Niclas Larsson’s “Mother, Couch” was awarded the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at Goteborg, taking home the considerable amount of Sek 400,000.
Led by Ewan McGregor – this year’s recipient of the Honorary Dragon Award – the U.S.-Swedish-Danish co-production also features Ellen Burstyn and “Bones and All” breakout Taylor Russell, making it one of the starriest Goteborg winners in recent years.
“My therapist was wrong! I pitched him this idea a few years ago and he said: ‘Don’t do it.’ I am from here and this festival has meant the world to me. Standing on this stage is a bit surreal,” said Larsson.
Jurors Lena Endre, Ramata-Toulaye Sy, William Spetz, Tonia Noyabrova and Anna Novion appreciated the way it shows “how difficult it is to let go of the past, accept loss and finally embrace the future.” They praised “original and bold storytelling, with a lot of humor,...
Led by Ewan McGregor – this year’s recipient of the Honorary Dragon Award – the U.S.-Swedish-Danish co-production also features Ellen Burstyn and “Bones and All” breakout Taylor Russell, making it one of the starriest Goteborg winners in recent years.
“My therapist was wrong! I pitched him this idea a few years ago and he said: ‘Don’t do it.’ I am from here and this festival has meant the world to me. Standing on this stage is a bit surreal,” said Larsson.
Jurors Lena Endre, Ramata-Toulaye Sy, William Spetz, Tonia Noyabrova and Anna Novion appreciated the way it shows “how difficult it is to let go of the past, accept loss and finally embrace the future.” They praised “original and bold storytelling, with a lot of humor,...
- 2/3/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
“My role is to sometimes talk to the press or to fight with policemen,” Cannes Delegate General Thierry Fremaux joked during a keynote this evening at the Göteborg Film Festival.
Fremaux had been making a comedic reference to his altercation with a local police officer on the pavement outside the Carlton Hotel at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The altercation — which went viral — was just one of the topics Fremaux touched on this evening in Göteborg during a keynote session with Swedish filmmaker and two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund.
Concluding the description of his unique job title, Fremaux added: “We are really at the service of the artist, the press, the audience and the professionals. If those roles are well done, we are happy.”
The evening’s session was chaired by outgoing Göteborg head Jonas Holmberg, who quizzed the pair on their working relationship and what they...
Fremaux had been making a comedic reference to his altercation with a local police officer on the pavement outside the Carlton Hotel at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The altercation — which went viral — was just one of the topics Fremaux touched on this evening in Göteborg during a keynote session with Swedish filmmaker and two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund.
Concluding the description of his unique job title, Fremaux added: “We are really at the service of the artist, the press, the audience and the professionals. If those roles are well done, we are happy.”
The evening’s session was chaired by outgoing Göteborg head Jonas Holmberg, who quizzed the pair on their working relationship and what they...
- 1/31/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Thierry Fremaux, general delegate of Cannes Film Festival, has praised Apple’s release strategy on Killers Of The Flower Moon and Napoleon.
Speaking at a conversation event at Goteborg Film Festival with Swedish director Ruben Ostlund, Fremaux said, “What Apple have done with the Martin Scorsese film and the Ridley Scott film, they have made a lot of money at the box office, and now the films are on the platforms. Which to me is the perfect reflection of our times.”
Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon has grossed over $156m worldwide since its release last October; while Scott...
Speaking at a conversation event at Goteborg Film Festival with Swedish director Ruben Ostlund, Fremaux said, “What Apple have done with the Martin Scorsese film and the Ridley Scott film, they have made a lot of money at the box office, and now the films are on the platforms. Which to me is the perfect reflection of our times.”
Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon has grossed over $156m worldwide since its release last October; while Scott...
- 1/31/2024
- ScreenDaily
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival unveiled its 2024 lineup today, featuring 250 feature films set to screen across ten days, with highlights including Handling the Undead, Norwegian filmmaker Thea Hvistendahl’s feature debut, starring Renate Resinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie. Other buzzy titles include the Finish title The Missile from filmmaker Miia Tervo and Morbius director Daniel Espinosa’s return to Nordic filmmaker with Madame Luna.
Handling the Undead opens the festival following its debut bow at Sundance. The pic, an adaptation of a novel by Let The Right One In writer John Ajvide Lindqvist, tells the story of three families recently left in mourning after the passing of loved ones. Suddenly, the power grid goes out, and the deceased begin to move.
Guests set to pass through Gothenburg include actor Ewan McGregor, who will receive the festival’s honorary dragon award for career achievement. He will also be in town to...
Handling the Undead opens the festival following its debut bow at Sundance. The pic, an adaptation of a novel by Let The Right One In writer John Ajvide Lindqvist, tells the story of three families recently left in mourning after the passing of loved ones. Suddenly, the power grid goes out, and the deceased begin to move.
Guests set to pass through Gothenburg include actor Ewan McGregor, who will receive the festival’s honorary dragon award for career achievement. He will also be in town to...
- 1/9/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Festival selection includes Nikolaj Arcel’s ‘The Promised Land’ and Ernst De Geer’s ‘The Hypnosis’.
Goteborg Film Festival has selected almost 250 films for its 47th edition, including recent Nordic favourites The Promised Land starring Mads Mikkelsen and The Hypnosis by Ernst De Geer.
The festival, which runs from January 26 to February 4, has also programmed events including a talk between Ruben Ostlund and Cannes director Thierry Fremaux; and selected Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen to receive its Nordic Honorary Dragon award.
Scroll down for the list of festival titles
The 10 films competing in the Nordic Competition include Nikolaj Arcel’s The Promised Land,...
Goteborg Film Festival has selected almost 250 films for its 47th edition, including recent Nordic favourites The Promised Land starring Mads Mikkelsen and The Hypnosis by Ernst De Geer.
The festival, which runs from January 26 to February 4, has also programmed events including a talk between Ruben Ostlund and Cannes director Thierry Fremaux; and selected Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen to receive its Nordic Honorary Dragon award.
Scroll down for the list of festival titles
The 10 films competing in the Nordic Competition include Nikolaj Arcel’s The Promised Land,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Actors Ewan McGregor, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, directors Ruben Östlund, Ernst de Geer, Ramata-Toulaye Sy and Cannes Film Festival honcho Thierry Frémaux are some of the stellar guests set to walk the red carpet at the 47th edition of Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival.
This year’s Göteborg Fest unspools from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4.
For his last run as artistic director of Scandinavia’s biggest film festival, Jonas Holmberg has selected 240 films from 82 countries, and what he calls “one of the strongest lineups ever” for Göteborg’s main Nordic competition strand. Among the highly anticipated titles vying for the coveted Best Nordic Film Dragon Award worth Sek 400,000, is Norway’s “Handling the Undead” by Thea Hvistendahl, set to kickstart the festival on the heels of its Sundance world premiere.
“This will be the first time we open with a zombie horror,” notes Holmberg, who looks forward...
This year’s Göteborg Fest unspools from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4.
For his last run as artistic director of Scandinavia’s biggest film festival, Jonas Holmberg has selected 240 films from 82 countries, and what he calls “one of the strongest lineups ever” for Göteborg’s main Nordic competition strand. Among the highly anticipated titles vying for the coveted Best Nordic Film Dragon Award worth Sek 400,000, is Norway’s “Handling the Undead” by Thea Hvistendahl, set to kickstart the festival on the heels of its Sundance world premiere.
“This will be the first time we open with a zombie horror,” notes Holmberg, who looks forward...
- 1/9/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
The Göteborg Film Festival has unveiled the competition titles selected for its 47th edition, which runs from January 26 to February 4. (Scroll down for the full list).
Göteborg is split into four competition strands. The main strand is the Nordic Competition, which features nine films from the Nordic region. The competition’s winner takes home the Dragon Award and a Sek 400,000 cash prize. The rest of the festival comprises the Nordic Documentary Competition, the Ingmar Bergman Competition for first-time filmmakers, and the International Competition.
Among the Nordic highlights is Madame Luna, Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa’s return to Nordic filmmaking following a series of Hollywood titles such as Morbius and Safe House. Inspired by real-life events, the film follows an Eritrean refugee who gets stuck in Libya and becomes a notorious human trafficker known as “Mama Luna” with deep ties to the Italian Mafia. When she is forced to flee to...
