#Cannes 2026 Wish List - The Nordics

As promised to some blog regular readers, will do a more in-depth exploration of directors and their films I find interesting and hope will fulfill its promise when finally I'm able to watch them. This time will go into regions and will start with a region that is producing the most fascinating, engaging and visually astounding long-form films, otherwise called TV series (lol), the Nordics.

In the generic #Cannes2026 Wish List there are 7 films that possibly will be ready for 2026 screening as in paper have high potential to be accepted in any world film festival and a few have impeccable credentials like Romanian Cristian Mungiu, Icelandic Hlynur Pálmason, and Danish Nicolas Winding Refn. But lets also consider two young newcomers like Swedish-Costa Rican Nathalie Alvarez Mesén (her film Clara Sola was in #Cannes2021 Quinzaine) and Swedish Amanda Kernell (her film Sami Blood was in #BiennaleCinema2016 Venice Days).

The Nordics

Christian Mungiu - Romania
Fjord, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France and Romania

Perhaps you wonder why there is a Romanian director among The Nordics and if that's the case let me share that according to Nordic industry press, film is as Nordic as any Nordic film with Nordic director and crew. Seems the region is taking this film as one of their own and I'm so glad as reunites one of my most favorite film director with a region that produces many of my favorite movies and long-form films.

Yes, I have high expectations which is something I never do as prefer to watch movies with mind in a complete blank and avoid any negative emotion when expectations are not fulfilled.

Cristian Mungiu's first film, Occident opened in #Cannes2002 Quinzaine but his second film 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is the one that propelled him to cinema stratosphere as is #Cannes2007 Palme d'Or winner and the responsable for changing the rules of the now called International Feature Film category at the Oscars. His next films all opened in Cannes winning the #Cannes2012 Best Actress in Beyond the Hills and #Cannes2016 Best Director for Graduation. So, there is little doubt Fjord will open too in Cannes and perhaps even in the main competition; my only doubt comes form the fact that it's Mungiu first ever English-language film and there are so many examples of things gone wrong when extraordinary film directors do directing not in their mother tongue. Let's hope this film is not one of the many.

If Mungiu wasn't enough add Renate Reinsve to, perhaps now more known after The Apprentice, Sebastian Stan and end up with the odd Romanian-Norwegian couple Mihai and Lisbet living in a small, remote Norwegian village. By the way the script is written by Mungiu and have no doubt that could be an intense exploration of complex social issues just like his previous films, especially Cannes Palme d'Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.

For reference let us recall that both Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan are Oscar nominees but their individual career also includes several major awards. Reinsve is #Cannes2021 Best Actress winner for The Worst Person in the World and #EFA2026 Best Actress winner for Sentimental Value and Stan is #Berlinale2024 Best Leading performance and Golden Globe winner for A Different Man.

Film is a multi-national co-production led by Romania's Mobra Film (Mungiu's production company), France's Why Not Productions, and Norway's Eye Eye Pictures. Other key partners include Denmark's Snowglobe Film, Finland's Aamu Film Company, Sweden's Filmgate Films, and France's Goodfellas. Fjord was shot in Norway with additional support from Sweden's Film i Väst.

American independent film production and distribution company Neon has already acquired (May 2025) North American, UK, Australia, and New Zealand rights. Neon is nowadays considered the Awards making company as many of their films went to win top Oscars, like Parasite that broke the crystal ceiling and won Best Picture at #Oscars2020. Also according to Unifrance, rights were sold to Italy's Bim Distribuzione and Spain's Caramel Films.

Check the long synopsis from French independent film sales and production company Goodfellas (formerly Wild Bunch International):
The Gheorghius – Catholic and Romanian - settle in a Norwegian village, the mother’s birthplace. They quickly bond with the Halbergs, who live in the neighboring house near the bay. Despite their very different upbringings, the children of both families soon become close friends. Until the Gheorghius are suspected of hurting their own children…

The first official film still from Fjord released in early 2026 gives very little idea about the cinematography but highly suggest the tone of the drama which looks exactly as Mungiu's gorgeous storytelling particular style.



Nicolas Winding Refn - Denmark
Her Private Hell, Nicolas Winding Refn, USA and Denmark

After almost 10 years away from the big screen Nicolas Winding Refn is back. His last film was The Neon Demon and we surely remember Drive, Bronson, Only God Forgives and the Pusher trilogy among many others. He is a #Cannes2011 Best Director winner for Drive and his films Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon opened in Competition at Cannes.

It is no surprise that there is very little info about the film and lot's of speculation as NWF always keeps secret all about his productions and also, quite a scarce info after film is released. So, will try to navigate the flow and try to pick up what seems more reliable information.

