Welcoming Alicia Vikander, Ruben Östlund, Göteborg Unveils Lineup    

Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival introduced Tuesday lineup for its 46^th version, with “Danish Woman” star Alicia Vikander and double Palme d’Or profitable director Ruben Östlund amongst attendees.

The most important competition in Scandinavia, Göteborg opens with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s “Exodus” on Jan. 27. Its closing movie is “Camino” by Birgitte Stærmose.

The competition will display screen 250 movies throughout 10 days. “Exodus” will compete for the title of Greatest Nordic Movie – and a prize sum of SEK 400 000 ($38,000) – alongside “Godland,” IFFR opener “Munch,” “Ellos eatnu – Let the River Movement,” “Unruly,” “4 Little Adults,” “Copenhagen Does Not Exist” and “Dogborn,” already proven in Venice. 

Within the Nordic Documentary Competitors, the viewers will get to see “Hypernoon,” “The King,” IDFA winner “Apolonia, Apolonia,” “Bong Thom” (“The Brother”), “Labor” and “Monica within the South Seas.” 

“Nordic nations are opening up for dialogue about their function in colonial historical past. It’s one thing that’s very seen on this 12 months’s program,” creative director Jonas Holmberg advised Selection.

“‘Empire’ is a narrative in regards to the final slaves within the Danish West Indies, ‘Ellos eatnu – Let the River Movement’ in regards to the relationship between the Norwegian state and the Sámi minority. ‘Godland’ displays on Denmark’s colonial historical past,” he said, additionally singling out Mika Taanila and Sami van Ingen’s “Monica within the South Seas,” exploring the legacy of Robert Flaherty and his household.

“Beforehand, the Nordics didn’t take into account themselves to be ‘responsible’ [of any wrongdoings]. Now, artists are beginning to mirror on these points.”

Aside from delivering a packed program, the competition will even proceed its custom of peculiar the viewers. After sending emergency nurse Lisa Enroth to a faraway island as a part of The Remoted Cinema expertise again in 2021, Göteborg will enlist the assistance of 1 Ruben Östlund, lately named its new honorary president. 

Throughout a This Is Cinema! initiative and the screening of “Triangle of Disappointment,” Östlund will attempt to direct the viewers as properly. However in an effort to purchase a ticket, the viewers might want to reply a few of his questions first. 

“It’s a dream for many individuals, to be directed by a two-time winner of the Palme d’Or,” joked Holmberg.

“A few of these questions are about your viewing habits, your greatest and worst cinema experiences. Others are extra private: How a lot cash you earn, who’re you voting for, when was the final time you cried.” 

“After we reached out to him, asking him to take up this function, one of many issues we talked about was the function of the cinema. What does it truly imply, to see a movie collectively? What accountability do we now have, as viewers members? That is one thing he needs to deal with and I believe will probably be very attention-grabbing.” 

Altering viewers behaviors are very a lot on the competition’s radar, as exemplified by its annual Nostradamus Report. However the occasion additionally tries to have interaction the viewers on a political stage, be it by means of its steady assist of Ukrainian filmmakers or by welcoming Iran’s Zar Amir Ebrahimi to move the Nordic Competitors jury. 

The “Holy Spider” star will lead an illustration in assist of Iranians who’ve been imprisoned, resembling Taraneh Alidoosti, star of “Subtraction” by Mani Haghighi. Alidoosti has since been launched.

“When the battle broke out, we needed to assist. What we might do was to assist extra Ukrainian movies, when it comes to distribution and improvement, and to ask filmmakers to have a residency right here in Göteborg,” mentioned Holmberg.  

Now, the competition will welcome two of them again: Antonio Lukich, set to introduce “Luxembourg, Luxembourg” and be a part of the Nordic Competitors jury, and Eva Dzhyshyashvili, behind “Plai. A Mountain Path,” in addition to dedicating this 12 months’s Focus Part to the idea of Homecoming.  

“It additionally performed into us inviting native filmmaker Jan Troell, who will obtain the Nordic Honorary Dragon Award. He made ‘The Emigrants,’ which in Sweden is the basic story about leaving dwelling and discovering a brand new one,” says Holmberg.  

The fest additionally introduced Tuesday the jury for the 2023 Nordisk Movie & TV Fond Prize for greatest TVseries screenwriting, consisting of Danica Curcic, Nebojša Taraba, Wanda Bendjelloul and Leif Holst Jensen. “As Lengthy as We Reside,” “Blackwater,” “Carmen Curlers,” “The Invincibles” and “Youngsters in Crime” comprise the nominees.  

Lastly, Alicia Vikander will grace the gala premiere of the movies produced by the scholars of instructional program Alicia Vikander Movie Lab 2022.  

“When she was appointed an honorary fellow by the Sten A. Olsson Basis for Analysis and Tradition, her response was: ‘Let’s do one thing with this cash.’ It’s her manner of giving again to the town she got here from,” notes Holmberg, hoping the mission will proceed past its three-year plan. 

“As a way to keep related, festivals have to alter. They don’t seem to be solely devoted to screening movies anymore. We additionally wish to interact folks.”

Nordic Competitors

Opening Movie: “Exodus,” (Abbe Hassan, Sweden)

Abbe Hassan – referred to as the producer of “A Hustler’s Diary” – presents his characteristic debut: a drama a couple of smuggler who meets a Syrian lady, determined to affix her household in Europe. Loosely impressed by his personal experiences as a baby refugee, the movie was produced by Mattias Nohrborg and Anna-Klara Carlsten for B-Reel Movies. LevelK handles gross sales. 

