03/04/2014 - Festival programmer Jonas Holmberg replaces Marit Kapla as artistic director of Sweden’s Göteborg International Film Festival – the largest in the Nordic countries

After two years as head of international programming, Jonas Holmberg yesterday (2 April) took over as artistic director of Sweden’s Göteborg International Film Festival – Scandinavia’s largest showcase, which this year sold 135,622 tickets to a selection of 475 films from 76 countries.

Holmberg replaces Marit Kapla, who has been head of the festival for seven years, and will now be responsible for the festival’s new digital film channel, which was launched last autumn. 

“Holmberg has exactly what it takes to carry the programme work into a new era and to consolidate the festival’s task of showing important films to a broader audience,” said festival chairman Sven-Olof Bodenfors. “At the same time, we’re happy to keep Kapla’s experience and expertise in our expanded operations.”

Holmberg studied film and was one of the founders of Swedish quarterly film magazine FLM, as well as a former editor of the publication between 2007-2012; he is a regular contributor to Swedish daily Expressen.

“The festival means a lot to very many people, so I’m taking on this assignment with great humility. It has established itself as an internationally important event. I would like to continue strengthening the festival’s position as the most important film festival in the Nordic countries,” Holmberg said. 

“After seven years, it felt like the perfect time to take this step, and Holmberg has the qualities and resources the festival needs – he is exceptionally knowledgeable, creative and enthusiastic,” Kapla added.

The Göteborg Film Festival’s new digital film channel will offer year-round access to its programme of international films, adding a range of editorial material, in line with the general aim of the festival: to create an opportunity for valuable films from across the world to reach their audiences. The 2015 dates are 25 January-2 February.