The Nordic NEST programme is officially underway – the new script development programme launched by the MOIN Film Fund, the regional film funding agency that supports the production and development of projects in the Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein regions (northern Germany) – in collaboration with the German Federal Film Board (FFA) and the five Nordic film institutes.
Inspired by the original NEST programme – which has supported around 75 projects in Germany since 2024 – Nordic NEST opens new international pathways, encouraging collaboration between producers and screenwriters from Germany and the Nordic countries.
A central element of the NEST initiative is NEST Space, a five-day creative retreat taking place in January 2026 on the Baltic coast of Schleswig-Holstein, where ten established writers – half from Germany and half from the Nordic countries – will have the opportunity to collaborate on the development of new ideas for feature films and high-end TV drama series.
The best projects will receive up to €80,000 in script development funding.
NEST Space is organized by Le Groupe Ouest, one of Europe’s most innovative screenwriting development initiatives. Following the retreat, participants will meet 20 selected producers during the Göteborg Film Festival. Completed projects will be presented at the European Work in Progress event during Filmfest Hamburg in autumn 2026.
Nordic NEST is supported by MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and The Five Nordics – an alliance between the Danish Film Institute, Finnish Film Foundation, Icelandic Film Centre, Norwegian Film Institute, and Swedish Film Institute.
The German Federal Film Board (FFA) is a project partner, and the launch event in Hamburg is being held in cooperation with the Produzentenallianz (German Producers Alliance).
Producer applications open on 6 August 2025, while writer submissions will follow in October 2025.
For more information click here.
Photo Credits: Pexels