Göteborg is split into four competition strands. The main strand is the Nordic Competition, which features nine films from the Nordic region. The competition’s winner takes home the Dragon Award and a Sek 400,000 cash prize. The rest of the festival comprises the Nordic Documentary Competition, the Ingmar Bergman Competition for first-time filmmakers, and the International Competition.
Among the Nordic highlights is Madame Luna, Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa’s return to Nordic filmmaking following a series of Hollywood titles such as Morbius and Safe House. Inspired by real-life events, the film follows an Eritrean refugee who gets stuck in Libya and becomes a notorious human trafficker known as “Mama Luna” with deep ties to the Italian Mafia. When she is forced to flee to...
- 1/9/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Scottish actor will present ‘Mother, Couch’ and classic ‘Trainspotting’.
Sweden’s Goteborg Film Festival will present its 2024 Honorary Dragon award to Scottish actor Ewan McGregor.
McGregor will attend the festival to receive the award, where he will also participate in an Actors Talk, and present the Nordic premiere of Niclas Larsson’s Mother, Couch, in which McGregor plays the lead.
The Honorary Dragon award ceremony will be in conjunction with a screening of Danny Boyle’s 1996 classic Trainspotting, followed by an on-stage conversation with McGregor.
“Ewan McGregor is an androgynous symbol of the Cool Britannia era, a romantic icon for the millennial generation,...
Sweden’s Goteborg Film Festival will present its 2024 Honorary Dragon award to Scottish actor Ewan McGregor.
McGregor will attend the festival to receive the award, where he will also participate in an Actors Talk, and present the Nordic premiere of Niclas Larsson’s Mother, Couch, in which McGregor plays the lead.
The Honorary Dragon award ceremony will be in conjunction with a screening of Danny Boyle’s 1996 classic Trainspotting, followed by an on-stage conversation with McGregor.
“Ewan McGregor is an androgynous symbol of the Cool Britannia era, a romantic icon for the millennial generation,...
- 1/4/2024
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Ewan McGregor is set to receive the Honorary Dragon Award at this year’s Göteborg Film Festival in Sweden.
The “Star Wars” and “Trainspotting” star will attend the festival to collect the honor and participate in an Actors Talk. He will also be present at the Nordic premiere of his latest film, Niclas Larsson’s “Mother, Couch,” and a retrospective of his most notable films will be featured at the festival.
“Ewan McGregor is an androgynous symbol of the Cool Britannia era, a romantic icon for the millennial generation and a saber-swinging franchise holder in the pop-cultural center of the galaxy. But above all, he is an incredibly skilled artist,” Göteborg Film Festival artistic director Jonas Holmberg said in a statement. “By mastering stylized extravagance, literary precision and nuanced realism with the same relaxed self-evidence, Ewan McGregor has shown that he is one of the truly great actors of our time.
The “Star Wars” and “Trainspotting” star will attend the festival to collect the honor and participate in an Actors Talk. He will also be present at the Nordic premiere of his latest film, Niclas Larsson’s “Mother, Couch,” and a retrospective of his most notable films will be featured at the festival.
“Ewan McGregor is an androgynous symbol of the Cool Britannia era, a romantic icon for the millennial generation and a saber-swinging franchise holder in the pop-cultural center of the galaxy. But above all, he is an incredibly skilled artist,” Göteborg Film Festival artistic director Jonas Holmberg said in a statement. “By mastering stylized extravagance, literary precision and nuanced realism with the same relaxed self-evidence, Ewan McGregor has shown that he is one of the truly great actors of our time.
- 1/4/2024
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Scottish star Ewan McGregor will receive this year’s Honorary Dragon Award, a lifetime achievement honor, at Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival.
McGregor will attend the Göteborg event, which runs from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4, and will present the Nordic premiere screening of his latest feature, Mother, Couch. McGregor stars alongside Rhys Ifans and Lara Flynn Boyle as three siblings bought together when their eccentric mother, played by Ellen Burstyn, sits herself down on a couch in a vintage furniture store and refuses to get up. Directed by Swedish filmmaker Niclas Larsson, Mother, Couch is adapted from Swedish author Jerker Virdborg’s novel Mamma i soffa. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year.
McGregor will receive his Dragon Award following a screening of his 1996 breakthrough Trainspotting, after which he will participate in an onstage conversation.
“Ewan McGregor is an androgynous symbol of the Cool Britannia era, a...
McGregor will attend the Göteborg event, which runs from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4, and will present the Nordic premiere screening of his latest feature, Mother, Couch. McGregor stars alongside Rhys Ifans and Lara Flynn Boyle as three siblings bought together when their eccentric mother, played by Ellen Burstyn, sits herself down on a couch in a vintage furniture store and refuses to get up. Directed by Swedish filmmaker Niclas Larsson, Mother, Couch is adapted from Swedish author Jerker Virdborg’s novel Mamma i soffa. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year.
McGregor will receive his Dragon Award following a screening of his 1996 breakthrough Trainspotting, after which he will participate in an onstage conversation.
“Ewan McGregor is an androgynous symbol of the Cool Britannia era, a...
- 1/4/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival has tapped actor Ewan McGregor to receive its honorary dragon award for career achievement during its 47th edition, running from January 26 to February 4.
McGregor will attend Göteborg to receive the award, participate in an ‘actors talk’ Q&a session, and present the Nordic premiere of Niclas Larsson’s Mother, Couch, in which he plays the leading role alongside Taylor Russell. The festival will also host a retrospective of McGregor’s films.
Some of McGregor’s most notable credits include Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting, Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!, and the Star Wars trilogy. The Scottish actor is next set to exec produce and star in Paramount+ & Showtime’s A Gentleman in Moscow.
“Ewan McGregor is an androgynous symbol of the Cool Britannia era, a romantic icon for the millennial generation, and a saber-swinging franchise holder in the pop-cultural center of the galaxy,” said Jonas Holmberg,...
McGregor will attend Göteborg to receive the award, participate in an ‘actors talk’ Q&a session, and present the Nordic premiere of Niclas Larsson’s Mother, Couch, in which he plays the leading role alongside Taylor Russell. The festival will also host a retrospective of McGregor’s films.
Some of McGregor’s most notable credits include Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting, Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!, and the Star Wars trilogy. The Scottish actor is next set to exec produce and star in Paramount+ & Showtime’s A Gentleman in Moscow.
“Ewan McGregor is an androgynous symbol of the Cool Britannia era, a romantic icon for the millennial generation, and a saber-swinging franchise holder in the pop-cultural center of the galaxy,” said Jonas Holmberg,...
- 1/4/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Former journalist is well known and respected in the Nordics and internationally.
Pia Lundberg has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Goteborg Film Festival, Scandinavia’s largest film event, and will take up the new position on March 1, 2024.
She takes over from Jonas Holmberg, who announced in June that he was stepping down from the post after a decade to pursue new opportunities.
Lundberg has recently spent five years as counsellor for cultural affairs at the Embassy of Sweden in London.
Previously Lundberg was head of international at the Swedish Film Institute between 2007 and 2018. She is also...
Pia Lundberg has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Goteborg Film Festival, Scandinavia’s largest film event, and will take up the new position on March 1, 2024.
She takes over from Jonas Holmberg, who announced in June that he was stepping down from the post after a decade to pursue new opportunities.
Lundberg has recently spent five years as counsellor for cultural affairs at the Embassy of Sweden in London.
Previously Lundberg was head of international at the Swedish Film Institute between 2007 and 2018. She is also...
- 11/6/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Pia Lundberg, a Swedish film industry veteran, is set to succeed Jonas Holmberg as the new artistic director of Göteborg Film Festival, Scandinavia’s leading film-tv event.
Lundberg most recently served as counsellor for cultural affairs at the Embassy of Sweden in London for the last five years. A former journalist, Lundberg also served as head of international at the Swedish Film Institute between 2007 and 2018. She will take up the position as artistic director of the Goteborg Film Festival on March 1.
“I have attended hundreds of film festivals and now finally have the opportunity to help create one,” said Lundberg. “Sometimes, I wish that significant cinematic experiences could be prescribed by doctors. In a time when more and more people in power view art as an instrumental tool, it is more important than ever to elevate film as an independent artistic expression,” she continued.
