The talent program is for filmmakers who are in the process of establishing a career of national and international significance, or who want to strengthen their voice as filmmakers through long-term development. The program is aimed at filmmakers from Northern Norway and filmmakers who represent diversity. One of the main goals of the program is to foster new, diverse, and thus more interesting filmmakers who will strengthen Norway's international competitiveness.
Hedda Virik has worked for several years as a production designer and prop master, including films like VERDENS VERSTE MENNESKE (The Worst Person in the World) and TV-series such as MAKTA. In 2023, she made her debut as a director with the music video “Må jeg alltid bære min egen kropp” by Gaspard, which has been shown at several festivals. In the talent program, she will work on developing her own projects as a screenwriter and director.
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Robin Jensen is an award-winning screenwriter and director who studied animation and documentary film at Volda University College. His short film FARSE premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020 and has won numerous awards. His latest short film KUK was screened at Tromsø Film Festival in 2024. Robin will work on developing one of his feature film projects during the program.
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Emilie Blichfeldt graduated from Nordland College of Art and Film in 2013 with the film HOW DO YOU LIKE MY HAIR, who won the Film Critics' Award at the Norwegian Short Film Festival. Her graduation film from the Norwegian Film School, SARAS INTIME BETROELSER (Sara's Intimate Confessions), had its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival in 2018 and was screened at the world's largest short film festival in Clermont-Ferrand in 2019. Emilie is also a former FilmLab participant.
Emilie participated in Mer Film's first talent program. During that period, she developed DEN STYGGE STESØSTEREN (The Ugly Stepsister), which became her debut as a feature film director and it premiered in Norwegian cinemas in 2025.
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Åse Kathrin Vuolab started her career in film and television as an actress when she was a child. From 2009 to 2012, she studied screenwriting at the Norwegian Film School. After film school, Åse Kathrin has worked as an actress, screenwriter, director, and project manager for shorter productions. Åse Kathrin wants to tell stories from Sápmi and Northern Norway that will resonate with anyone who is not Sami, because after all, we are all ordinary people with feelings, regardless of our cultural background and ethnicity.
Through the program, she developed A SAMI WEDDING, which will be the first major drama series in Northern Sami ever made. In addition to being the series creator, Åse Kathrin is also co-director of the entire series.