the true connections they made in the camp and the collaboration with the local Film students made me full of joy and happiness.
After the tears, we put karaoke on and it turned out that scriptwriters and filmmakers can actually be really good singers as well. The prize for the best performance of the evening goes to Sølvi Næs Hoydal from the Faroe Islands whose imitation of Johnny Cash might just be better than the real version itself!! The more we sang – the more it became true that this one-week-long-camp had made us all, the workshop leaders, the producers and the finalists real friends – friends who you can reach out to in different times of your life.
That connection is something beautiful and I can’t wait where these aspiring Nordic scriptwriters will go in their film career in the future and what kind of possible collaborations might happen in the Nordic Film Industry because of the Northern Script 2022.
Only time will tell.
Written by the Producer of the Northern Script 2022, Johanna Lappalainen
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Northern Script 2022 was funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, Mediametka ry, Nordic Culture Point, and Nordisk kulturfond with the help of the Nordic Northern Script Partners [...]
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4.11.2022This year Northern Script started something spectacular.
With the help of the two cultural fundings by Nordic Culture Point and Nordic Kulturfond, Northern Script was able to spread its workshops all over the Nordic countries reaching young people in faraway places such as the Faroe Islands, Iceland and the Sapmi community. Besides the Nordic workshops, the project was able to start a completely new activity – Nordic Group Scriptwriting.
A Nordic Group Scriptwriting consists of all the 10 selected Northern Script finalists who together in small groups write remotely three Short Film Scripts with the help of a Finnish mentor. Each aspiring scriptwriter is located in another Nordic country and they were each given a theme from which to select their best script idea. With the help of a Professional Finnish scriptwriter, Milla Tuokkola, each group is given a lecture, a verbal feedback & a written feedback. Each group also receives short feedback from the Nordic workshop leaders.
Milla Tuokkola
In her lecture ‘Writer’s rooms aka how to write in a group’ Milla describes the group scriptwriting in a captivating and funny way. Milla used a lot of her own experience working in both England and the United States as a great example of group scriptwriting dynamics. She also gave the Northern Script finalists tips on how to start writing in a team, keywords being dedicating time to know each other, mutual trust & good communication.
Although writing in a team has just started to land in Nordic countries, it is still much more popular in the United Stated where several sitcoms and TV-series are written in teams. Milla Tuokkola has been writing in a writers’ room for the Finnish TV for some time now and it feels the best way for her to work at the moment. According to Tuokkola:
‘What you write together will always be better than what you could write alone. Always.’
It is obvious that the group scriptwriting is coming towards the Nordic countries for the TV series, sitcoms and films. The more the young Nordic scriptwriters get to practice these group scriptwriting skills, the better equipped they will be for the Nordic & Global TV- and Film Industry.
The three common Nordic Films will be written by the Northern Script finalists during autumn 2022 and they will be shot and edited by the OSAO Vocational College students in Oulu in November 2022. The finalists had their first Pre production Meeting with the Oulu Film College students 2nd of November and it looks like that the scripts and the storyboards are coming along well. I already have goosebumps when reading these young scriptwriters’ common scripts and can’t wait to see the end results on the screen later this month.
All the Short Films will be shown at the end of the Oulu International Children’s & Youth Film Festival 19th of November in Valvesali between 2pm -3pm.
More information about Oulu International Children’s & Youth Film Festival
https://www.oulufilmfestival.fi/en/home/
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4.11.2022Brage Norløff Grindeland, 23 (NO)
My name is Brage Norløff Grindeland and I am a 23-year-old student from Stavanger, Norway. I applied for this year’s Northern Script Competition because I and fellow co-writer Kjetil submitted the year before and became one of the finalists back then. This experience was so great that it motivated me (us) to continue this year as well.
