Below Zero (formerly NORTH Pitch) is a financing forum for documentary films and series, focusing on life in Polar regions. The 17th edition will take place January 20-23, 2026, during Tromsø International Film Festival.
The forum allows filmmakers to present their documentary projects to investors from several countries, in order to provide funding. Projects can be focusing on culture, environment, resources, politics, climate changes as well as general human stories. The only absolute requirement is that the film is about life in Arctic regions.
Projects will be pitched in a session open to audiences at Lillescenen, Kulturhuset on January 23 at 10am
Background
Initiated by the regional North Norwegian Film Center, Below Zero aims to develop more great stories from the Arctic, and to allow filmmakers to reach a larger audience. Held annually during Tromsø International Film Festival, the forum brings together filmmakers, producers, film organizations and investors.
The following financiers/commissioning editors participates at the 2026 edition:
- Eva Mulvad, Danish Film Institute, Denmark
- Freja Johanne Nørgaard Sørensen, DR Sales, Denmark
- Mikko Peltonen, YLE, Finland
- Janne Niskala, Finnish Film Foundation, Finland
- Oskar Forstén, AVEK, Finland
- Alexandre Marionneau, ARTE, France
- Claudia Bucher, ARTE GEIE, France / Germany
- Ralf Quibeldey, NDR, Germany
- Anna J. Ljungmark, Norwegian Film Institute, Norway
- Rachel Andersen Gomez, Arctic Film Norway, Norway
- Silja Somby, International Sami Film Institute, Norway
- Åse Marie Bendiksen, NRK, Norway
- Anna Svensson, SVT, Sweden
- Katja Härkönen, Filmpool Nord, Sweden
- Anna Berthollet, Lightdox, France
Below Zero is arranged by Arctic Film Norway and made possible with support from The Norwegian Film Institute and Troms County Council.
