Allocations for ordinary grants of more than NOK 100 000 awarded in June 2021: Documentary films

June 29 2021

The Fritt Ord Foundation’s list of allocations has been updated to include grants in response to ordinary project applications for NOK 100 000 or more and major grants for Norwegian Journalism in June 2021.

The roughly 115 allocations in this round include grants for the development, production and launch of documentary films. For example, A5 film has received NOK 300 000 for the production of the documentary series “ENERGY”. This is a series about the joy of dancing and identity, in which we follow six of the most promising street dancers in Norway. Silje Evensmo Jacobsen and Katja Høgseth are the directors.
The Media Operators and Director Natasa Urban have been granted NOK 300 000 in production support for the documentary film “The Eclipse”. A rare eclipse of the sun in 1999 is used as an allegory for a dark period in the history of Serbia. Integral Film has received NOK 200 000 for the production of the documentary film “Baghdad on Fire”, directed by Karrar Al-Azzawi. The film follows a young Iraqi woman’s struggle for freedom and democracy.

News

Mykhailo Tkach, Andrei Aliaksandrau, Arevhat Sahakyan (Factor TV), Nino Bakradze (iFact), and Lola Tagaeva (Verstka).

Free Media Awards for 2026. Press freedom under pressure in wartime: – Silence does not protect democracy

September 29 2026

This year’s winners of the Free Media Awards from the Fritt Ord Foundation and Zeit Stiftung Bucerius received their awards in Toppsalen at the Munch Museum in Oslo on 29 September 2026.
The Belarusian journalist and media manager Andrei Aliaksandrau came straight to Oslo after spending over five years in prison for his work. Aliaksandrau dedicated the award to imprisoned journalists and editors in Belarus and quoted the Liverpool FC anthem: “You’ll never walk alone”.

Mykhailo Tkach heads investigations at Ukrainska Pravda, which uncovers corruption, even in a Ukraine fighting an existential war against Russia.
– I face charges in at least thirteen cases related to my work. I have been threatened. My team has been threatened. And what is our answer? To keep digging. Silence does not protect democracy. Journalism does.

Mykhailo Tkach

Ukrainian, Georgian, Armenian, Russian and Belarusian journalists and media to receive five Free Media Awards for 2026

September 3 2026

This year’s prize laureates for the Free Media Awards from the Fritt Ord Foundation and Zeit Stiftung Bucerius are:
The investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach from Ukraine
The investigative media outlet iFact from Georgia
The online media Factor TV from Armenia
The online media Verstka from Russia (in exile)
The journalist and media director Andrei Aliaksandrau from Belarus (imprisoned)*

Fritt Ord's grants for master’s degrees

August 30 2026

Is your master’s project about freedom of expression, social debate or journalism? If so, you can apply for a student grant from the Fritt Ord Foundation.

The Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute 2026

August 18 2026

The rap duo Karpe has been awarded the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for giving voice to the experiences of many young people from minority backgrounds. Through the language of rap, they are expanding the space for the expression of identity and belonging.