Erlend Eirik Mo (1967-2021) was a Norwegian documentary filmmaker whose work explored human connection, identity, and environmental consciousness with remarkable empathy and authenticity. Born in 1967, Mo studied literature and Scandinavian languages at the University of Oslo (1986-90) before pursuing film and television studies at Volda University College (1990-92).

Throughout his career, Mo produced and directed numerous award-winning documentaries for major broadcasters including NRK's Children and Youth Department and DR's Children and Youth Department. His films garnered international recognition at prestigious festivals, with notable works including "Kan man dø i himlen" (2005), which won the Youth Jury's Best Documentary at Odense Film Festival and a GuldDok for Best Documentary at CPH:DOX, and "My Eyes" (2006), which received the IDFA Silver Cub Award.

Mo's final film, "Journey to Utopia" (2020), was perhaps his most personal work—a documentary that followed his own family's attempt to join an ecological experiment in Denmark. The film exemplified his commitment to authentic storytelling, even when it meant turning the camera on his own life's most vulnerable moments.

As an educator, Mo played a pivotal role in establishing the documentary program at Den norske Filmskolen (The Norwegian Film School), where he mentored a generation of filmmakers with his characteristic warmth and dedication. Colleagues remembered him for his burning passion for documentary filmmaking and his belief in cinema's power to convey "the most essential—the authentic and the intimate."

Erlend Eirik Mo passed away on January 13, 2021, leaving behind a legacy of compassionate storytelling and a profound impact on both Norwegian cinema and the students he inspired throughout his career. Erlend was a close friend, like a brother to Anita, since they studied together in Volda. Deeply missed...