Swedish #1 2014 • A magazine from the Swedish Film Institute Film THE ROAD TO FREEDOM Göran Hugo Olsson explores the roots of anti-colonialism in his new documentary, Concerning Violence ON THE RUN HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD MAN ESCAPES SHINE ON SHOOTING STAR EDDA MAGNASON YOUNG ONES SWEDISH KIDS’ FLICKS IN BERLIN FAR NORTH SOFIA NORlIn’s BROKEN HILL BLUES www.sfi.se WELCOME Director, International Department Pia Lundberg Phone +46 70 692 79 80 [email protected] Festivals, features Gunnar Almér For the young at heart Phone +46 70 640 46 56 [email protected] 2014 will go down in history as the year directors, “Moviement”. Her first feature Swedish film got the chance to show off its was funded through our awards scheme scope in Berlin. It’s very gratifying for us to aimed at women directors, in partnership Festivals, documentaries have so many types of film invited to the with the Stockholm International Film Festi- Sara Rüster festival, but also pleasing to get proof that val. The fact that the film has been selected Phone +46 76 117 26 78 [email protected] our focus on film funding is paying off. As for Berlinale is proof that Sofia Norlin is a CEO of the Swedish Film Institute I find it competent and talented director and also particularly satisfying that my colleagues’ that our programme is working. Festivals, short films efforts have produced such good results. This year we also have a documentary Theo Tsappos Since 2010 the Swedish Film Institute has taking part in Panorama, Göran Hugo Phone +46 76 779 11 33 worked intensively to secure the stable Olsson’s Concerning Violence. Olsson [email protected] production of quality films for children. Up continues to demonstrate the strength of until the 1980s Sweden was, along with our Swedish documentary film making, and that Special projects Nordic neighbours, a leading nation in the the Oscar awarded to Malik Bendjelloul for Petter Mattsson field of children’s cinema. But something Searching for Sugar Man last year was not Phone +46 70 607 11 34 happened along the way and children’s films simply a coincidence. [email protected] found it increasingly difficult to get funding and distribution. The focus on children’s FINALLY, FELIX Herngren’s The 100-Year- Special projects films in the past few years has been to Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Josefina Mothander provide a high level of state funding, to Disappeared, a wide-ranging film that has Phone +46 70 972 93 52 ensure adequate budgets and also to provide broken box office records in its first weeks [email protected] consistent support for family films. The aim on general release in Sweden, has been has been to ensure regular production and a selected for a Berlinale Special Gala. steady increase in status and quality. All this testifies to the scope and quality Press Officer Jan Göransson of Swedish film, something that makes us Phone +46 70 603 03 62 THIS YEAR WE have six films in the two proud to be Swedish. [email protected] competitions of Berlin’s Generation section, films for children and young people. They range from Sofia Norlin’s Broken Hill Blues in Generation 14plus to no fewer than five entries in Generation Kplus. These include Sweden’s first animated film in 3D, Beyond Beyond by Esben Toft Jacobsen, and a new version of the Swedish classic That Boy Emil. Our focus has also been on improving equality in Swedish feature films. Sofia Norlin is one of the filmmakers who have Anna Serner Swedish Film Institute International Department Download the Swedish Film app for free and get attended our programme for women CEO, Swedish Film Institute P.O. Box 27126 info on new Swedish films, extra features, trailers se-102 52 stockholm, sweden Phone +46 8 665 11 00 fax +46 8 661 18 20 and dynamic links. Avaliable on iPad and Android. www.sfi.se www.twitter.com/swedishfilm Download the Swedish Film New issue out now. Issued by The Swedish Film Institute Publisher Pia Lundberg app for iPad and Android for free. Editors Mattias Dahlström, Bo Madestrand Art Director Markus Edin Contributing Editor Josefina MothanderContributors Jon Asp, Anders Dahlbom, Jenny Damberg, Emma Gray The Swedish Film Institute’s aims include the promotion, support Munthe, Christina Höglund, Malin Krutmeijer, Per Nyström, Hynek Pallas, Niklas Wahllöf and development of Swedish films, the allocation of grants, and Photography Karin Alfredsson, Johan Bergmark, Sara Mac Key, Cover photo Sara Mac Key Translation Derek Jones the promotion of Swedish cinema internationally. Print Norra Skåne Offset, Hässleholm Advertising Fredrik Johnsson [email protected] issN 1654-0050 swedish film • issue 1 2014 3 CONTENTS 1/2014 6 SHOOTING STAR Her role as jazz singer Monica Zetterlund in the biopic Waltz for Monica made young musician and actress Edda Magnason an overnight star. Now she’s Sweden’s Shooting Star in Berlin. 