I have worked with scripts for a long time, being an actor at the local children theatre (The Children and Youth Theatre at Rogaland Theatre) in Stavanger. I already started writing back then, but my great fascination for screenwriting didn’t really emerge before I started studying directing and being able to work alongside Kjetil. At this moment I am in my last year of a bachelor’s degree of a director studies. I have also during this time been fortunate enough to shoot a short film, which will be finished early next year. [...]
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3.11.2022Mimmi Riikonen, 22 (FI)
My name is Mimmi Riikonen and I’m a 22 year old student from Finland. I’ve wanted to apply for Northern Script for a long time… but I suck at planning, and so I’ve always ended up forgetting to write a script before the application time closes. This year I took it as a mission to not forget – and here I am!
I’ve alwys loved writing (however cliché that is). Ever since I knew how to tap buttons on my mom’s computer’s keyboard I’ve written short stories, poems, scripts, essays… anything goes! I’m currently studying at a film school and working as an screenwriting intern for a reality television show. On my freetime I sing, occasionally work out, play Pokémon on Nintendo and dream about publishing a book. (Someday I might even actually start writing it. We’ll see.) [...]
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2.11.2022Emma Finot, 21 (DE)
I applied to Northern Script because I love writing and I think it is a great stepping stone for young writers to try out the craft and get to learn from real experience! I have experience from writing fiction, poems and short stories, but I have only been writing scripts on a hobby level as of so far. I do not have any previous Film Studies experience, but hope to get to study Film Production & Writing in Aarhus next year! [...]
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28.10.2022Inuk Jørgensen, an award-winning short film writer/director from Greenland, gave a short lecture to the Northern Script Youth Committee on Wednesday evening (26th of October) and he was very welcomed by the members of the Youth Committee.
Inuk works and lives in Sweden as the Head of the film department of Nordiska folkhögskolan but he is a Greenlandic inuit and very proud and aware of his inuit roots. In his lecture he talked about the importance of telling a short film story by using a personal approach in them.
We are all unique persons with different stories to be told. According to Inuk, the more personal the story is- the more interesting it gets. He used his own short film –’In the shadow of the Tugtupite’ (2020) as an example of a short story. The film explores the beauty of Greenland, while questioning the extractive industries taking from these lands and worrying about the long term effects of these harmful activities. The Film has been awarded in many Film festivals all over the world and it touches subjects such as: human rights, Nordic, historical, local vs global, colonisation, geopolitics, history, arctic and indigenous peoples of Greenland.
In his short film Inuk doesn’t want to point any fingers but he does tell the story from the inuit point of view and from his own point of view. The location of the film is Inuk’s own home village where he grew up and therefore the story has a very personal twist in it. Inuk also uses the greenlandic folktales in his short film and pointed out to us that the Inuit folklore doesn’t view the world the same way as the Western world. Greenlandic folk tales actually don’t have individual heroes but instead it is the community who is the hero.
All the way through his lecture Inuk kept emphasizing the importance of personality in the short stories and the Nordic unique way of telling the stories. As we cannot compete with Hollywood with big budgets – we should instead focus on the Nordic perspective and the unique Nordic way of telling our stories. According to Inuk, personal stories written from your own background in mind are always interesting for the viewer.
After listening Inuk talking to us on Wednesday and watching his Greenlandic short film, I can see the big personal touch he indeed has put on his short film.
Inuk ended his lecture by saying ‘Short Films are perfect to carry on a feeling’. I hope the new generation of Nordic scriptwriters will take the torch forward regarding Inuk’s message about carrying feelings with their short stories and continue to write Nordic stories which touch the viewer deeply inside.
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Northern Script camp is held this year during the Oulu International Children’s & Youth Film Festival 14th-20th of November in Oulu, Finland.
Check out our web pages regarding the scriptwriting camp.
New information coming soon!
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28.10.2022Rebekka Rut Svansdóttir, 22 (IS)
I went to the Icelandic film school. Majoring in Directing and Screenwriting. So I have written many scripts.