Carina Lindberg Glavå, president of the...
Lundberg most recently served as counsellor for cultural affairs at the Embassy of Sweden in London for the last five years. A former journalist, Lundberg also served as head of international at the Swedish Film Institute between 2007 and 2018. She will take up the position as artistic director of the Goteborg Film Festival on March 1.
“I have attended hundreds of film festivals and now finally have the opportunity to help create one,” said Lundberg. “Sometimes, I wish that significant cinematic experiences could be prescribed by doctors. In a time when more and more people in power view art as an instrumental tool, it is more important than ever to elevate film as an independent artistic expression,” she continued.
Carina Lindberg Glavå, president of the...
- 11/6/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Göteborg Film Festival has found a new Artistic Director.
Pia Lundberg, formerly Counsellor for Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Sweden in London, has been appointed to the role. She will take office from March 1, 2024, following Jonas Holmberg’s last edition in charge.
Lundberg previously served as Head of International at the Swedish Film Institute between 2007 and 2018. Over the past five years, Lundberg has worked in London as a Counsellor for Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Sweden. Originally a journalist, she began her career as a writer and editor for various Swedish and international media outlets focusing on film and culture. She served as the editor-in-chief of the Swedish film magazine Cinema for four years.
“It feels fantastic to become a part of the largest film festival in Scandinavia, and I am thrilled to have earned their trust,” Lundberg said. “I have attended hundreds of film festivals and...
Pia Lundberg, formerly Counsellor for Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Sweden in London, has been appointed to the role. She will take office from March 1, 2024, following Jonas Holmberg’s last edition in charge.
Lundberg previously served as Head of International at the Swedish Film Institute between 2007 and 2018. Over the past five years, Lundberg has worked in London as a Counsellor for Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Sweden. Originally a journalist, she began her career as a writer and editor for various Swedish and international media outlets focusing on film and culture. She served as the editor-in-chief of the Swedish film magazine Cinema for four years.
“It feels fantastic to become a part of the largest film festival in Scandinavia, and I am thrilled to have earned their trust,” Lundberg said. “I have attended hundreds of film festivals and...
- 11/6/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
In a move that many people may describe as provocative, the Göteborg Film Festival has set Ingmar Bergman’s landmark arthouse drama Persona for an AI-assisted restoration.
The Swedish festival has teamed with Sf Studios, Gothenburg Film Studios, and The Ingmar Bergman Foundation to produce an AI-generated version of Persona, with Liv Ullmann replaced by Alma Pöysti (Fallen Leaves).
Ullmann famously plays Elisabet Vogler in the pic, and with new AI technology, her face will be digitally replaced by Pöysti’s. Göteborg described the project as a “cinematic experiment,” giving the new film the title Another Persona.
Once completed, the cinematic experiment will screen exclusively at the 2024 Göteborg Film Festival, with Liv Ullmann and Alma Pöysti in attendance. It will not be screened to an audience again. The screening will be followed by a discussion on acting and technology.
“The discussion about acting, masks, and authenticity that has made Persona...
The Swedish festival has teamed with Sf Studios, Gothenburg Film Studios, and The Ingmar Bergman Foundation to produce an AI-generated version of Persona, with Liv Ullmann replaced by Alma Pöysti (Fallen Leaves).
Ullmann famously plays Elisabet Vogler in the pic, and with new AI technology, her face will be digitally replaced by Pöysti’s. Göteborg described the project as a “cinematic experiment,” giving the new film the title Another Persona.
Once completed, the cinematic experiment will screen exclusively at the 2024 Göteborg Film Festival, with Liv Ullmann and Alma Pöysti in attendance. It will not be screened to an audience again. The screening will be followed by a discussion on acting and technology.
“The discussion about acting, masks, and authenticity that has made Persona...
- 9/26/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Includes projects by Lorenz Merz, Ann Oren and Sara Fattahi.
New projects by directors Lorenz Merz, Ann Oren and Sara Fattahi are among those selected for Locarno Pro’s Alliance 4 Development initiative which runs from August 4-6.
The initiative is an integral part of Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Pro industry strand and is aimed at encouraging co-productions between Switzerland and France, Germany and Italy.
Scroll down for full list of projects
11 projects were chosen out of 74 submissions. During the three Alliance 4 Development programme, participants will meet with potential partners and attend panels and networking events.
Lorenz Merz will attend with Who/Man,...
New projects by directors Lorenz Merz, Ann Oren and Sara Fattahi are among those selected for Locarno Pro’s Alliance 4 Development initiative which runs from August 4-6.
The initiative is an integral part of Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Pro industry strand and is aimed at encouraging co-productions between Switzerland and France, Germany and Italy.
Scroll down for full list of projects
11 projects were chosen out of 74 submissions. During the three Alliance 4 Development programme, participants will meet with potential partners and attend panels and networking events.
Lorenz Merz will attend with Who/Man,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
11 projects selected for Locarno Film Festival’s industry strand.
New projects by directors Lorenz Merz, Ann Oren and Sara Fattahi are among those selected for Locarno Pro’s Alliance 4 Development initiative which runs from August 4-6.
The initiative is an integral part of Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Pro industry strand and is aimed at encouraging co-productions between Switzerland and France, Germany and Italy.
Scroll down for full list of projects
11 projects were chosen out of 74 submissions. During the three Alliance 4 Development programme, participants will meet with potential partners and attend panels and networking events.
Lorenz Merz will attend with Who/Man,...
New projects by directors Lorenz Merz, Ann Oren and Sara Fattahi are among those selected for Locarno Pro’s Alliance 4 Development initiative which runs from August 4-6.
The initiative is an integral part of Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Pro industry strand and is aimed at encouraging co-productions between Switzerland and France, Germany and Italy.
Scroll down for full list of projects
11 projects were chosen out of 74 submissions. During the three Alliance 4 Development programme, participants will meet with potential partners and attend panels and networking events.
Lorenz Merz will attend with Who/Man,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Holmberg has led the Swedish event since 2014.
Jonas Holmberg will leave his role as artistic director of Goteborg Film Festival following the 2024 edition of the Swedish event.
“Next festival will be my 10th as artistic director. It has been a difficult decision, but it feels like a good moment to step aside,” said Holmberg. “We have successfully navigated through the pandemic, and both Göteborg Film Festival, alongside our industry platforms Nordic Film Market and TV Drama Vision, as well as Draken Film, are thriving.
“I will be leaving colleagues whom I admire and have learned a lot from, but before that,...
Jonas Holmberg will leave his role as artistic director of Goteborg Film Festival following the 2024 edition of the Swedish event.
“Next festival will be my 10th as artistic director. It has been a difficult decision, but it feels like a good moment to step aside,” said Holmberg. “We have successfully navigated through the pandemic, and both Göteborg Film Festival, alongside our industry platforms Nordic Film Market and TV Drama Vision, as well as Draken Film, are thriving.
“I will be leaving colleagues whom I admire and have learned a lot from, but before that,...
- 6/21/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival is in the market for a new Artistic Director.
Jonas Holmberg, who will have led the prominent festival for a decade come January, will step down following next year’s edition. The festival’s board is currently in the process of finding Holmberg’s replacement.
Holmberg was appointed Artistic Director in 2014, succeeding Swedish writer Marit Kapla. During his time at the helm, Holmberg has been widely regarded by industry and local audiences. He has also been credited with raising the profile of the festival, attracting A-list talent, and experimenting with the presentation of films with stunts like Ruben Östlund’s interactive Triangle Of Sadness screening last year.
Holmberg also oversaw Göteborg’s transition into a hybrid festival with a digital platform and established the festival’s streaming service Draken Film as Sweden’s leading VOD platform for arthouse films. Göteborg is now the largest film festival in Scandinavia,...
Jonas Holmberg, who will have led the prominent festival for a decade come January, will step down following next year’s edition. The festival’s board is currently in the process of finding Holmberg’s replacement.