If you wish to feel what NWR has inside his mind and translates it to his cinema, check his platform byNWR that also has a collection of fabulous movies for rent, like 1968 Therese and Isabelle, go here to platform.

Films was writer is NWR with Esti Giordani and some speculate is "full of glitter, sex and violence" but be careful as almost all his films can be described with those words. Film locations were Copenhagen and Tokyo.

Movie cast is full of what we can call feature film newcomers like Sophie Thatcher (better known for TV series YellowJackets), Diego Calva (known for TV Series The Night Manager and On Swift Horses movie), Charles Melton (May December and TV Series Riverdale). Movie is produced by American Neon and Danish byNWR (director's own company) with producers Lene Børglum, Christina Erritzøe, and Kimberly Willmingare attached via byNWR Originals.

Not much more information is available so if his movie is accepted in Cannes lets hope we get more interesting details about the film; still, this is a Nicolas Winding Refn and for me that is enough to watch whatever he makes even when some I have not liked.



Nathalie Alvarez Mesén - Sweden and Costa Rica
The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands, Sweden, UK, Belgium and Iceland

Nathalie was born in Sweden to a Costa Rican mother and an Uruguayan father. At 7-years-old moved to Costa Rica until went back to Sweden for university at Stockholm University of the Arts and also at Columbia University graduated with Master of Fine Arts in Film Directing and Screenwriting.

Her first feature film, Clara Sola, premiered at #Cannes2021 at the Quinzaine, went to win several awards at 2022 Guldbagge Awards and was Costa Rica's offiial entry to Oscars. Her second film The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands is her first in English-language and was written by Nathalie with Icelandic poet Sjón (co-writer of Lamb) .

Film is a multi-national co-production with "prestige boutique outfit" Sweden's HOBAB leading along with key partners including UK's Quiddity Films, Belgium's Need Productions, and Iceland's Still Vivid. Filming was in Belfast, Nothern Ireland. Production was completed in December 2025 and according to some, will be ready for Cannes while others say will be in Venice.

The film cast names Alexander Skarsgård, Canadian Darla Contois, and fabulous Pernilla August among others. Swedish release is handled by leading arthouse banner TriArt, internaitonal distibution still not known. Release date in Belgium is November 2026 but general release news say May 2026 and we know what that date means.

Film synopsis from Screen Brussels.
In the 19th-century rural landscape of the Pacific Northwest, Isabel, a Native American governess, is sent to the home of an English family, expected to instil Christian values in their two young girls, following the tragic death of their mother. The upcoming arranged marriage of the eldest daughter, the father's obsession with hunting wolves, and the unfolding of inexplicable events raise tensions in the household. Isabel, herself grappling with her own roots, starts to question the education she's instilling in the young girls



Amanda Kernell - Sweden
Garrat du Váimmu (Brace Your Heart), Amanda Kernell, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Bulgaria

Amanda Kernell was born in Umeå to a Swedish mother and a Sami father thus was able to experiment two very different cultures growing up. Probably that is why her films tell maily stories of Sámi people.

This is Kernell's third film after Swedish Oscar entry Charter and acclaimed debut Sami Blood at 2016 Biennale Cinema Giornate delgi Autori. Film is written by her and was filmed in the Kiruna region in Northern Sweden known for its indigenous Sámi culture and yes, the Icehotel.

Kernell previous two movies have not been in Cannes so perhaps now is her time if movie is ready; if not ready nor Cannes, then surely Venice has to be its destination.

Movie is produced by Sweden's Nordisk Film Production in co-production with Norway's Forest People, Iceland's Compass Films, Bulgaria's Invictus, Denmark's Nordisk Film Production plus Filmpool Nord, SVT, and Film i Väst, with support from The Swedish Film Institute, The Danish Film Institute, The International Sámi Film Institute, Nordisk Film and TV Fond, the Bulgarian National Film Centre, the Icelandic Film Centre, Eurimages and Arktisk Film Norge.

Sales agent TrustNordisk has the international sales and was at 2026 Berlinale European Film Market.

Synopsis from Trust Nordisk
In a remote Sámi village high in the mountains, 20-year-old Ejva inherits her late father's reindeer herd. As she struggles to keep the herd thriving, local leader Heaika develops romantic feelings for her, and though hesitant, she feels compelled to accept. But everything changes when Nejla, Heaika’s cousin, arrives, and Ejva discovers true love for the first time. Betrayed and jealous, Heaika reacts harshly, leaving Ejva with a condition that makes her hands shake uncontrollably, threatening her ability to care for the herd. Now, Ejva must find a way to reclaim control over her life and her future.