On a small farm in a Norwegian forest, the Payne family seeks a wild and free existence. Maria and Nik, along with their four children Ulv, Falk, Freja, and Ronja are self-sufficient. They practice home-schooling and strive for a closely-knit family dynamic in harmony with nature. However, when tragedy strikes the family, it upends their idyllic world and forces them to forge a new path into modern society.

In A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS, filmmaker Silje Evensmo Jacobsen captures an intimate and soulful portrait of love, life, and growing up. The Payne’s journey, their triumphs, and struggles, invite reflection on our own life choices, our responsibility to the planet and our children, and how we navigate life after loss.

Silje Evensmo Jacobsen has been directing award-winning documentary films and series for the past 15 years. Her work often explores human resilience, family dynamics, and connections between people. Some of her titles are Team Ingebrigtsen (2018), Faith Can Move Mountains (2021), and A New Kind of
Wilderness (2024), which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival 2024 and continues to achieve success worldwide. She is the co-founder of A5 Film, an esteemed Oslo-based