Holmberg was appointed Artistic Director in 2014, succeeding Swedish writer Marit Kapla. During his time at the helm, Holmberg has been widely regarded by industry and local audiences. He has also been credited with raising the profile of the festival, attracting A-list talent, and experimenting with the presentation of films with stunts like Ruben Östlund’s interactive Triangle Of Sadness screening last year.
Holmberg also oversaw Göteborg’s transition into a hybrid festival with a digital platform and established the festival’s streaming service Draken Film as Sweden’s leading VOD platform for arthouse films. Göteborg is now the largest film festival in Scandinavia,...
- 6/21/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Jonas Holmberg will step down at Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival next year, after his 10th anniversary as artistic director of the leading Nordic fest.
Holmberg took over at Göteborg in 2014, succeeding Marit Kapla. In his decade at the helm, he helped the Swedish event become the first major A-list film festival to achieve full gender parity in its line up (in 2020) with an equal number of films directed by men and women. Over the years, Holmberg also become known for his headline-grabbing gimmicks, including such social experiments as “coffin cinema” in 2019 in which viewers were locked into a specially designed sarcophagus with a film projected onto the inside of the casket; a Covid-era event of extreme social distancing in 2021 in which a single film fan spent a week watching movies in a converted lighthouse on a rocky island off Sweden’s west coast; and last year’s experiment, in...
Holmberg took over at Göteborg in 2014, succeeding Marit Kapla. In his decade at the helm, he helped the Swedish event become the first major A-list film festival to achieve full gender parity in its line up (in 2020) with an equal number of films directed by men and women. Over the years, Holmberg also become known for his headline-grabbing gimmicks, including such social experiments as “coffin cinema” in 2019 in which viewers were locked into a specially designed sarcophagus with a film projected onto the inside of the casket; a Covid-era event of extreme social distancing in 2021 in which a single film fan spent a week watching movies in a converted lighthouse on a rocky island off Sweden’s west coast; and last year’s experiment, in...
- 6/21/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Malou Reymann’s “Unruly” won the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at Göteborg on Saturday. At Sek 400 000, the Award’s cash prize is one of the largest prizes in the world.
Jurors Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Sofie Gråbøl, Antonio Lukich and Matti Bye praised the film for telling a “universal story about human spirit against the oppressive system” with “great sensitivity and power.”
“Although it is rooted in the past, it transcends time and borders, and speaks strongly to our time, our minds and hearts,” they stated.
The Danish director – also behind semi-autobiographical “A Perfectly Normal Family” – decided to go all the way to the 1930s in her sophomore feature, unravelling dark secrets about the real-life Sprogø Women’s Home.
“I am very pregnant and very out of breath, and very touched” said Reymann, accepting her award.
“This film is based on an actual place for women who were seen...
Jurors Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Sofie Gråbøl, Antonio Lukich and Matti Bye praised the film for telling a “universal story about human spirit against the oppressive system” with “great sensitivity and power.”
“Although it is rooted in the past, it transcends time and borders, and speaks strongly to our time, our minds and hearts,” they stated.
The Danish director – also behind semi-autobiographical “A Perfectly Normal Family” – decided to go all the way to the 1930s in her sophomore feature, unravelling dark secrets about the real-life Sprogø Women’s Home.
“I am very pregnant and very out of breath, and very touched” said Reymann, accepting her award.
“This film is based on an actual place for women who were seen...
- 2/4/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
In at heartbreaking scene, “Corsage” director Marie Kreutzer broke down at Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival when addressing a recent scandal involving one of the film’s actors.
Florian Teichtmeister was charged with possession of child pornography. As mentioned by the festival’s artistic director, Jonas Holmberg, the Criminal Court of Vienna confirmed that authorities found 58,000 digital files featuring pornographic depiction of minors.
“Of course, the shock must be much bigger for the people who knew him well. I didn’t – we shot together for two weeks. He was very busy, so I didn’t get to see him much before either. At the same time, I saw him – in the editing, in the post-production form. I had the feeling I knew him,” she said, admitting she was “overwhelmed” by the news.
“Purchasing or using material like that is based on hurting children. It’s a crime. We didn’t...
Florian Teichtmeister was charged with possession of child pornography. As mentioned by the festival’s artistic director, Jonas Holmberg, the Criminal Court of Vienna confirmed that authorities found 58,000 digital files featuring pornographic depiction of minors.
“Of course, the shock must be much bigger for the people who knew him well. I didn’t – we shot together for two weeks. He was very busy, so I didn’t get to see him much before either. At the same time, I saw him – in the editing, in the post-production form. I had the feeling I knew him,” she said, admitting she was “overwhelmed” by the news.
“Purchasing or using material like that is based on hurting children. It’s a crime. We didn’t...
- 2/3/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
GÖTEBORG, Sweden — Many of the screenings at this year’s Göteborg International Film Festival have been preceded by a talk or introduction.
But none, so far, have witnessed a dignified protest. That all changed on Tuesday when audiences at the city’s Grand Theatre watched a 30-minute on-stage protest by Iranian actor and Nordic Competition jury head Zar Amir Ebrahimi (“Holy Spider”).
Amir Ebrahimi dedicated the protest to the Iranian people and the jailed artists of Iran. Joining her on stage were fellow jury members Sofie Gråbøl, Nahid Persson and Gizem Erdogan, as well as Swedish-Iranian filmmakers and Jonas Holmberg, artistic director of the Göteborg Film Festival.
Following a speech critical of the Iranian regime and of the crackdown that has so far led to more than 500 deaths, she then read out the names of 173 jailed artists and cultural figures whose names were displayed on a screen on the stage.
But none, so far, have witnessed a dignified protest. That all changed on Tuesday when audiences at the city’s Grand Theatre watched a 30-minute on-stage protest by Iranian actor and Nordic Competition jury head Zar Amir Ebrahimi (“Holy Spider”).
Amir Ebrahimi dedicated the protest to the Iranian people and the jailed artists of Iran. Joining her on stage were fellow jury members Sofie Gråbøl, Nahid Persson and Gizem Erdogan, as well as Swedish-Iranian filmmakers and Jonas Holmberg, artistic director of the Göteborg Film Festival.
Following a speech critical of the Iranian regime and of the crackdown that has so far led to more than 500 deaths, she then read out the names of 173 jailed artists and cultural figures whose names were displayed on a screen on the stage.
- 1/31/2023
- by Liza Foreman
- Variety Film + TV
Holy Spider star Zar Amir Ebrahimi led a demonstration in support of the people of Iran and the artists who have been detained by the country’s political regime at the Göteborg Film Festival Tuesday evening.
Ebrahimi, who this year leads the festival’s official competition jury, took the stage prior to the screening of Subtraction by Iranian filmmaker Mani Haghighi and read a statement written by a group of artists called Art Culture Action Association.
During her speech, Amir Ebrahimi urged the spectators to sign the statement, which called for listeners to show support and solidarity for the people of Iran against the actions of the political regime.
“We, artists, writers, academics, and cultural practitioners from across disciplines and various countries, support the call of our Iranian colleagues to stand in solidarity with their struggle against the repressive and despotic Islamic state in Iran,” Ebrahimi said during her speech.
Ebrahimi, who this year leads the festival’s official competition jury, took the stage prior to the screening of Subtraction by Iranian filmmaker Mani Haghighi and read a statement written by a group of artists called Art Culture Action Association.
During her speech, Amir Ebrahimi urged the spectators to sign the statement, which called for listeners to show support and solidarity for the people of Iran against the actions of the political regime.
“We, artists, writers, academics, and cultural practitioners from across disciplines and various countries, support the call of our Iranian colleagues to stand in solidarity with their struggle against the repressive and despotic Islamic state in Iran,” Ebrahimi said during her speech.
- 1/31/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Göteborg Film Festival, running from Jan. 27-Feb. 5, will welcome back some familiar faces during its 46th edition. But it keeps on looking out for skillful newcomers, says Josef Kullengård, head of industry at the festival and the Nordic Film Market. “We want to be the place where you discover new Nordic talent,” he tells Variety.
“It’s a strong year for projects in development, while the workin-progress section combines established directors such as Erik Poppe [presenting ‘Quisling’] with first-timers or people like Ulaa Salim, following ‘Sons of Denmark’ with ‘Eternal.’ It definitely mirrors what the current Nordic film landscape looks like.”
