These are the Norwegian talents who are participating in programs and activities at Cannes Film Festival 2025.
Photo: Sturla Bakken
At the beginning of 2025, Janne launched Empathitude Pictures with her Danish producer partner Anne Borgaard Sørensen, operating from Oslo and Copenhagen. She has worked on award-winning drama series, feature films, and documentaries, attuned to stories with emotional depth and societal relevance. Her latest film, Hiding Saddam Hussein by Halkawt Mustafa, premiered at IDFA and became the most successful feature-length documentary ever at the Arabic box office. 2025 sees the premiere of a debut feature film Don’t Call Me Mama by Nina Knag. Janne is a member of the ACE Producers Network.
Photo: Nico Rantala
Espen Larsson is a Sámi director, screenwriter, and producer from Sápmi, Norway. He is the Founder of Finnmark Productions, he focuses on authentic Indigenous storytelling, blending cultural depth with compelling narratives. Recent projects include the comedy De Gjenvendte (2024), Sundance-selected doc Folktales (2025), and upcoming Sámi thriller Sápmi (2026), supported by ISFI and ICA Fellowship.
Photo: Magdalena Franczuk
Marja Bål Nango is a Sámi film director, screenwriter, and producer. As a director, her award-winning films Hilbes biigá and The Tongues have screened at major festivals worldwide. She co-founded 7išh Film in 2023 with Ingir Bål Nango to champion Sámi ownership and Indigenous storytelling. In 2025, she produces Romssa Táksi and GUSTO GUSTO and serves as the Sámi producer for The Herder, the company’s debut feature in development
Photo: Stine Søndenaa
Simone Storm is a Norwegian producer who works at Kringle Film. She completed her bachelor's degree in film production in the spring of 2024.
Photo: In the Mood Film
Barbara H. Schmitt is a Brazilian-Norwegian film producer, children’s book author, and screenwriter based in Norway.She holds a Master’s degree in Film Production from the Norwegian Film School, with a specialization in intellectual property development and animation, and a Bachelor’s degree in Screenwriting from Sweden. She has also over ten years of experience in film and television production in Sweden.
Photo: Tiril Lyslo Haugskott
Sivert Kalvø Harang is a producer and screenwriter based in Bergen, Norway. He works with the production company Truewest and has wrote and produced his debut feature film, Birk & Magna. Sivert has experience in film production on the west coast of Norway, having worked as both a production manager and location manager for multiple films and series.
Photo: Anne Valeur
Julie Johrdeis a producer at Fenomen. In recent years, she has been involved in projects such as the documentary film Sondre and the Heart (Fenomen), drama series Power Play (Motlys), and feature films Sick of Myself and The Worst Person in the World (Oslo Pictures).
Photo: Abrakadabra Studio
Una Mathiesen Gjerde is a Norwegian producer based between Oslo and Paris. Together with director Marin Håskjold, she established the production house Amfitrite in 2021, dedicated to fronting films at the intersection of cinema and art. Mathiesen Gjerde has a background in Art History and Finance, and has in the capacity of curator worked internationally on various scales.
Photo: Stian Skjelstad
Stian Skjelstad studied producing at The Norwegian Film School, and funded the production company Mindre Film in 2024. His producer feature debut A Human Position (2022) was invited to Rotterdam, San Sebastian, and Chicago. He has previously worked as a festival producer in Tromsø and in political communications.
Photo: My Boonchuvong Walther
Silje Baer is a producer and director based in Oslo. She produced the short film "Offline" which had great success at festivals all over the world and is now in financing as a feature film. Her debut film as director "Johan Prytz" was nominated for best Norwegian short film at BIFF 2024. Silje co -produced the Greek short film "Pirateland" together with Greece and France, the film premiered in the International Competition at Clermont Ferrand International Film Festival 2025. Her last project "Do Not Tread» is set to premiere Autumn 2025. Silje is one of two producers at the production company 'Ferdi Film.
