[Commlist] Call for Papers: ‘Nordic Film Culture in the 21st Century’

Call for Papers: ‘Nordic Film Culture in the 21stCentury’

Special Issue of Journal of Scandinavian Cinema

Guest editors: Eva Novrup Redvall (University of Copenhagen), Anders 
Grønlund (Lund University) and Pietari Kääpä (University of Warwick)

View the full call here>>

https://www.intellectbooks.com/journal-of-scandinavian-cinema#call-for-papers 
<https://www.intellectbooks.com/journal-of-scandinavian-cinema#call-for-papers>

The Nordic film industries have often cultivated popular approaches and 
commercially lucrative film culture alongside their reliance on public 
funding and accompanying calls for cultural and social relevance. The 
parallel and often intertwined developments of artistic innovation and 
commercial stability have escalated in the twenty-first century in all 
five Nordic nations (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), but 
also in the ‘ultra-small’ contexts of Sápmi, the Faroe Islands, 
Greenland and Åland.

Technological developments in film production, exhibition and 
distribution, the globalization of film markets, the rise of social 
media-integrated streaming services and the integration of venture 
capital with national film and TV infrastructure have, on one hand, 
strengthened opportunities for Nordic films to network internationally. 
On the other hand, they have destabilized many of the existing 
structures these film industries rely on, leading to a necessary 
rethinking of Nordic creative processes, modes of production and 
film-focused cultural institutions.

Over the past 25 years Nordic film studies have developed a substantial 
body of scholarship, including anthologies, monographs and studies of 
various film and TV themes. The field has expanded to cover areas such 
as political economy, production frameworks and sustainability policies, 
solidifying its importance in international film scholarship and 
reflecting the evolving landscape of Nordic cinema.

Now, a quarter into the first century of this new millennium, it is an 
opportune moment to reflect on these developments, especially as the 
film industry faces new crises, from the uncertain financial and 
cultural impact of streaming services to the disruption of AI and 
challenges surrounding European identity in a multipolar world. What is 
the place of Nordic film culture in these debates? How can Nordic film 
scholarship best respond to a field redefining itself to respond to an 
increasingly convergent, platformed film and media environment?

This special issue of the Journal of Scandinavian Cinemaaims to map out 
some of the main developments that have taken place in the past 25 
years. We are interested in articles and short subjects that evaluate 
continuities and changes inside and across the Nordic film industries, 
incorporating theoretical approaches ranging from national and 
transnational film studies to political economy, from sustainability to 
postcolonial critical analysis.

The editors encourage submissions on the following topics and themes 
(especially ones that draw connections and comparisons between the 
different cultural/industrial contexts), but we also welcome work 
outside or combining these areas:

  *

    Equality, diversity, and inclusion in Nordic cinema: progress and
    challenges in representation on and off-screen

  *

    Key trends in visual style and storytelling techniques: films and
    directors shaping aesthetic and narrative developments

  *

    Film agencies, institutions, policy changes and their impact on film
    production and distribution

  *

    Sustainability, environmental themes and green filmmaking practices

  *

    The cultural significance and global impact of Sámi cinema and
    Indigenous film production

  *

    Trends and themes in contemporary Nordic documentaries

  *

    The Nordic Film and Television Fund’s influence on the industry

  *

    Film festivals as platforms for Nordic cinema and their
    contributions to film culture

  *

    Innovative educational Initiatives in film studies and their impact
    on the next generation of filmmakers and audiences

  *

    New technologies and formats transforming storytelling: web series,
    VR and interactive films

  *

    Engaging new audiences and the role of user-generated content

  *

    Social, streaming and platform media and their impact on film
    production and consumption

Projected timeline: Proposals due 15 February 2025. Full article 
submission due 1 September 2025. All contributions will undergo double 
blind peer review with publication planned for early 2026. Both feature 
articles (max 8000 words) and short subjects (2000-3500 words) are welcome.

Please e-mail the guest editors Eva Novrup Redvall ((eva /at/ hum.ku.dk) 
<mailto:(eva /at/ hum.ku.dk)>), Anders Grønlund ((anders.gronlund /at/ litt.lu.se) 
<mailto:(anders.gronlund /at/ litt.lu.se)>)and Pietari Kaapa 
((P.Kaapa /at/ warwick.ac.uk) <mailto:(P.Kaapa /at/ warwick.ac.uk)>)to discuss 
potential contributions.

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