Oscar-winning actor Alicia Vikander will also introduce a new wave of directors, unveiling films produced by the students of educational film program Alicia Vikander Film Lab 2022.
“When she was appointed honorary fellow by the Sten A. Olsson Foundation for Research and Culture, her response was: ‘Let’s do something with this money,...
“It’s a strong year for projects in development, while the workin-progress section combines established directors such as Erik Poppe [presenting ‘Quisling’] with first-timers or people like Ulaa Salim, following ‘Sons of Denmark’ with ‘Eternal.’ It definitely mirrors what the current Nordic film landscape looks like.”
Oscar-winning actor Alicia Vikander will also introduce a new wave of directors, unveiling films produced by the students of educational film program Alicia Vikander Film Lab 2022.
“When she was appointed honorary fellow by the Sten A. Olsson Foundation for Research and Culture, her response was: ‘Let’s do something with this money,...
- 1/27/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival unveiled its 2023 lineup today, featuring 250 feature films set to screen across 10 days, with highlights including Isabella Carbonell’s thriller Dogborn, starring Swedish rap star Silvana Imam, and Hlynur Pálmason’s well-received period piece Godland. Other stand-out titles include Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage, which pops up in the International Competition, and Mia Engberg’s latest Hypernoon in the Documentary Competition.
The festival opens on January 27 with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s emotionally charged debut Exodus, which follows the story of a professional people smuggler who attempts to save a 12-year-old girl whose family has gone missing in the Syrian war. The festival’s closing film on February 5 is Camino by Birgitte Stærmose. The film is Viaplay’s first Danish feature project and portrays the complex relationship between a father and daughter walking a famous pilgrim route in Spain.
Guests set to pass through Gothenburg include Alicia Vikander,...
The festival opens on January 27 with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s emotionally charged debut Exodus, which follows the story of a professional people smuggler who attempts to save a 12-year-old girl whose family has gone missing in the Syrian war. The festival’s closing film on February 5 is Camino by Birgitte Stærmose. The film is Viaplay’s first Danish feature project and portrays the complex relationship between a father and daughter walking a famous pilgrim route in Spain.
Guests set to pass through Gothenburg include Alicia Vikander,...
- 1/10/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival announced Tuesday lineup for its 46th edition, with “Danish Girl” star Alicia Vikander and double Palme d’Or winning director Ruben Östlund among attendees.
The biggest festival in Scandinavia, Göteborg opens with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s “Exodus” on Jan. 27. Its closing film is “Camino” by Birgitte Stærmose.
The festival will screen 250 films during 10 days. “Exodus” will compete for the title of Best Nordic Film – and a prize sum of Sek 400 000 – alongside “Godland,” IFFR opener “Munch,” “Ellos eatnu – Let the River Flow,” “Unruly,” “Four Little Adults,” “Copenhagen Does Not Exist” and “Dogborn,” already shown in Venice.
In the Nordic Documentary Competition, the audience will get to see “Hypernoon,” “The King,” IDFA winner “Apolonia, Apolonia,” “Bong Thom” (“The Brother”), “Labor” and “Monica in the South Seas.”
“Nordic countries are opening up for discussion about their role in colonial history. It’s something that’s...
The biggest festival in Scandinavia, Göteborg opens with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s “Exodus” on Jan. 27. Its closing film is “Camino” by Birgitte Stærmose.
The festival will screen 250 films during 10 days. “Exodus” will compete for the title of Best Nordic Film – and a prize sum of Sek 400 000 – alongside “Godland,” IFFR opener “Munch,” “Ellos eatnu – Let the River Flow,” “Unruly,” “Four Little Adults,” “Copenhagen Does Not Exist” and “Dogborn,” already shown in Venice.
In the Nordic Documentary Competition, the audience will get to see “Hypernoon,” “The King,” IDFA winner “Apolonia, Apolonia,” “Bong Thom” (“The Brother”), “Labor” and “Monica in the South Seas.”
“Nordic countries are opening up for discussion about their role in colonial history. It’s something that’s...
- 1/10/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who won best actress at Cannes for her performance in Ali Abassi’s “Holy Spider” is set to head the jury of the Nordic competition at the Göteborg Film Festival.
Ebrahimi is a celebrated Iranian actor, director, producer and casting director. Her credits include “Bride Price vs. Democracy,” “Teheran Tabu” and Noora Niasari’s film “Shayda” which is set to compete at Sundance. She currently stars in “White Paradise,” a contemporary western directed by Guillaume Renusson which just came out in France.
Ebrahimi will be joined on the jury by actress Sofie Gråbøl, director Antonio Lukich and composer Matti Bye.
“I am incredibly proud to be leading a jury of these impressive artists so that we may not only amplify the stellar work in the festival, but to also draw attention to the atrocities happening every day around us,” said Ebrahimi.
The actor fled from the Iranian...
Ebrahimi is a celebrated Iranian actor, director, producer and casting director. Her credits include “Bride Price vs. Democracy,” “Teheran Tabu” and Noora Niasari’s film “Shayda” which is set to compete at Sundance. She currently stars in “White Paradise,” a contemporary western directed by Guillaume Renusson which just came out in France.
Ebrahimi will be joined on the jury by actress Sofie Gråbøl, director Antonio Lukich and composer Matti Bye.
“I am incredibly proud to be leading a jury of these impressive artists so that we may not only amplify the stellar work in the festival, but to also draw attention to the atrocities happening every day around us,” said Ebrahimi.
The actor fled from the Iranian...
- 1/5/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Holy Spider breakout Zar Amir Ebrahimi will head the jury of the Nordic Competition at the 46th Göteborg Film Festival, running from January 27 – February 5.
Ebrahimi will be joined on the jury by Danish actress Sofie Gråbøl (The Killing), Ukrainian filmmaker Antonio Lukich, and composer Matti Bye. The jury hands out the gong for the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film. Last year, the awards were handed out with a Sek 400 000 cash prize. Nine films will compete in the 2023 Nordic Competition. The nominees will be revealed on January 10.
“I am incredibly proud to be leading a jury of these impressive artists so that we may not only amplify the stellar work in the festival but to also draw attention to the atrocities happening every day around us,” said Amir Ebrahimi.
Ebrahimi picked up the Best Actress prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for her leading role in Ali Abbasi’s Holy Spider.
Ebrahimi will be joined on the jury by Danish actress Sofie Gråbøl (The Killing), Ukrainian filmmaker Antonio Lukich, and composer Matti Bye. The jury hands out the gong for the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film. Last year, the awards were handed out with a Sek 400 000 cash prize. Nine films will compete in the 2023 Nordic Competition. The nominees will be revealed on January 10.
“I am incredibly proud to be leading a jury of these impressive artists so that we may not only amplify the stellar work in the festival but to also draw attention to the atrocities happening every day around us,” said Amir Ebrahimi.
Ebrahimi picked up the Best Actress prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for her leading role in Ali Abbasi’s Holy Spider.
- 1/5/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Ruben Östlund has partnered with the Göteborg Film Festival to host an interactive cinematic event where he will direct how audiences view a film during a screening of his Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness.
The interactive event is titled This Is Cinema! and will feature Östlund, the festival’s Honorary President, breaking the fourth wall to step into the movie theater and dictate the audience’s experience of his film in an attempt to create “the world’s best cinema culture.”
“There’s a unique aspect to the cinema: it’s where we watch together. Watching something together intensifies the experience and sets a higher standard for what’s shown on the screen,” Östlund said in a statement introducing the interactive event.
“Compared to countries like France and the US, the Nordics have a more passive audience culture. Here we hide in our seats, taking less responsibility for the show.
The interactive event is titled This Is Cinema! and will feature Östlund, the festival’s Honorary President, breaking the fourth wall to step into the movie theater and dictate the audience’s experience of his film in an attempt to create “the world’s best cinema culture.”
“There’s a unique aspect to the cinema: it’s where we watch together. Watching something together intensifies the experience and sets a higher standard for what’s shown on the screen,” Östlund said in a statement introducing the interactive event.
“Compared to countries like France and the US, the Nordics have a more passive audience culture. Here we hide in our seats, taking less responsibility for the show.
