Swedish presence at Berlinale

Today, Thursday, February 12th, marks the opening of the 76^th Berlin international film festival, where Kim Ekberg’s Doggerland will celebrate its world premiere under the section Forum. Several co-productions will also have their world premieres, including the world’s first joik musical – Arrú by Elle Sofe Sara – screening under the Panorama section. Additionally, Göran Hugo Olsson’s Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 will be presented in Critics’ Week, Victoria Versau has been nominated for Berlinale Talents and Ami-Ro Sköld’s Mamma will be showcased at the Co-Production Market.

Below is a selection of Swedish highlights at this year’s festival.

Forum

Doggerland – Directed by Kim Ekberg (World Premiere)

Alf (John Holm) is pushing 40 and still lives at home at with his overbearing mother, Monica (Anita Holm), in a housing estate on the outskirts of Norrköping. She constantly urges him to find a job and move out, while Alf’s true passion is his diabolo performance. Both mother and son are forced to confront how difficult it can be to let go when he finally gets the chance to tour Europe with his performance.

Doggerland is written and directed by Kim Ekberg and produced by Ekberg / PostPost AB in collaboration with Glada Sprutan. The film was made with the support of Swedish Film Institute commissioner Axel Petersén, Konstnärsnämnden and Norrköpings Filmfond.

Co-productions

Salvation – Directed by Emin Alper (competition – Main Section)

Salvation is a political drama exploring how fear, power and moral compromise permeate a society in crisis. With psychological precision, the film examines individual responsibility when the line between survival and guilt begins to blur.

The film is a Turkish-French-Dutch-Greek-Swedish-Saudi Arabian co-production. Swedish co-producer: Beata Gårdeler / Second Land.

Arrú – Directed by Elle Sofe Sara (World Premiere - Panorama)

Set against the breathtaking landscape of Sápmi, reindeer herder Maia fights to protect her ancestral lands from a planned mining project. As tensions rise and protests grow, she turns to her charismatic uncle Lemme for support, but his presence awakens long-buried trauma. Maia must choose between risking her family to defend the land or letting it go in order to break silence.

Arrú is a Norwegian-Finnish-Swedish coproduction directed by Elle Sofe Sara, who-wrote the screenplay with Johan Fasting. Swedish co-producer: Mimmi Spång / Garagefilm, with support from Swedish Film Institute commissioner Hanna Lejonqvist.

Lust – Directed by Ralitza Petrova (World Premiere - Forum)

After her father’s death, a reclusive prison psychologist returns to Bulgaria, where a mysterious snake and suppressed desires begin to unravel her controlled life. Through an exploration of bondage and intimacy, she moves toward a tense, unsettling liberation.

Lust is a Bulgarian-Danish-Swedish co-production written and directed by Ralitza Petrova. Swedish co-producer: Anna Byvald / Silverfilm and Film i Väst.

A Prayer for Dying – Directed by Dara Van Dusen (World Premiere - Perspektive)

In the aftermath of the American Civil War, veteran Jacob Hansen’s dream of a new life in Friendship, Wisconsin turns into a nightmare. As an epidemic spreads and havoc wreaks, Jacob together with a sheriff, an undertaker and a pastor, must take action to save his town, his family and his soul.

Gustav Lindh who was appointed a Shooting Star at Berlinale in 2021 appears in one of the roles.

A Prayer for Dying is a Norwegian-Swedish-Greek-British co-production. Swedish co-producer: Mimmi Spång / Garagefilm, with support from Swedish Film Institute commissioner Theo Tsappos.

Berlinale Talents

Berlinale Talents, the festival’s renowned talent development programme, brings together 200 emerging film professionals from across the globe. Participants take part in conversations, screenings and masterclasses throughout the festival and are given opportunities to further develop within their respective fields. Director and screenwriter Victoria Verseaurecently awarded a Guldbagge for the documentary Trans Memoria is among this year’s selected participants. The programme runs from 13-18 February.

Critic's Week

Göran Hugo Olsson’s Guldbagge Award-winning documentary Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 – which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2024 will be screened at Berlin Critics’ Week

(9-17 February). Critics’ Week is organized by the German Film Critics Associatoin, Hauptstadtkulturfonds and Stiftung Kulturwek/ VG Bild-Kunst.

Ami-Ro Sköld’s project Mamma is among the 35 feature film projects selected to be presented to international production companies and financiers at the Berlinale Co-Production Market.

The Berlin International Film Festival takes place from 12-22 February. Read more here: Home | Berlinale