22/08/2023 - The man with many hats in the Norwegian film industry is usually totally immersed in everything Haugesund come August each year

(© Norwegian Film Institute)

When it comes to seasoned profiles within the Norwegian film milieu, Jakob Berg has steadily become a certified regular. In his capacity as communication advisor at the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI), he’s in touch with national and international press and media, produces information about Norwegian films, series and immersive content, and is often seen as a moderator during various events – not least in Haugesund, where the national industry convenes for one week in August every year. With at least a dozen trips to the event under his belt, Berg shared a few thoughts on his experiences.

Cineuropa: How did you get into this industry in the first place?
Jakob Berg: I come from journalism and communication, and got in via the launches of films like Upperdog [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Sons of Norway [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and Headhunters [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which sparked my interest in pursuing this line of work. The main attraction lies in the fact that cinema is the most powerful cultural expression of our times with the moving image, and the way in which it affects the world around us. We have documentaries with the ability to reveal [things] and to be part of a change in society. We have untold stories about unknown people who can be given the limelight. I also greatly appreciate the international aspect of our work: to promote Norwegian cinema internationally, and also to promote Norwegian filmmakers and enable them to build a good international network, as well as coming to the aid of Norwegian producers when it comes to getting international financing. In this capacity, I regularly go to Berlin, Cannes and, often, Göteborg. And to Haugesund, of course – more or less every year since I started at the film institute in 2010.

What does the Haugesund week mean to you?
I’m totally immersed in it. There’s the Amanda Awards ceremony [see the news], there’s the audience festival, there are the different panels and seminars, and the New Nordic Films industry days. I’ve worn many hats during the festival, moderated work-in-progress presentations, children’s film panels and political film conventions, which is the case this year, with “unity” being the main theme. We will discuss new cinema and dissemination strategies, and a more responsible form of film production; we will have a film presentation of Hisham Zaman's upcoming A Happy Day and talk about how we can get movies with an important theme and message to reach an audience – all under the umbrella of unity.

Haugesund is the most important meeting place for the Norwegian and Nordic film industry. The festival is an important launch pad for Norwegian films, both nationally and vis-à-vis the international industry. We at the Norwegian Film Institute are in town to participate in panels, meet collaboration partners and promote Norwegian movies. Our areas of responsibility are extensive and manifold, from dissemination, via development and production, to international relations. There are just so many things happening in a small geographical area, in a pretty town.

This year, you seem to have gained an additional hat, in that you can be seen as an actor in one of the world premieres at the festival. The film is K-town, and you even play the lead. How did this happen, and have you found yourself a new career here?
It happened because Kristian Landmark, the director, was looking for a guy from Kristiansand, where the story plays out, with the right look, age and, not least, dialect. Landmark and I ran into each other at Budapest airport, and he mentioned that he was thinking of me for a movie; then we had another chance encounter at Berlin a little later, he offered me the job, and I said yes. This is the Norwegian Bible Belt, and I play a fallen son who has started a sex shop just opposite his old congregation – an interesting part. It’s a dark comedy and the first film to be shot in Kristiansand in 15 years – and the first comedy ever [to be shot there].

I’ve had small parts in a few things before, like Psychobitch [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]. Acting is great fun and also a good educational diversion, but I wouldn’t trade it for my very good place at the NFI and all the good people there. That’s my day job, and I will certainly not quit it, as the saying so rightly goes.