22/01/2008

Innovation and non-conformity, which were lacking in last year’s Swedish film crop, features in Sweden’s 2008 film spring collection, presented last week in Stockholm by the Swedish Film Institute (SFI) and the Swedish Film Producers Association.

King Bergman is dead! Long live the King of Ping Pong [+see also:
trailer
film profile]! The film’s creator, Jens Jonsson, is indeed one the most interesting new voices of Swedish film and festival curators in Sundance, Rotterdam and Göteborg have fast identified this rising star director, selecting his feature debut in their competition programmes. Jonsson’s portrayal of a fierce rivalry between two brothers is one of 17 new Swedish films hitting domestic screens over the next four to five months.

After 2007 – a lacklustre year for Swedish film with the loss of the grand master Ingmar Bergman, and only a couple of local titles making it in the Top Ten for critics (You, the Living [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pernilla Sandström
interview: Roy Andersson
film profile] and Darling [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and local audiences (Mind the Gap [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Wonderful and Loved by All) – Sweden is anxiously turning towards 2008 and its reinvigorating winds of change.

“I am very optimistic for 2008,” said Charlotta Denward, head of production at the SFI. “We have a wide offer of interesting films that will be released theatrically. The conformity that many perceived last year as a sign of poverty within Swedish film shines through its absence this spring. There are very interesting films from an artistic standpoint, many unusual and strong stories, and several films with strong commercial potential. It is also fun to have so many experienced and popular directors: Ella Lemhagen, Lukas Moodysson, Jan Troell, Tomas Alfredson, Daniel Alfredson…The Swedish film year abroad has also started really well with a big selection of Swedish films at the first international film festivals: Sundance, Rotterdam and Berlin.”

Pia Lundberg, head of the Institute’s International Department, also said: “We will see more original and edgier films from directors with a unique vision and style such as Jens Jonsson, and Ruben Östlund (Guitar Mongoloid) who has now made Involuntary. There is also Let the Right One In by Tomas Alfredson, who has taken on a vampire story and filmed it in a classic way, and Simon Staho, one of our greatest imports from Denmark and his very strong new film Heaven’s Heart (selected in the Berlinale’s Specials).”

Also on the menu of the Swedish spring smorgasbord is Colin Nutley’s Angel, featuring Helene Bergström as an aging rock star (February 19 release, SF); and Daniel Alfredsson’s Varg, starring Peter Stormare (Sonet Film).

Big-budget films such as Arn 2, Lukas Moodysson’s Mammoth and Jan Troell’s Maria Larsson’s Everlasting Moment [+see also:
trailer
film profile] are scheduled for the second half of 2008.