Directed by acclaimed Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu, Fjord was shot over 36 days in Hjørundfjorden during spring 2025, surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Sunnmørsalpene, where mountains rise nearly 1,700 metres directly from the fjord below.
Early in development, Mungiu travelled along the west coast of Norway scouting for what producer Tudor Reu described as “the right fjord”. Local knowledge and support from Western Norway Film Commission played an important role in shaping the production, while Norwegian producer Eye Eye Pictures, also behind Oscar-winning Sentimental Value, was already familiar with the region after shooting the 2024 thriller Armand in Ålesund.
Much of the production was based in Stenes near Øye and in neighbouring villages throughout the Hjørundfjord area. Cast and crew stayed in private houses and local hotels during filming, highlighting the flexibility and hospitality of the local communities. Reu also recalled how Hotel Union Øye opened especially early for the production to accommodate the cast.
It has been an honour to have a filmmaker of Mungiu’s stature engage so thoughtfully with our region. We are proud to have supported the project at multiple stages, and pleased to see the many connections formed between our local crew and their Romanian colleagues.
The collaboration between Norwegian and Romanian filmmakers was central to the production. Speaking to Screen Daily, Romanian producer Tudor Reu praised the Norwegian crews involved in the project:
“The Norwegian crews were experienced and extremely helpful to the project.”
Eye Eye Pictures producer Dyveke Bjørkly Graver also highlighted Norway’s competitiveness as an international filming destination:
When we compare prices, it really is not [expensive]. If you have euros to spend, it is actually quite cheap at the moment.
The production received support from Western Norway Film Fund, Western Norway Film Commission, Zefyr Media Fund, and co-production financing from the Norwegian Film Institute. Norwegian producers are Andrea Berentsen Ottmar and Dyveke Bjørkly Graver of Eye Eye Pictures AS.
The film stars Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan alongside Lisa Loven Kongsli, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, and Henrikke Lund-Olsen. Fjord tells the story of a Romanian-Norwegian family settling in a remote fjord community, where questions of culture, faith, freedom, and family life challenge both neighbours and institutions.
For Cristian Mungiu — who previously won the Palme d’Or for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days — Fjord marks both his first English-language feature and his first film shot outside Romania.
The Palme d’Or win highlights the strength of Norway’s production ecosystem — where extraordinary locations, highly skilled crews, strong national and regional funding structures, and supportive local communities create the conditions for internationally acclaimed filmmaking.