In my school there was a lecture about Screenwriting where the Nordic Script competition was introduced. I applied because I have learnt to take every opportunity that comes up.
I graduated from the Icelandic Film school last June after two years of studying. [...]
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27.10.2022Sølvi Næs Hoydal, 19 (FO)
My name is Sølvi, and I am 19 years old living in the Faroe Islands. Filmmaking is a big passion of mine, and I greatly enjoy telling stories. I am planning on taking an education in scriptwriting, because writing the screenplay is perhaps the most fun part of the filmmaking process.
A film is nothing without a story, and getting to decide how the story unfolds, and how the characters progress, is very exciting.
I’m excited to be Northern Script finalist 2022 and part of the Northern Script Youth Committee! [...]
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26.10.2022Anna Hirvi, 25 (FI)
Age: 25
Pronouns: they/them
Country: Finland
I applied for Northen Script due to wanting more experience and confidence in my writing. I’m currently finishing my Bachelor Film & TV studies at Metropolia University of Applied Science, but I still feel there’s much to learn. Luckily I have managed to be a part of some amazing projects as a screenwriter already. One of the most notable being a project called Demoiselle, which was a collaboration project with Finnish National Theatre’s Youth Group. [...]
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25.10.2022Khali Hashi, 22, (DK)
My name is Khali Hashi and I’m a 22-year-old aspiring screenwriter from Denmark. I applied to the Northern Script after hearing about it close to the deadline and saw making it in time as a way to challenge myself and my writing.
My creative writing experience started when I spent one semester at Filmhøjskolen Møn and realized I just had to be a screenwriter. I’ve had short experience in Tv- writing from being part in the development of a Tv- show.
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24.10.2022Kjetil Heimdall-Hansen, 23 (NO)
My name is Kjetil Heimdall-Hansen. I’m a 23 year old student, scriptwriter and director living in Oslo, Norway. I’m currently finishing my bachelors degree in film directing, where I met my screenwriting partner, Brage N. Grindeland.
Nowadays I primarily write and direct with Brage, and we have several exciting projects in development, but I’ve been writing and making films for as long as I can remember. My childhood was defined by watching old classic movies with my dad, and running around in the woods with my cousins, shooting films with an old video camera. Though I waited quite a while before actively pursuing a filmmaking career, I am now dedicating all my time and energy into improving as much as possible both as a writer and director.
I’m always on the lookout for new opportunities to learn, and Northern Script has given me the perfect chance to do just that. [...]
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21.10.2022Ester Högberg, 19 (SWE)
My name is Ester, I am 18 years old and live in Malmö, Sweden. I am currently in my last year of studying a filmmaking program at upper secondary school. In the future I hope to continue studying film and hopefully pursue a career in the field.
I got introduced to Northern Script through my teacher and instantly knew that I wanted to apply. Writing has always been a great interest of mine and scriptwriting is probably my favorite part of the filmmaking process. I am very excited to participate in the Northern Script writing camp and to get the opportunity to further develop my writing! [...]
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20.10.2022Kerttu Pakkasvirta, 25 (FI)
I am Kerttu Pakkasvirta, 25, from Finland. I applied to Northern Script because I wanted some professional scriptwriting experience and an opportunity to develop my personal scriptwriting skills. Creative writing has been a part of my life since I was a child, but recently through my studies I am getting more practice also on scriptwriting. I have also participated in creative writing courses. I heard from the Northern Script from my teacher and immediately got interested.
I study audiovisual media culture in the university of Lapland, where I have participated in filmmaking from scriptwriting short films to directing, acting and producing in student productions. Theatre has also been a dear hobby to me throughout my life.
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7.9.2022The Year 2022 was phenomenal as Northern Script got more scripts from the Nordic countries than ever before in our history. Over 60 scripts were sent to the Northern Script Jury in different Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Faroe Islands) by the talented Nordic storytellers. This year’s theme was ‘Temptation’ and the theme was shown in the scripts literally, symbolically and some from an emotional perspective.