- 1/4/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
He is preparing to “break the fourth wall” during a screening of his ’Triangle Of Sadness.
Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund, in his role as honorary president of the Göteborg Film Festival, is planning a special audience participation event during the festival, called This Is Cinema! on January 28 at Cinema Draken.
During a special screening of Triangle Of Sadness, Östlund will ‘break the fourth wall’ by directing the film on the screen but also directing the live audience in the cinema.
Östlund explained, “There’s a unique aspect to the cinema: it’s where we watch together. Watching something together intensifies...
Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund, in his role as honorary president of the Göteborg Film Festival, is planning a special audience participation event during the festival, called This Is Cinema! on January 28 at Cinema Draken.
During a special screening of Triangle Of Sadness, Östlund will ‘break the fourth wall’ by directing the film on the screen but also directing the live audience in the cinema.
Östlund explained, “There’s a unique aspect to the cinema: it’s where we watch together. Watching something together intensifies...
- 1/4/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Ruben Östlund, the thought-provoking two-time Palme d’Or winning filmmaker, will direct audiences during an interactive screening of his latest film, “Triangle of Sadness,” at the Göteborg Film Festival.
Titled “This is Cinema,” the on-site event will see Östlund break the fourth wall and step into the movie theater to challenge as well as engage audiences in the movie, which marks his English-language debut.
“The unique selling point of cinema is that we are watching things together and we process the content differently than when we watch things alone. Keeping this tradition alive is important because it’s part of the cinematic culture and audiences play an active part in it,” Östlund said, adding that getting audiences to discuss what they’ve seen together is also essential for a film to “reach its full potential.”
Set on a cruise for the super rich, “Triangle of Sadness” is a wild satire...
Titled “This is Cinema,” the on-site event will see Östlund break the fourth wall and step into the movie theater to challenge as well as engage audiences in the movie, which marks his English-language debut.
“The unique selling point of cinema is that we are watching things together and we process the content differently than when we watch things alone. Keeping this tradition alive is important because it’s part of the cinematic culture and audiences play an active part in it,” Östlund said, adding that getting audiences to discuss what they’ve seen together is also essential for a film to “reach its full potential.”
Set on a cruise for the super rich, “Triangle of Sadness” is a wild satire...
- 1/4/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Double Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund has been named new Honorary President of Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival, the biggest movie event in Scandinavia..
The “Triangle of Sadness” helmer will act as an advisor for the Swedish fest and “leave his artistic imprint on the festival program,” promised the organizers. That includes the upcoming 46th edition, starting in January.
“It was both an easy and a joyful choice to accept this heavy title,” said Östlund, who will succeed previous presidents, Ingmar Bergman and Roy Andersson
“We share the vision of a more vital cinema culture, free from nostalgic throwbacks. We will have to do this work in many different areas, but I can reveal that the first one for us to lecture is the cinema audience.”
“They must learn the difference between scrolling for dopamine on individual screens and to take part in a show,” he added.
As reported by Variety,...
The “Triangle of Sadness” helmer will act as an advisor for the Swedish fest and “leave his artistic imprint on the festival program,” promised the organizers. That includes the upcoming 46th edition, starting in January.
“It was both an easy and a joyful choice to accept this heavy title,” said Östlund, who will succeed previous presidents, Ingmar Bergman and Roy Andersson
“We share the vision of a more vital cinema culture, free from nostalgic throwbacks. We will have to do this work in many different areas, but I can reveal that the first one for us to lecture is the cinema audience.”
“They must learn the difference between scrolling for dopamine on individual screens and to take part in a show,” he added.
As reported by Variety,...
- 11/25/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Ruben Östlund Appointed Honorary President of Göteborg Film Festival
Ruben Östlund has been appointed as the new Honorary President of Göteborg Film Festival. Östlund will be an advisor for the festival, starting with the upcoming 2023 edition. The board of Göteborg Film Festival appoints the Honorary President for five years, at which point it will be renewed or concluded. In a statement, Östlund described his decision to accept the honorary role as “easy and a joyful.” Past presidents include Ingmar Bergman and Roy Andersson. Östlund will speak at the opening ceremony of the 2023 edition. Jonas Holmberg, Artistic Director at Göteborg Film Festival, said: “With two Palme d’Or wins and many unforgettable cinematic moments, the Gothenburg-born and loyal visitor of the festival Ruben Östlund has the artistic integrity, the intellectual playfulness, and the international luminescence that make him an excellent Honorary President for Göteborg Film Festival.”
Luca Guadagnino To Attend Saudi...
Ruben Östlund has been appointed as the new Honorary President of Göteborg Film Festival. Östlund will be an advisor for the festival, starting with the upcoming 2023 edition. The board of Göteborg Film Festival appoints the Honorary President for five years, at which point it will be renewed or concluded. In a statement, Östlund described his decision to accept the honorary role as “easy and a joyful.” Past presidents include Ingmar Bergman and Roy Andersson. Östlund will speak at the opening ceremony of the 2023 edition. Jonas Holmberg, Artistic Director at Göteborg Film Festival, said: “With two Palme d’Or wins and many unforgettable cinematic moments, the Gothenburg-born and loyal visitor of the festival Ruben Östlund has the artistic integrity, the intellectual playfulness, and the international luminescence that make him an excellent Honorary President for Göteborg Film Festival.”
Luca Guadagnino To Attend Saudi...
- 11/25/2022
- by Zac Ntim, Melanie Goodfellow and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Energized by the second strong year in a row for Scandinavian cinema, a hybrid 45th Göteborg Film Festival will open with Christoffer Sandler’s “So Damn Easy Going” in main Nordic Competition, alongside Juho Kuosmanen’s “Compartment No. 6” and Eskil Vogt’s “The Innocents.”
Despite new theater capacity controls announced by Swedish prime minister Magdalena Andersson on Monday, Göteborg, which had anticipated the tighter restrictions, is pressing ahead with its plans for an on-site festival with select online screenings of some 50 films for Sweden, festival artistic director Jonas Holmberg told Variety.
Luca Guadagnino will receive an Honorary Dragon Award, attending the festival and participating in an on-stage conversation after the screening of “Call Me By Your Name” on Feb. 3.
Playing Lady Jessica Atreides in “Dune,” Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”) will pick up a Nordic Honorary Dragon Award.
Produced by Sweden’s Cinenic Film, the company behind Sundance...
Despite new theater capacity controls announced by Swedish prime minister Magdalena Andersson on Monday, Göteborg, which had anticipated the tighter restrictions, is pressing ahead with its plans for an on-site festival with select online screenings of some 50 films for Sweden, festival artistic director Jonas Holmberg told Variety.
Luca Guadagnino will receive an Honorary Dragon Award, attending the festival and participating in an on-stage conversation after the screening of “Call Me By Your Name” on Feb. 3.
Playing Lady Jessica Atreides in “Dune,” Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”) will pick up a Nordic Honorary Dragon Award.
Produced by Sweden’s Cinenic Film, the company behind Sundance...
- 1/11/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Having isolated a film enthusiast on a North Sea lighthouse island in 2021, this year’s Göteborg Film Festival, Scandinavia’s biggest movie-tv event, looks set to stage another bold metaphor for film consumption, subjecting audiences at three different movie screenings to mass hypnosis.
Dubbed The Hypnotic Cinema, the strand’s titles chosen for the singular experiment are Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s 2021 Cannes Jury Prize winner “Memoria,” starring Tilda Swinton; “Land of Dreams,” from Iran’s Venice Silver Lion winners Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari (“Women Without Men”) starring Sheila Vand, Matt Dillon and Isabella Rossellini; and Danish director Christian Tafdrup’s “Speak No Evil,” slated to world premiere at this month’s Sundance Festival.
Before each film, a hypnotist will perform a mass hypnosis from the main stage at the Stora Teatern in Göteborg, the festival announced Tuesday. Transforming the audience’s state of mind in accordance with the mood and theme of the film,...
Dubbed The Hypnotic Cinema, the strand’s titles chosen for the singular experiment are Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s 2021 Cannes Jury Prize winner “Memoria,” starring Tilda Swinton; “Land of Dreams,” from Iran’s Venice Silver Lion winners Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari (“Women Without Men”) starring Sheila Vand, Matt Dillon and Isabella Rossellini; and Danish director Christian Tafdrup’s “Speak No Evil,” slated to world premiere at this month’s Sundance Festival.
