09/04/2003

Åse Kleveland , the Director General of the Swedish Film Institute (SFI) has been awarded the French Légion d’honneur in recognition of her contribution to the promotion of film cooperation throughout Europe.
The clearly delighted Kleveland said: “the French are true champions of culture within the EU and during my time as Norway’s Minister for Culture (1990-96 – Editor’s note) I was fortunate enough to work together with them on a wide range of issues.”
Swedish-French cooperation has taken various forms over the last few years, including a partnership to ensure different countries’ rights to pursue a national film policy within the EU framework. Both countries have the most ambitious programmes for film education in Europe, and the SFI will be host to a European conference on the subject later this year.
Åse Kleveland, who has headed up the SFI since 2000, also chairs the European Digital Cinema Forum, established in 2001 under the initiative of the Swedish, French and British governments.

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