Bergman, Skarsgård and Berlin award-winning queer film among those receiving production funding

Gustaf Skarsgård and Anna Åström in Mani Masserats Us. Photo: Johan Helmer © 2013 Sonet Film

In the documentary Trespassing Bergman (Bergman's Video) by Hynek Pallas and Jane Magnusson, some of the world’s leading directors and actors talk about their relationship with Ingmar Bergman and his films. The film takes as its point of departure Ingmar Bergman’s almost mythical home on the Swedish Baltic island of Fårö. Mani Masserat studies the dangerous power of passion in the relationship drama Us (Vi) starring Gustaf Skarsgård (also in Kon-Tiki). In the Norwegian-Swedish co-production Dirk Ohm - The Illusionist That Disappeared (Dirk Ohm) by Bobbie Peers starring August Diehl, a German illusionist falls in love with a Norwegian woman who has gone missing.

Victor Lindgren’s short film Undress Me (Ta av mig) looks at our notions of masculinity, femininity and the way others look at us. Former man Mikaela brings a man home, and this leads to a ‘playing doctors’ situation, each wanting the other to take the first step towards sex. The film recently received the official queer award – Teddy Award – for best short at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Features (more than 70 minutes)

Trespassing Bergman. Photo: Göran Hugo Olsson

Trespassing Bergman (Bergman's Video)
Directors Jane Magnusson, Hynek Pallas
Screenplay Jane Magnusson, Hynek Pallas
Producer Fatima Varhos
Funding recipient Gädda Five AB
Target group Adults
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Cecilia Lidin
Funding granted 500 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: Ingmar Bergman’s home on Fårö island occupies something of a mythical status among filmmakers. Some call it Mecca, others dread the long, narrow house near the Persona beach. In Bergman's Video, some of the world’s leading directors and actors, several on site at Hammars, talk about their relationship with the demon director and his films.

August Diehl and Sara Hjort Ditlevsen in Dirk Ohm - The Illusionist That Disappeared. Photo: Thea Hermansen, copyright MER FILM / MIGMA FILM

Dirk Ohm - The Illusionist That Disappeared (Dirk Ohm)
Director Bobbie Peers
Screenplay Bjørn Olaf Johannessen
Producer Lizette Jonjic
Funding recipient Migma Film AB*
Target group Adults
Genre Drama
Film type Fiction
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Suzanne Glansborg
Funding granted 1 000 000 SEK
*Swedish coproducer. Main producer Mer Film A/S, Norge
Production company’s presentation: One cold winter’s day, German illusionist Dirk arrives in the village of Grogn in northern Norway. A young woman has recently gone missing and the community is in shock. Dirk gets involved in looking for her, and along the way he falls in love with the missing Maria.

Drömmen om Maremma. Foto: Jannik Splidsboel

Days in Maremma (Drömmen om Maremma)
Director Jannik Splidsboel
Screenplay Jannik Splidsboel
Producer Stina Gardell
Funding recipient Mantaray Film AB
Target group Adults
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Cecilia Lidin
Funding granted 500 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: Filmmaker Jannik Splidsboel travels to Maremma in Italy. Once there, he realises the farmers have serious financial problems and have sold their houses to city dwellers. One day power companies come to the village looking for land, and Jannik finds himself in the middle of a local conflict.

Us. Phto: Johan Helmer/Sonet Film

Us (Vi)
Director Mani Maserat
Screenplay Jens Jonsson
Producers Sandra Harms, Mani Maserat, Jens Jonsson
Funding recipient Sonet Film AB
Target group Adults
Genre Drama
Film type Fiction
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Magdalena Jangard
Funding granted 2 250 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: Krister and Ida’s loves starts out with strong passion, romantic dreams and hopes of having a family. Ida looks up to Krister and his high ideals, but increasingly starts losing herself in the relationship. Her struggle to adapt in the relationship leads to devastating consequences.

Short films (less than 70 minutes)

The Working Week. Photo: Lars Tunbjörk

The Working Week (Efter arbetsschema)
Director Erik Pauser
Screenplay Erik Pauser
Producers Erik Pauser, Dylan Williams
Funding recipient AMP Film HB
Target group Adults
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Cecilia Lidin
Funding granted 380 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: A film based on the books and life of author Johan Jönson. The film is a collaboration between director Erik Pauser and photographer Lars Tunbjörk. In care, among disabled people, in emergency rooms, in the author’s writing den, the ‘bunker’. Non-places and a hidden world form the backdrop for this sometimes burlesque, tender, excluding, rock-hard depiction of our times.

Nora Nemer and Magda Sacad Cali in Playtime. Photo: Anna Klara Åhrén.

Playtime (Lek)
Directors Anna Klara Åhrén, Anna Weitz
Screenplay Anna Klara Åhrén, Anna Weitz
Producers Anna Klara Åhrén, Anna Weitz
Funding recipient Föreningen Råfilm
Target group Children
Film type Documentary
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Andra Lasmanis
Funding granted 100 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: With the natural presence and choreography of play, neighbouring children come together in a courtyard in Malmö. The filmmakers and children see each other and the image of themselves. A short documentary for adults and the very youngest children.

Undress Me. Photo: Bautafilm

Undress Me (Ta av mig)
Director Victor Lindgren
Screenplay Jana Bringlöv Ekspong
Producer Therese Högberg
Funding recipient Bautafilm
Target group Youth
Genre Drama
Film type Fiction
Technique Live action
Film commissioner Andra Lasmanis
Funding granted 350 000 SEK
Production company’s presentation: Mikaela has undergone gender reassignment and is now a woman. One night at a bar she meets a guy who goes home with her. In Undress Me, sexual objectification becomes a ‘playing doctors’ situation, each person wanting the other to take the first step towards sex. A film about our notions of masculinity and femininity, and how we come into existence through the way others see us.