Before each film, a hypnotist will perform a mass hypnosis from the main stage at the Stora Teatern in Göteborg, the festival announced Tuesday. Transforming the audience’s state of mind in accordance with the mood and theme of the film,...
- 1/4/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Goteborg Film Festival has unveiled the first post-production grantees from its new film fund.
Sweden’s Goteborg Film Festival has unveiled the first three features to benefit from a new film fund, created to support cultural expression in areas of the world threatened by economic or political instability.
At a presentation in Cannes, Goteborg Film Fund manager Camilla Larsson and Goteborg Film Festival artistic director Jonas Holmberg announced the titles that would receive post-production grants of $40,000 each. They include:
La Palisiada, directed by Ukraine’s Philip Sotnychenko and produced by Sashko Chubko, Valeria Sochyvets and Halyna Kryvorchuk, which explores a...
Sweden’s Goteborg Film Festival has unveiled the first three features to benefit from a new film fund, created to support cultural expression in areas of the world threatened by economic or political instability.
At a presentation in Cannes, Goteborg Film Fund manager Camilla Larsson and Goteborg Film Festival artistic director Jonas Holmberg announced the titles that would receive post-production grants of $40,000 each. They include:
La Palisiada, directed by Ukraine’s Philip Sotnychenko and produced by Sashko Chubko, Valeria Sochyvets and Halyna Kryvorchuk, which explores a...
- 7/13/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Ruben Östlund, the Palme d’Or-winning director of “The Square,” did not binge-watch series on a couch during the pandemic. Instead, Östlund, who received the 2021 Nordic Honorary Dragon Award on Thursday, told Variety that he had the time of his life shooting “Triangle of Sadness,” his most ambitious film to date, in exotic locations with a multinational cast, including Woody Harrelson.
The 72-day shoot took place on a deserted Island in Greece and onboard The Christina O, a prestigious yacht whose passengers have included Winston Churchill, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.
Perks aside, Östlund admitted that “on a few occasions (he and his producers) weren’t sure (they) could finish the shooting” in the fall.
One key challenge was having the cast travel from multiple locations, but especially the U.S. from where Harrelson flew, in spite of an international travel ban. “The staff at the gate wouldn...
The 72-day shoot took place on a deserted Island in Greece and onboard The Christina O, a prestigious yacht whose passengers have included Winston Churchill, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.
Perks aside, Östlund admitted that “on a few occasions (he and his producers) weren’t sure (they) could finish the shooting” in the fall.
One key challenge was having the cast travel from multiple locations, but especially the U.S. from where Harrelson flew, in spite of an international travel ban. “The staff at the gate wouldn...
- 2/5/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The largest film festival in Scandinavia, predictably going online owing to the pandemic, will open with Zaida Bergroth's Tove. The 44th edition of the Göteborg Film Festival (29 January-8 February) will show 70 films from 39 countries. But while this year's focus is, unsurprisingly, on social distances, the event is set to push the idea even further by introducing “The Isolated Cinema” – an initiative that allows, among other things, one “solitary film enthusiast” to experience the festival's offering on the island of Pater Noster for a duration of seven days. The prospect of “no phone, no family, no friends” didn't discourage many applicants, though. “We talked a lot about how this pandemic has affected us and our film experiences, and we wanted to experiment with that,” says artistic director Jonas Holmberg. “Take that to the extreme by giving one person access to our 60 premieres and nothing else. This...
Rolling off a strong year for Scandinavian filmmaking, the virtual 44rd edition of the Goteborg Film Festival will kick off with Zaida Bergroth’s “Tove,” which will compete alongside Thomas Vinterberg’s “Another Round” and Ninja Thyberg’s “Pleasure,” among other Nordic pics.
Telling the story of one of Finland’s most beloved and inspiring artists, “Tove” broke box office records in Finland last year in spite of the pandemic, and now ranks as the highest grossing Finnish film in the last 40 years.
“Tove,” which is also Finland’s Oscar candidate, will be one of the seven films vying for the Dragon Award Best Nordic Film. The lineup comprises “Another Round,” one of the most prominent titles in Cannes 2020’s official selection, and “Pleasure,” which is set to world premiere at Sundance, as well as Ronnie Sandahl’s “Tigers,” Lisa Jespersen’s “Persona Non Grata,” Itonje Søimer Guttormsen’s “Gritt...
Telling the story of one of Finland’s most beloved and inspiring artists, “Tove” broke box office records in Finland last year in spite of the pandemic, and now ranks as the highest grossing Finnish film in the last 40 years.
“Tove,” which is also Finland’s Oscar candidate, will be one of the seven films vying for the Dragon Award Best Nordic Film. The lineup comprises “Another Round,” one of the most prominent titles in Cannes 2020’s official selection, and “Pleasure,” which is set to world premiere at Sundance, as well as Ronnie Sandahl’s “Tigers,” Lisa Jespersen’s “Persona Non Grata,” Itonje Søimer Guttormsen’s “Gritt...
- 1/12/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
One cinephile to watch festival premieres in total isolation.
Goteborg Film Festival is to offer one cinephile the chance to watch its line-up of features completely isolated on a remote Swedish island.
Scandinavia’s largest film festival has moved entirely online for its 44th edition, which runs January 29 to February 8.
But one film enthusiast will get the chance to spend a week watching premieres from its programme in a specially created “Isolated Cinema” on the barren Pater Noster island in the North Sea. The viewer will watch festival films, which comprises 60 titles, and record a video diary about the experience.
Goteborg Film Festival is to offer one cinephile the chance to watch its line-up of features completely isolated on a remote Swedish island.
Scandinavia’s largest film festival has moved entirely online for its 44th edition, which runs January 29 to February 8.
But one film enthusiast will get the chance to spend a week watching premieres from its programme in a specially created “Isolated Cinema” on the barren Pater Noster island in the North Sea. The viewer will watch festival films, which comprises 60 titles, and record a video diary about the experience.
- 1/5/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
As the pandemic keeps many of the world’s movie theaters shut down, the Göteborg Film Festival has responded with a novel offering for cinephiles looking to escape for a week. On the lonely lighthouse island of Pater Noster in the North Sea, one marooned person will be able to enjoy one of Scandinavia’s biggest film festivals in total isolation with only film as his or her companion. You can apply to the program via the festival’s website here.
Every day, according to the festival, he or she will provide a report about the films and the experience of being alone on an isolated rock in a vast sea. For the single spot on Pater Noster, interviews with selected applicants will take place on an ongoing basis. The selected participant will be announced on January 19 and will be isolated for one week from January 30.
According to the festival,...
Every day, according to the festival, he or she will provide a report about the films and the experience of being alone on an isolated rock in a vast sea. For the single spot on Pater Noster, interviews with selected applicants will take place on an ongoing basis. The selected participant will be announced on January 19 and will be isolated for one week from January 30.
According to the festival,...
- 1/4/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival, the biggest movie-tv event in Scandinavia, looks set to stage one of the most dramatic experiments in on-site fest screenings in a Covid-19 age, isolating a single film enthusiast on the bleak North Sea lighthouse island of Pater Noster.
There, totally alone, with no iPhone nor even a book, they will watch the festival’s 60 premieres over a week.
Parallel to this, two other exclusive one-person film screenings will take place at two iconic venues in Göteborg: the Scandinavium, one of Sweden’s most popular arenas, hosting the World Ice Hockey Championships, and the Draken Cinema, where films will, as usual, receive their premieres. Otherwise, Göteborg will go totally virtual, its movies playing to online spectators in Sweden.
By way of a call for applicants for the Pater Noster event, Göteborg has just released a promo trailer for what it calls The Isolated Cinema experience on the North Sea rock.
There, totally alone, with no iPhone nor even a book, they will watch the festival’s 60 premieres over a week.
Parallel to this, two other exclusive one-person film screenings will take place at two iconic venues in Göteborg: the Scandinavium, one of Sweden’s most popular arenas, hosting the World Ice Hockey Championships, and the Draken Cinema, where films will, as usual, receive their premieres. Otherwise, Göteborg will go totally virtual, its movies playing to online spectators in Sweden.
