NFI pays the refund to a Norwegian company, but the scheme is written for international projects. The stated purpose is to bring more international films and series to Norway to promote Norwegian culture, history, and nature, and to build experience in the Norwegian and Sami film industries. The legal basis is the Regulation on financial incentives for the production of international films and series in Norway, with the current version applying to grant decisions from 1 January 2023.
The entry conditions
All of these have to be true when you apply:
- The main producer made at least one film, drama series, or documentary series in the previous five years that was released in cinemas, broadcast widely, or distributed widely on another platform.
- The total budget clears the floor for its format (below).
- The Norwegian budget shows at least NOK 4 million of approved costs.
- At least 30% of the financing plan is international.
- There's a concluded international distribution agreement. NFI may accept a letter of intent after individual review.
- A Norwegian limited company set up for this production is registered and will carry the costs.
- The project hits the minimum score on the qualification test in appendix 1 of the Regulation.
- NFI gets credited in the end titles and materials on the same basis as other financiers.
| Format | Minimum total budget |
|---|---|
| Feature film | NOK 25 million |
| Documentary film | NOK 10 million |
| Drama series | NOK 10 million per episode |
| Documentary series | NOK 5 million per episode |
Worked example: a $1,000,000 film doesn't reach the floor
Using ECB reference rates for 11 September 2026 (EUR 1 = USD 1.1592 and EUR 1 = NOK 10.7805, so USD 1 = about NOK 9.30), $1,000,000 is about NOK 9,300,000.
That's under NOK 25 million for a feature and under NOK 10 million for a documentary. A two-episode documentary series at that budget works out to NOK 4.65 million an episode, still under the NOK 5 million line. Nothing at this size qualifies. A small production looking at Norway should talk to a Norwegian co-producer about NFI's other funding schemes instead.
Worked example: a $5,000,000 thriller shooting in Vestland
$5,000,000 is about NOK 46,500,000, over the NOK 25 million feature floor. The production spends NOK 18,000,000 in Norway on local crew, equipment, accommodation, and boat hire, all invoiced by Norwegian taxpayers after NFI confirmed receipt of the application.
- NOK 4 million Norwegian spend test: passed
- International financing test: 30% of NOK 46,500,000 = NOK 13,950,000 must come from non-Norwegian sources
- Maximum refund: NOK 18,000,000 x 25% = NOK 4,500,000 (about $484,000 at the same rates)
If the production had flown in a camera package rented abroad, that rental wouldn't count, because it isn't paid to a Norwegian taxpayer.
How NFI ranks projects
After the qualification test, NFI ranks applications and hands out the round's budget in that order. It weighs:
- How the project fits the purpose in section 1 of the Regulation
- How far financing and planning have progressed, and whether it can shoot soon
- Total budget and the Norwegian budget
- International distribution, private funding share, and international funding share
- How much the Norwegian spend builds the local industry, and added value beyond the production
A project with a signed sales deal, most of its money closed, and a large Norwegian budget scores well on most of those points.
Application package
The portal asks for rights agreements, the distribution agreement, the producer's track record, a synopsis, total and Norwegian budgets, a financing plan showing the 30% international share, the Norwegian shoot dates, the list of Norwegian crew, the location plan, a green production plan, and a self-assessment of the qualification test. Costs from before NFI confirms receipt don't qualify, so apply before you pay deposits in Norway. Processing is normally six to eight weeks. The form opens five months before each deadline, and deadlines fall at noon CET.
The grant decision is valid for 12 months, extendable once by a year, and production in Norway has to start within that period. At the end, a certified auditor's statement backs the claim.
Watch-outs
- "Up to 25%" means ranking and round budgets can leave you with less.
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen spend doesn't count, which matters for Arctic shoots.
- Separate seasons need separate applications.
- Distribution rights and investments tied to the Norwegian market are counted as Norwegian financing, even when a foreign company holds them.
Nearby options
Iceland refunds 25% with no minimum spend and 35% for large projects, which suits smaller productions that can't reach Norway's floors. The United Kingdom is the other North Sea comparison. If a Norwegian partner comes in as a real co-producer, check whether a co-production treaty covers your countries and which other NFI schemes the partner can apply to. See why productions shoot overseas for the wider picture.