15/05/2010

From their usual office at the Scandinavian Stand at the Cannes Market, Svensk Filmindustri International, headed by Ann Kristin Westerberg, is proud to represent …But Film is My Mistress, Stig Björkman’s tribute to Ingmar Bergman selected in Cannes Classics. The company is also introducing the comedy Simple Simon and Among Us [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Johan Brisinger (Suddenly [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

…But Film is My Mistress is the follow up to Images from the Playground, which also screened in Cannes Classics last year. The documentary features exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from eight films from the Swedish master. Liv Ullmann guides this journey into Bergman-land, with comments from filmmakers such as Woody Allen, Bernardo Bertolucci, Arnaud Desplechin, and Martin Scorsese. The film’s official screening is on May 20.

SF International is also unveiling Brisinger’s Swedish title Among Us, starring Michael Nyqvist, Tcheky Karyo and Izabella Scorupco. The director’s first film, Suddenly, was a major box office hit in Sweden.

The comedy Simple Simon is the directorial debut of Andreas Öhman. In the film, 18-year-old Simon has Asperger’s syndrome, and his life is turned upside-down when his brother Sam breaks up with his girlfriend. The film will open in Sweden on September 3.

Also screening at the Market is critically acclaimed Norwegian film Upperdog [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Sara Johnsen, produced by Friland Film.

Westerberg is also starting to negotiate the Swedish thriller The Hunters 2 starring Rolf Lassgård and Peter Stormare. The veteran sales agent has a realistic view on the Market: “We are pushing all our titles in the line-up and our big catalogue. We are not yet out of the financial crisis, so all we can do is do our best and keep a positive attitude,” she said.