By way of a call for applicants for the Pater Noster event, Göteborg has just released a promo trailer for what it calls The Isolated Cinema experience on the North Sea rock.
- 1/4/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
During the awards ceremony, which was streamed online due to the pandemic, Lynn + Lucy was also recognised, with Nova Lituania scoring the Cineuropa Prize. The 25th-anniversary edition of the Vilnius Film Festival (19 March-2 April) might have concluded with an online gathering instead of an epic party, but the mood was celebratory nonetheless, with CEO Algirdas Ramaška serving as a master of ceremonies, happily welcoming his “guests”: including Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius (accompanied at home by his dog), festival director Vida Ramaškienė, and jury representatives Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė and Katarzyna Sinarska, who chose the winners alongside Evgeny Gusyatinskiy, Boyd van Hoeij and Jonas Holmberg. But most of all, he also welcomed the audience, who were later also invited for the screening of the closing film, Matthias & Maxime. “Of course the viewing experience was different, as was the immediacy of the contact you get when you discuss the films...
The films are: Portrait Of A Lady On Fire; A White, White Day; Give Me Liberty ; The Perfect Candidate and A Brother’s Love.
Göteborg Film Festival Film has teamed up with Swedish distributors to launch several new arthouse titles on its VOD platform Draken Film.
The films are: Portrait Of A Lady On Fire by Céline Sciamma; A White, White Day by Hlynur Pálmason; Give Me Liberty by Kirill Mikhanovsky; The Perfect Candidate by Haifaa Al Mansour and A Brother’s Love by Mona Chokri.
During the first six months, half of the revenues from new subscribers will go to independent Swedish arthouse cinemas,...
Göteborg Film Festival Film has teamed up with Swedish distributors to launch several new arthouse titles on its VOD platform Draken Film.
The films are: Portrait Of A Lady On Fire by Céline Sciamma; A White, White Day by Hlynur Pálmason; Give Me Liberty by Kirill Mikhanovsky; The Perfect Candidate by Haifaa Al Mansour and A Brother’s Love by Mona Chokri.
During the first six months, half of the revenues from new subscribers will go to independent Swedish arthouse cinemas,...
- 3/18/2020
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
Swedish distributors are joining forces with the Göteborg Film Festival’s VOD platform Draken Film to launch a series of upcoming arthouse movies online, and will use half of the proceeds to support local cinemas hit by the coronavirus crisis.
The first wave of films will include Céline Sciamma’s Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, Hlynur Pálmason’s A White, White Day, Kirill Mikhanovsky’s Give Me Liberty, Haifaa al-Mansour’s The Perfect Candidate, and Mona Chokri’s A Brother’s Love.
More from DeadlineNickelodeon Launches #KidsTogether To Help Kids & Families During The Coronavirus CrisisCentral Casting Closed Until Further Notice Amid Coronavirus PandemicNYSE Trading Floor Closing As Of Monday: Markets To Shift To Fully Electronic Mode
Draken has linked up with local releasers Folkets Bio and Smorgasbord Picture House and is in talks with more distributors about future releases. A representative of the VOD service told us that, with more cinemas closing daily,...
The first wave of films will include Céline Sciamma’s Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, Hlynur Pálmason’s A White, White Day, Kirill Mikhanovsky’s Give Me Liberty, Haifaa al-Mansour’s The Perfect Candidate, and Mona Chokri’s A Brother’s Love.
More from DeadlineNickelodeon Launches #KidsTogether To Help Kids & Families During The Coronavirus CrisisCentral Casting Closed Until Further Notice Amid Coronavirus PandemicNYSE Trading Floor Closing As Of Monday: Markets To Shift To Fully Electronic Mode
Draken has linked up with local releasers Folkets Bio and Smorgasbord Picture House and is in talks with more distributors about future releases. A representative of the VOD service told us that, with more cinemas closing daily,...
- 3/18/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The UK producer and Bafta chair talks about her working day, first job in the industry and her desire to take a meeting with Bong Joon Ho.
Pippa Harris is the Bafta-winning producer of Sam Mendes’s First World War drama 1917.
She runs London-based film, TV and theatre company Neal Street Productions with Mendes, Caro Newling and Nicolas Brown and has a full slate executive producing series 10 of Call The Midwife for the BBC, a new Penny Dreadful spin-off Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels for Showtime, series three of Britannia for Sky Atlantic and is developing an adaptation of...
Pippa Harris is the Bafta-winning producer of Sam Mendes’s First World War drama 1917.
She runs London-based film, TV and theatre company Neal Street Productions with Mendes, Caro Newling and Nicolas Brown and has a full slate executive producing series 10 of Call The Midwife for the BBC, a new Penny Dreadful spin-off Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels for Showtime, series three of Britannia for Sky Atlantic and is developing an adaptation of...
- 2/4/2020
- by ¬0¦Pippa Harris¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Buzzy works-in-progress presentations include Lamb from Iceland and The Innocents from Norway.
Beware Of Children, directed by Norway’s Dag Johan Haugerud, has won the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film in Goteborg tonight (1 Feb).
The prize money of $104,000 (Sek 1m) makes it the world’s largest film prize. The backers are Volvo Car Group, Region Västra Götaland and the City Council of Gothenburg.
The jury, led by Mia Hansen-Love, said Beware Of Children was “inspiring reflection about the intricacy of education from an adult perspective. It questions the innocence of one’s childhood in a captivating way. Human relationships...
Beware Of Children, directed by Norway’s Dag Johan Haugerud, has won the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film in Goteborg tonight (1 Feb).
The prize money of $104,000 (Sek 1m) makes it the world’s largest film prize. The backers are Volvo Car Group, Region Västra Götaland and the City Council of Gothenburg.
The jury, led by Mia Hansen-Love, said Beware Of Children was “inspiring reflection about the intricacy of education from an adult perspective. It questions the innocence of one’s childhood in a captivating way. Human relationships...
- 2/1/2020
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Funerary industry doc directed by Carl Olsson.
Syndicado has acquired worldwide rights excluding Sweden, Denmark and Estonia to Carl Olsson’s Meanwhile On Earth.
The documentary about the funerary industry had its world premiere in Rotterdam and now screens in Goteborg’s Nordic Documentary Competition.
Constructed as a collage of scenes and situations – each a tableau – the film investigates the human relationship with death in our society, based on the people that have made death part of their everyday lives.
The film was pitched at Cph:dox last year under the working title A Place Above The Sky.
Alexander Govedarica from...
Syndicado has acquired worldwide rights excluding Sweden, Denmark and Estonia to Carl Olsson’s Meanwhile On Earth.
The documentary about the funerary industry had its world premiere in Rotterdam and now screens in Goteborg’s Nordic Documentary Competition.
Constructed as a collage of scenes and situations – each a tableau – the film investigates the human relationship with death in our society, based on the people that have made death part of their everyday lives.
The film was pitched at Cph:dox last year under the working title A Place Above The Sky.
Alexander Govedarica from...
- 1/31/2020
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
He will be responsible for finding an eventual succesor to Venice film fesitval chief Alberto Barbera.
Roberto Cicutto, CEO of Istituto Luce Cinecittà, has been named president of the Biennale, the organisation that runs the Venice Film Festival, by Dario Franceschini, the Italian minister of culture.
He takes over from Paolo Baratta who has been president since 2008.
As president, one of Cicutto’s responsbilities is to appoint the director of the Venice film festival, presently Alberto Barbera. After a stint as festival director between 1999 to 2002, Barbera returned to the festival in 2012.
Barbera has been in position since 2012 ad there is...
Roberto Cicutto, CEO of Istituto Luce Cinecittà, has been named president of the Biennale, the organisation that runs the Venice Film Festival, by Dario Franceschini, the Italian minister of culture.
He takes over from Paolo Baratta who has been president since 2008.
As president, one of Cicutto’s responsbilities is to appoint the director of the Venice film festival, presently Alberto Barbera. After a stint as festival director between 1999 to 2002, Barbera returned to the festival in 2012.
Barbera has been in position since 2012 ad there is...
- 1/27/2020
- by 1101325¦Gabriele Niola¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
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