“Copenhagen Does Not Exist,” (Martin Skovbjerg, Denmark)

Produced by Snowglobe, with TrustNordisk on board – and penned by Eskil Vogt of “The Worst Particular person within the World” fame – it begins with a younger girl’s disappearance. Her boyfriend agrees to be interrogated by her father. Skovbjerg mentioned: “Eskil created these lovely, however advanced characters, whom you’re feeling biased about at first after which begin to fall in love with.” 

“Dogborn,” (Isabella Carbonell, Sweden)

In one other Belief Nordisk providing, Sister and Brother aren’t hoping for a lot: they only wish to survive. However then they’re provided a “job.” As her characters strive to determine whether or not to behave or to look away, Carbonell dives into the despair of homelessness and human trafficking, enlisting the assistance of rapper Silvana Imam, right here solid as Sister. Produced by Momento Movies and co-produced by Non-Cease Leisure. 

“Ellos eatnu – Let the River Movement,” (Ole Giæver, Norway)

Based mostly on a real story, this politically charged title will tackle the occasions following the Norwegian authorities’s choice to construct a dam within the Alta-Kautokeino river again within the Seventies – regardless of its significance for the Sámi neighborhood, which determined to combat for its rights. Produced by Mer Movie.

“Empire,” (Frederikke Aspöck, Denmark)

Aspöck, behind “Out of Tune” – described by Selection as “cleverly executed and completely carried out” – returns with a interval drama specializing in the final slaves within the Danish West Indies. The story sees a rich “free coloured” girl, Anna Elizabeth Heegaard, starting a love affair with the Danish colony’s governor-general. However rumors of a slave revolt are spreading. 

“4 Little Adults,” (Selma Vilhunen, Finland, Sweden, France)

Finland’s Selma Vilhunen, Academy Award-nominated for brief “Do I Need to Take Care of Every thing?,” Vilhunen follows her Crystal Bear winner “Silly Younger Coronary heart” with this story of a relationship in hassle. As her characters resolve to discover polyamory, issues are sure to get messy. Alma Pöysti and Eero Milonoff star, whereas Paris-based Indie Gross sales handles gross sales.

“Godland,” (Hlynur Pálmason, Denmark/Iceland/France/Sweden)

That includes Elliott Crosset Hove and Ingvar Sigurdsson, this critics’ darling sees a Danish priest touring to Iceland to construct a church and {photograph} its folks. “[It] takes the nation’s colonialist previous as its topic, pitting a late-Nineteenth-century man of religion towards a drive far stronger than him, like some type of Arctic, art-house ‘There Will Be Blood’,” wrote Peter Debruge. 

“Munch,” (Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken, Norway)

The Rotterdam Pageant’s opening movie, it guarantees an uncommon tackle the life – or, relatively, lives – of Edvard Munch, performed by 4 completely different actors. “It appeared the one proper factor to do, as he modified so much all through his life,” Dahlsbakken advised Selection. Acquired by Juno Movies, it was produced by The Movie Firm and backed by Viaplay.

“Unruly,” (Malou Reymann, Denmark, Sweden)

Reymann’s sophomore characteristic after well-received “A Completely Regular Household” sees a teen pressured into an establishment within the Thirties, the real-life Sprogø Girls’s Dwelling. “We didn’t shoot on the precise island, however I went there just a few occasions,” admitted the helmer. “Standing there was actually emotional and it made me really feel linked to all the ladies who had been there.” 

Nordic Documentary Competitors: 

“Hypernoon,” (Mia Engberg, Sweden)

“The King,” (Karin af Klintberg, Sweden)

“Apolonia, Apolonia,” (Lea Glob, Denmark, Poland, France)

“Bong Thom (The Brother),” (Zaradasht Ahmed, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands)

“Labor,” (Tove Pils, Sweden)

“Monica within the South Seas,” (Mika Taanila, Sami van Ingen, Finland)

Ingmar Bergman Competitors:

“La Pecera,” (Glorimar Marrero Sanchez, Puerto Rico, Spain)

“Woman,” (Adura Onashile, U.Ok.)

“Archeology of Love,” (Wanmin Lee, South Korea, France)

“When it Melts,” (Veerle Baetens, Belgium, The Netherlands)

“La Palisiada,” (Philip Sotnychenko, Ukraine)

“Sister, What Grows The place the Land is Sick?,” (Franciska Eliassen, Norway)

“Suro,” (Mikel Gurrea, Spain) 

“Runner,” (Marian Mathias, U.S., France, Germany)

Worldwide Competitors

“Corsage,” (Marie Kreutzer, Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg) 

“Small, Sluggish However Regular,” (Shô Miyake, Japan, France)

“1976,” (Manuela Martelli, Chile, Argentina)

“The 5 Devils,” (Léa Mysius, France)

“Earthlings,” (Steve Dougthon, U.S.)

“Sorcery,” (Christopher Murray, Chile, Mexico, Germany)

“L’immensità,” (Emanuele Crialese, Italy, France)

“The Passengers of the Night time,” (Mikhaël Hers, France)

“The Blue Caftan,” (Maryam Touzani, Morocco, France, Belgium, Denmark)

“Blaze,” (Del Kathryn Barton, Australia)

“Pamfir,” (Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, Ukraine, France, Poland, Germany) 

“Eismayer,” (David Wagner, Austria)

“Brother,” (Clement Virgo, Canada)

“Subtraction,” (Mani Haghighi, Iran, France)

“Extra Than Ever,” (Emily Atef, France, German, Luxembourg, Norway)

“The Happiest Man within the World,” (Teona Strugar Mitevska, North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia)

“Love and Arithmetic,” (Claudia Sainte-Luce, Mexico) 

“Burning Days,” (Emin Alper, Turkey, France, Germany, The Netherlands).