Scandinavian talent to look out for at the 2025 Academy Awards

In last month’s column, I focused on the Nordic countries’ official submissions for the 2025 Academy Awards, which will be held on 2 March. In this month’s column, I will continue to warm up to the world’s most famous film awards.

It is evidence of the strength and health of the film industry in the Nordics that plenty of talent will be on display at the awards. Danish actor Connie Nielsen is among the stars who have been announced as hosts of the awards.

First and foremost, however, it is now official that the Danish film The Girl with the Needle (Pigen med Nålen) will represent the Nordics as it made the cut for the final five films that will compete for the Best International Film.

But it will not be the only Scandinavian representation. We previously wrote about Donald Trump’s biopic The Apprentice, directed by Danish/Iranian film director Ali Abbasi. The controversial English-language film, which features a cast of Hollywood A-listers, has been locked in legal battles as Trump tried to stop it from being released in the US. However, it has now been released, and the Academy Awards has responded by nominating it for two Oscars.

When it comes to actors, Swedish veteran actor Stellan Skarsgård stars in the blockbuster Dune Part Two, which was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture. Connie Nielsen stars in the sequel to her biggest success, Gladiator II, which is up for one Oscar. Bill Skarsgård joins his dad, Stellan, as he starts in Nosferatu – up for one Oscar.

Not quite making the cut

While Norway’s Handling the Undead (Håndtering av udøde) did not make the final cut, it was an early contender for the nomination. The story centres around a hot summer day in Oslo when the dead mysteriously awaken. Three families are thrown into chaos when their deceased loved ones come back to them.

Another early contender was Speak No Evil – a US remake of the 2022 Danish original version of the same name centred around a Danish family who visit a Dutch family they met on holiday. What was supposed to be an idyllic weekend slowly starts unravelling as the Danes try to stay polite in the face of unpleasantness. In the US version, the Danes are replaced with Americans and the Dutch with Brits. Director and writer of the original version, Christian Tafdrup, as well as writer Mads Tafdrup, join the US production alongside Danish actor Jakob Højlev Jørgensen.

A series of Nordic actors are also involved in several international productions that were also early contenders; Swedish actress Alicia Vikander in Firebrand, Norwegian actor Anders Danielsen Lie in Mothers’ Instinct, Danish/American actor and director Viggo Mortensen have written, directed and stars in The Dead Don’t Hurt, Bill Skarsgård in Nosferatu, Alexander Skarsgård in Lee, Swedish veteran actor Lena Olin in One Life and Norwegian actor Kristofer Hivju in Red One.

Anders Lorenzen is a Danish blogger and film and TV enthusiast living in London.