12/12/2006

Swedish rising star Gustaf Skarsgård – son of Stellan Skarsgård – will be busy at the upcoming Berlinale (February 8-18), promoting his latest film Förortsungar (Kids In Da Hood) in the festival’s Generation section and himself as part of the European Film Promotion’s Shooting Stars 2007.

Born in 1980, Skarsgård had his screen debut at the age of nine in the feature film Code Name Coq Rouge. From 1999-2003, he trained at Stockholm’s theatre high school and played in the acclaimed stage adaptation of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice by Mats Ek. His various film appearances include The Babylon Disease and the Oscar-nominated Evil.

Skarsgård is currently on Swedish screens playing the title male role in Ylva Gustafsson and Catti Edfeldt’s musical film Kids In Da Hood. The actor plays Johan, a tattooed youngster without a job but a big interest in rock music who becomes the love interest of Amina, a nine year-old girl who lives illegally in Sweden with her grandfather. However, everything changes for the young girl when her grandfather dies.

The film, which will screen as part of the Berlinale’s Generation Section (previously known as Kinderfilmfest), was produced by Gilda Film in cooperation with Sonet Film, Sandrew Metronome, TV3, Break Even and Filmhaus, with support from the Swedish Film Institute. Released by Sonet, the film is still playing at Number 14 after six weeks at the local box office.