A new Nordic film and TV awards show, The Freyas, holds its first ceremony in Helsinki on Tuesday, co-created by Danish Hollywood film reporter Tina Jøhnk Christensen.
Danish journalist Tina Jøhnk Christensen has worked in Hollywood for 25 years and helps organize the Golden Globes. DR reports that she is now behind a new prize show for Nordic film and television.
The awards are called The Freyas, after Freja, the fertility goddess of Norse mythology. Per DR, Christensen built the event with Nordic journalists and industry colleagues based in the United States. She says Los Angeles is far better at celebrating and supporting its own, and that the Nordic region can learn from that.
The ceremony covers productions from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. According to DR, it features a red carpet, a statuette created by Danish artist Mie Sandhus, and a series of honorary awards. Variety reported on September 17 that the first edition takes place in Helsinki on September 22, 2026.
Trine Dyrholm among the first honorees
Swedish director Lasse Hallström, Finnish actor Peter Franzén and Swedish actor Lena Olin are on the guest list, DR reports. In Denmark, attention will center on Trine Dyrholm, who will present an award and receive one herself. Her prize is for her role in the series “Den danske kvinde”, available on DR TV.
Variety adds that Dyrholm receives the award for Outstanding Nordic Actor in a Series, for playing Ditte Jensen. The outlet describes the production as an Iceland, Denmark and France co-production. Other announced awardees include Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Fares Fares, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Laura Birn and Ebba Katrín Finnsdóttir, according to Variety.
Variety also refers to the event as the Nordic Film and TV Awards, honoring actors in film and series alongside other creative talents. Christensen tells DR that the Nordic countries are each small players internationally, but large together. She points to The Nordic House at the Cannes Film Festival as an existing example of Nordic cooperation.
Christensen says both Hollywood and the Nordic region make strong films and series, but in different ways. She credits Hollywood with promotion, and the Nordic countries with developing talent through their film schools. In November she also serves as festival director of the Nordic Film Festival in Los Angeles.
The show is not tied to Helsinki. DR reports that The Freyas will move to a new host country each year, with Denmark hosting in 2027 and Stockholm in 2028. Christensen says the date is not set yet, only that Copenhagen is the next destination.