Congratulations to all the Northern Script finalists and to all of you who took the initiative and wrote us a script this year. You are all very much valued!! Each participant will receive feedback on your script during this autumn.
Year 2022 finalists are:
Mimmi Riikonen (Ei tippa tapa) FINLAND
Anna Hirvi (Release it) FINLAND
Kerttu Pakkasvirta (Varas Ikkunassa) FINLAND
Ester Melin Högberg (Katten och Musen) SWEDEN
Brage Grindeland & Kjetil-Heimdall Hansen (Unwanted) NORWAY
Emma Finot (Strike) DENMARK
Khali Hashi (Det er sidste gang) DENMARK
Rebekka Rut Svansdóttir (Rapture) ICELAND
Sølvi Næs Hoydal (Tonigh was the night) FAROE ISLANDS
All the finalists will automatically be selected to the Northern Script Group Scriptwriting Mentoring Program which lasts from 12th of September until 14th of November 2022. Each Nordic finalist is also invited to join our one-week-long Northern Script camp in Northern Finland, Oulu, located only 170km from the Arctic Circle (14th – 20th of November 2022).
The scriptwriting camp is totally FREE for the participants. Transportation, food, accommodation, international workshops, international film lecturers, local scenery, local sauna and VIP Tickets to the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival are all included. At the end of the camp, all the Northern Script Group Short Films will be shown in front of a live audience during Oulu Film Festivals.
Next year we will arrange a new Northern Script with local Nordic workshops starting in spring time 2023.
Northern Script is always in a lookout for new committed members for the Youth Committee. More information about how to participate to the Youth Committee here on our Webpage.
Stay tuned for interviews and articles about our wonderful finalists and their journey with the Northern Script Mentoring Program and the scriptwriting Camp 2022!
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17.8.2022NORTHERN SCRIPT CLOSING UP SOON
Hurry up!! Northern Script Competition is about to close up in 5 days. The deadline for the short film scripts is 22nd of August 2022. Note! Each participant gets a FEEDBACK of their script sent to the competition!
If you have a story to be told, please please send it to your Northern Script partner by this Friday. All Nordic Email addresses can be found from ‘HOW TO PARTICIPATE’- section on our webpage. Finnish scripts can be send to the following address
johanna.lappalainen(a)mediametka.fi
THEME
This year’s theme is TEMPTATION. You can use the theme in your scriptwriting in multiple ways. You can use the theme literally, symbolically or from an emotional perspective. The theme can also be related to societal circumstances.
SCRIPT
The script can be based on your own life experience, or it can be purely a creation of your imagination. There are no restrictions on genre. You can decide which style you want to use. Be bold & creative!
Script Max Length: 10 pages
Script Font: Courier
Font Size: 12
NORTHERN SCRIPT CAMP IN NOVEMBER
The best Nordic scriptwriters get to be chosen to participate in a one-week-long scriptwriting camp in the North of Finland located only 170km from the Arctic Circle (14-20th of November 2022). The camp is totally FREE for the participants. Transportation, food, accommodation, international workshops, international film lecturers, local scenery, local sauna and VIP Tickets to the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival are included.
GROUP FILM SCRIPTWRITING PROGRAMME
In addition all finalists will get to participate in a Group Short Film Scriptwriting -programme. At the end of the camp, all the Northern Script short films will be shown in front of a live audience during Oulu Film Festivals. If you are an aspiring scriptwriter with a talent of writing stories and interest in filmmaking – This is a Must Event for you!
Are you interested? More information can be found from the ‘HOW TO PARTICIPATE’ -section.
GOOD LUCK! [...]
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10.8.2022‘You open up a new document, ready to write your next screenplay. But after a while you realize that no words have stuck on the page, you don’t really know what to write or how to start. All you see is the dreaded blank page.’
