The inaugural Nordic Genre Lab is being held at the Helsinki International Film Festival (Finnish Film Affair) from 23–25 September, showcasing eight genre films in development from Nordic filmmakers to over 500 industry delegates. The initiative aims to strengthen the Nordic genre film ecosystem and support emerging talent by providing mentorship from high-profile industry figures Claire Willats, former Netflix commissioner, and Todd Brown, former head of acquisitions at XYZ Films. The lab addresses a gap in institutional support for genre filmmaking in the region, which has produced acclaimed titles like "Troll" and "Red Snow" but lacks formal networking and development structures comparable to the arthouse world.

The eight finalists were selected from 29 submissions based on originality, team quality, writing and development stage, representing diverse approaches including folk horror from the Faroe Islands, Norwegian survival thrillers, Finnish psychological horror and political satire. Notable projects include "Alma," a Finnish thriller written by Ilja Rautsi; "Whistler," the first Faroese horror feature; and "Trespassers," a Swedish film from the producer of "Midsommar." According to Willats, there is significant global appetite for Nordic genre content, with Netflix's "Troll" remaining the platform's top non-English film. Organisers plan to expand the lab next year to include Sámi, Icelandic and Greenlandic projects.