30/05/2005

Today the actress/director Liv Ullmann is going to inaugurate the first international symposium dedicated to the work of Ingmar Bergman.
Hosted by the Ingmar Bergman Foundation and Stockholm University, the Ingmar Bergman Symposium 2005 will be reuniting during three days in Stockholm renowned Bergman collaborators such as actors Pernilla August, Erland Josephson, composer Daniel Börtz, pianist Käbi Paretei, set designer Gran Wassberg, as well as international Bergman experts like Thomas Elsesser of Amsterdam University, as well as Robin Wood and Paisley Livingston, authors of highly-acclaimed books on Bergman who will scrutinize the Swedish master’s artistic output and legacy in theatre, music, radio, literature, television and film.

The symposium aimed at academics and the general public, will take place in Stockholm’s three institutions that have played a key role in the genesis of Bergman’s works: today 30 May the sessions will be held at the Royal Dramatic Theatre and will focus on Bergman’s work as a stage director and how this has influenced his career as a filmmaker. Tomorrow 31rst the symposium will shift to the Royal Opera and will concentrate on Bergman’s interest in music witnessed by his productions of Mozart’s The Magic Flute or Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. Finally the last day held at the Swedish Film Institute will be dedicated to Bergman’s film legacy and other Swedish filmmakers such as Suzanne Osten and Kristian Petri will be on hand to discuss the subject.

Åse Kleveland, Head of the Swedish Film Institute and chair of the Ingmar Bergman Foundation said: "Right from the outset, I have viewed it as a matter of priority for the Ingmar Bergman Foundation and the Film Institute to establish a regular meeting point for the world’s leading Bergman scholars in the form of a symposium. Thanks to tremendous enthusiasm and support from the administration of Stockholm University, the symposium is now a reality. Our aim is to make it a regular event to be held once every two years."
Kleveland also added: "It is particularly apt that it should take place in the same year that sees the launch this autumn of the major new website, Ingmar Bergman Face to Face."

Previewed at the last Cannes Film Festival, the website/database -to be officially launched next September- will be the most comprehensive ever on Bergman's work including scripts, stage photos, unique behind the scene materials from 18 of his films and all information on Bergman’s rich and memorable works.