The first Northern Script workshop in Sweden was organized during PIXEL Skånes Film Festival 29-30 April 2022 by the Swedish workshop leader David Wramneby. The workshop was about how to soften the existential dread that the blank page can sometimes give a writer. Since writing a story isn’t a step by step process Wramneby gave some of his tips and tricks on how to overcome the blank page. He mainly focused on 2 things, looking for the main focus in the story or trying to find the core of the story. He likened these 2 processes to a funnel.
The first was to look through the small hole of the funnel. To look for the main focus of the story. Trying to find what is going to happen in the story. Will the main character achieve their goal? What is that goal? How will they go about it? Will Frodo get the ring to Mt doom? Will Marlin find Nemo? The second method he used was to turn the funnel upright and pour in all of the “ingredients” and see if you can find the core of the story coming out of the other end.
The example Wramneby used here was when he wrote a tv-series for a channel. (SVT Barn)They wanted a horror show for teens and since David isn’t a teen anymore. He had to research. At the end, he took all of the research he gathered and the restrictions from the production company. Put everything in the funnel and looked for the core of the story at the other end.
David told this to the 20-30 workshop attendees and hopefully they, as well as you dear reader, now have some help on how to combat the blank page.
The writer of the article is Mattias Staaf, a member of the Northern Script Youth Committee [...]
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22.6.2022NORTHERN SCRIPT
Opportunities for young screenwriters from Nordic countries are important for fostering new talent. Northern script is an event aimed to help aspiring storytellers from Nordic countries to network. It offers workshops for young writers in the following countries;
Norway
Denmark
Sweden
Iceland
Faroe Islands
Finland
Greenland
Sápmi/Samiland
Åland Islands
In this blog, we’ll go over the workshop facilitated in Iceland on the 14th of May 2022. We’ll go over what was discussed, give some examples, tips and tricks, and finally some pointers from the facilitator, Kolbrún Anna Björnsdóttir.
OVERVIEW
We were seated in a lecture room in ‘Kvikmyndaskóli Íslands’. There weren’t many of us but as we say in Iceland ‘Fáment en góðment’, which translates to ‘few people but good people’. Kolbrún began by explaining what Northern script is about – a nordic screenwriting contest, opportunities for young screenwriters in the Nordic countries, and so forth – then dove straight into her PowerPoint, telling us how one can put all stories into 6 categories (more on that later) and discussing the ‘science’ of scriptwriting. The workshop was beginner-friendly and Kolbrún created an atmosphere that made you feel comfortable asking questions, and there were a lot of questions. She talked about formatting and helped us fit our favorite films into the 6 categories in order to better understand what she was talking about (again, more on that later). Overall, it was a beginner-friendly workshop that offered good advice and insight for participants taking their first steps in screenwriting.
EXAMPLES FROM THE WORKSHOP
To get into more detail, Kolbrún went over the core elements that make up a story. First, she mentioned the 6 stories of man, she explained that most – if not all – stories humans have ever created can be sorted into 1 of these 6 archetypes;
Rags to riches – a steady rise from bad to good fortune
Riches to rags – a fall from good to bad, a tragedy
Icarus – a rise then a fall in fortune
Oedipus – a fall, a rise then a fall again
Cinderella – rise, fall, rise
Man in a hole – fall, rise
Looks like originality is out the window… Well not exactly, Kolbrún reassured us that everyone has their own unique experience and point of view to bring to a story, so if you were to ask ’’what makes my story original?’’ Kolbrún would answer;
You!
Kolbrún also introduced us to the 8-point story arc to help us simplify and see stories more clearly. These 8 points are as follows:
Stasis:
Here you introduce your character and the world they live in.
Trigger:
Something is introduced that threatens or changes the world of the character. This could be a want or need they have or an external force.
The quest:
Now your character has been thrust into unfamiliar circumstances
Surprise:
Something unexpected happens along the way
Critical choice:
Your character is forced to make a hard choice, it’s very popular that this choice be between their want and their need.
