Swedish films at the European Film Awards

The Ape Star, The Most Beautiful Boy in the World, and Pleasure. Photos: LEE Film / © Mario Tursi 1970 / Plattform

Three Swedish films can pick up an award at the European Film Awards gala on Saturday December 11.The Ape Star by Linda Hambäck is in the running for European Animated Feature Film and The Most Beautiful Boy in the World by Kristina Lindström and Kristian Petri is nominated in the European Documentary category. Pleasure by Ninja Thyberg is nominated for European Discovery 2021 – Prix FIPRESCI. In addition, Swedish co-productions Lamb, Flee and The Worst Person in the World are nominated in several categories.

THE APE STAR: European Animated Feature Film

Linda Hambäck’s The Ape Star is nominated for Best European Animated Feature Film – the first Swedish film to receive an EFA nomination in this category. The Ape Star had its international première in competition at the Annecy International Film Festival in June, and has screened and competed at many film festivals around the world during the autumn. It recently won the MICHEL Film Award at Filmfest Hamburg and the Club of Festivals Award for a children’s film at the Schlingel Film Festival.

The Ape Star is directed by Linda Hambäck, with screenplay by Jan Vierth from the book by Frida Nilsson. The film was produced by Hambäck and Petter Lindblad, LEE Film, in association with Film i Väst among others, with funding from the Swedish Film Institute.

Stellan Skarsgård, Pernilla August, Melinda Kinnaman and Rebecka Gerstmann voice the film’s main characters: Jonna, the girl growing up in an orphanage under governess Gertrud, powerful local councillor Tord Fjordmark who wants to pull the orphanage down to build an adventure pool, and of course Gorilla, who wants to be accepted for who she is but mainly dreams of being a mother.

The film is distributed by SF Studios in Sweden. Attraction Distribution is handling world sales.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY IN THE WORLD: European Documentary

Directed by Kristina Lindström and Kristian Petri, The Most Beautiful Boy in the World depicts the life of actor Björn Andrésen. Fifty years ago, when Björn was 15, director Luchino Visconti called him “the most beautiful boy in the world” in his role as Tadzio, in the legendary Death in Venice. According to Andrésen himself, the film ruined his life. The Most Beautiful Boy in the World had its world première in spring 2021 at the Sundance Film Festival, and has since screened at over 20 festivals and been sold to 18 countries/territories.

The Most Beautiful Boy in the World was produced by Stina Gardell, Mantaray Film, with funding from the Swedish Film Institute. 

The film is distributed by TriArt Film in Sweden, with Films Boutique handling world sales.

PLEASURE: European Discovery 2021 – Prix FIPRESCI

In Ninja Thyberg’s Pleasure, we follow Sofia Kappel in the role of Swede Linnéa and her journey to Los Angeles to become the next big porn star. The film now has the chance of winning the Prix FIPRESCI, which is awarded to a director making their first feature film.

Pleasure was in the Cannes Film Festival Official Selection 2020 and world premièred at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Sofia Kappel, also appearing in her first feature, was nominated as a Rising Star at the Stockholm Film Festival in November. She has been praised for her role in both Swedish and international media.

Pleasure was written by Thyberg in association with Peter Modestij, produced by Erik Hemmendorff, Eliza Jones, and Markus Waltå, Plattform Produktion, in co-production with Film i Väst among others, and with funding from the Swedish Film Institute.

The film is distributed by SF Studios in Sweden. World sales handled by Versatile.

Nominations for Swedish co-productions:

The Worst Person in the World, director Joachim Trier

• European Screenwriter: Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt
• European Actress: Renate Reinsve

Swedish co-producer: Mattias Nohrborg, B-Reel Films, and Film i Väst, with funding from the Swedish Film Institute. World sales: MK2.

Flee, director Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Yesterday it was announced that Flee is this year's winner of the European University Film Award (EUFA). The film is also nominated in the following categories:

• European Documentary
• European Animated Feature Film

Swedish co-producer: Charlotte Most, Mostfilm, with funding from the Swedish Film Institute. World sales: Cinephil.

Lamb, director Valdimar Jóhansson

• European Discovery 2021 – Prix FIPRESCI

Swedish co-producers: Piodor Gustafsson and Erik Rydell, Black Spark Prod, and Film i Väst, with funding from the Swedish Film Institute. World sales: New Europe Film Sales.

The 34th European Film Awards will take place on December 11 in Berlin.