8 NEWS A hundred-year-old man climbs out of the window and ends up in Berlin. Plus Baker Karim on taking the helm as the new Feature Film Commissioner at the Swedish Film Institute. 16 14 WHAT’s nexT hot on the heels of an award-winning video game, Josef Fares is back in the film business. Ella Lemhagen directs the remake of the classic Swedish television series The Boy with the Golden Trousers. And Mikael Marcimain follows up his controversial box-office success Call Girl with an adaptation of author Klas Östergren’s influential novel Gentlemen. 26 16 NEW TALENTS Shining the spotlight on Viktor Nordenskiöld, Anton Kjellgren (with the production collective Ögat) and Jonas Selberg Augustsén. 20 CONCERNING VIOLENCE After his success with The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, director Göran Hugo Olsson returns with Concerning Violence, an exploration of anti- colonialism based on rare archive material. 14 24 FREAK OUT! make love not war. san francisco in the 60s? No, switzerland in the early 20th century. Carl Javér’s documentary traces the unlikely roots of counter culture. 26 SOMETHING MUST BREAK During a long hot summer, Sebastian encounters love, deceit and self-destruction. ester martin Bergsmark’s debut feature is about finding love in all the wrong places. 20 30 FLICKS FOR KIDS Ever since the early adaptations of Astrid Lindgren’s classic children’s books, Sweden has 30 had a long, strong tradition of producing high-quality films for children. Read all about this year’s Swedish contributions to the children and youth sections at the Berlinale. 36 TOMMY Director Tarik Saleh brings us Tommy, a gritty gangster movie about girlfriends and wives in Stockholm’s criminal underworld starring Moa SCREENING Gammel and pop singer Lykke Li. Feb. 7, 12:30 CREDITS NOT CONTRACTUAL CREDITS NOT 39 NEW FILMS All the latest Swedish feature films and CinemaxX 8 documentaries… 50 NEW SHORTS …and the shorts, too. 4 swedish film • issue 1 2014 36 www.sfinternational.se NEWS XX BERLINXX NEWS Singing Shooting Star Edda Magnason started out as a singer. But her role as jazz legend Monica Zetterlund in Waltz for Monica has brought her an acting career. Edda Magnason is this year’s Swedish “Shooting Star” at the Berlin Film Festival. “I never thought I’d get involved in the concentration and focus that you for the ten most promising young acting,” says Edda Magnason. “It was need as an actor have a lot in common European actors of the year. never something I dreamt of”. with standing on the stage as an artist. “I feel both delighted and Music was the 29-year-old’s first You might be shy in private, but when honoured,” says Magnason. “I’m really passion. And still is: Magnason’s two you’re playing live or acting out a part, looking forward to going to Berlin!” previous albums of dreamy pop have something happens. The difference is What do you hope being a earned her rave reviews back home. that as an actor you’re playing Shooting Star will entail? Still, acting is what her life has someone else. As a performing artist “I hope to get to meet interesting revolved around for the last couple of you go up on the stage as an people and to experience the Berlin years. Her role as Sweden’s most amplified version of yourself.” Film Festival in an exciting way.” famous jazz singer Monica Zetterlund Waltz for Monica has been a huge What are your plans going (1937-2005) in Danish director Per box-office hit in Sweden, largely on forward? Fly’s biopic Waltz for Monica (Monica the back of Magnason’s performance. “Right now I’m busy with my Z, 2013), has given her a second Small wonder then that she’s been upcoming album which is due for 29-year-old singer/actress Edda Magnason is this career. Magnason sees similarities selected as a “Shooting Star”, release this spring.” year’s Swedish “Shooting Star” at the Berlin Film between the two professions. European Film Promotion’s and the TEXT MATTIAS DAHLSTRÖM festival. She received a Guldbagge Award for Best PHOTO CARL THORBORG Actress in a Leading Role for Waltz for Monica. “As I got into the part, I realised that Berlin Film Festival’s special honour Ciao Miriam Not only has Swedish actress Edda Magnason been nominated as a Shooting Star in RIZZI Berlin – the Italian nominee Miriam Karlkvist is V actually half-swedish. According to the jury, “miriam EBORA makes a striking debut in South is Nothing (Fabio Molli, D 2013). we were impressed by her vividly original work: a significant leading role that remains committed to the complexity of the character.