The climax:
The most intense part of the story; the breakthrough, the boss fight, the end of the race.
Reversal:
The character recognizes that the world – and probably they themselves – have changed.
Resolution:
The protagonist has finished their journey and the story has ended.
This blueprint can be helpful for beginners and fun for everyone to see if you can find these points in your favorite stories.
STUDENT INTERVIEWS
The participants were fewer than expected but everyone seemed very happy with the workshop. We spoke to Guðrún, who when asked if she had heard about Northern Script before the workshop replied; that the name was familiar but she had never really known what it was. Kormákur (a friend of one of the youth committee members) said they first heard about it on an Instagram story advertising the workshop. Many expressed their satisfaction, like Tinna who said: ‘The workshop was both fun and informative!’.These participants also seemed eager to take part in the scriptwriting competition and so should you!
TIPS AND TRICKS
As a beginner, it may be intimidating to write a script for a competition, but do not fret! Kolbrún gave us some handy info to get us started on creating our story. Firstly, we need to keep in mind the length of the script, as this is a short film (10 mins max) you have to be aware of the important plot progression in your story, each page, and each minute has to be important and used to its full potential. The story has to contain all of the same elements as a full-length film but in a fraction of the time, so take your full-length story and tell only a small chunk of it. It can also be helpful to tell a more visual story as dialogue takes up a lot of space. Remember SHOW DON´T TELL!
It is also helpful to write about one’s own experiences, no need to get too literal but remember why we relate to the stories we love, it could be a similar experience, shared emotion, or a fantasy. Writing what you know is much easier than writing what you don´t.
Last but not least Kolbrún found it important for us to know that we can never write for everyone. What she means by that is we can’t make everyone happy, write for a specific group of people, for instance, someone going through a heartbreak, people who have never experienced it may not relate to or like your story but someone out there will!
Q & A WITH KOLBRÚN
After the session, we caught up with Kolbrún to ask her some questions.
Why should people participate in Northern Script?
The Northern script offers a great opportunity, on one hand with free workshops and subsequent ones for the winners. By attending the workshops you get the opportunity to network and to meet professionals in the industry
What is important to keep in mind when participating in a script competition?
Start early, rewrite, and make sure that your last draft is airtight (Review the grammar)
Do you have any tips?
Write about something that matters to you and you know well
The blog is written by the Icelandic members of the Northern Script Youth Committee, Elizabeth Karen & David Örn Ingimarsson
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Landscape photos by Jeffrey Fredrick Guarino
Workshop photos by Elizabeth Karen [...]
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1.6.2022DO YOU HAVE A TALENT FOR WRITING STORIES?
Northern Script is Nordic Short Film Script Writing Event aimed for 18-29 year old writers living in the Nordic countries. We are currently looking for SCRIPTWRITERS & STORYTELLERS to participate in the Northern Script Competition 2022.
Northern Script aims to help the participants to find their own voice & develop their script writing skills. Earlier experience of screenwriting is not required. Instead personality and courage are emphasized.
The deadline for the short film scripts is 22nd of August 2022. Note! Each participant gets FEEDBACK of their script sent to the competition!
The best Nordic scriptwriters get to be chosen to participate in a one-week-long scriptwriting camp in the North of Finland located only 170km from the Arctic Circle (14th -20th of March 2022). The camp is totally FREE for the participants. Transportation, food, accommodation, international workshops, international film lecturers, local scenery, local sauna and VIP Tickets to the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival are included.
In addition all finalists will get to participate in a Group Short Film Scriptwriting -programme with the Professional scriptwriter, Milla Tuokkola. At the end of the camp, all the Northern Script short films will be shown in front of a live audience during Oulu Film Festivals.
If you are an aspiring scriptwriter with a talent of writing stories and interest in filmmaking – This Event is a Must for you! Check the How to Participate section for more information. [...]
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