28/08/2008

The established Swedish producer Börje Hansson has been appointed Head of Production for the Swedish major Svensk Filmindustri (SF). He will take on his new position on November 1st, reporting directly to SF Sweden’s managing director Tobias Lennér.

His predecessor, Johan Mardell who had overseen the production of the group’s biggest ever production Arn, The Knight Templar [+see also:
trailer
film profile], left the company last April to work as an independent producer.

Commenting on his new job, Hansson said: “I can’t really think of a more exciting and fun job within the film industry than this one,” Our industry is going through a paradigm shift where it is essential to stay open to changes, and at SF, there are both the desire and the conditions to continue to be a key player within Swedish film.” Producer of over 50 films, TV series and documentaries (including several hits directed by Kjell Sundvall), Hansson was the co-founder of Filmlance International, one of Sweden’s most prolific production companies over the last two decades. Since 2005, he was head of drama for Metronome Film & TV. Among his most recent co-productions is The Kautokeino Rebellion, directed by the Norwegian Niels Gaup.

Hansson is also a well-known lobbyist for Swedish producers, having working for several film organisations such as the Swedish Film Producers’ Association. On the international scene, he has been equally active as VP/Europe for FIAPF and member of the board for AGICOA.

Svensk Filmindustri’s production department has ten projects in various stages of development and several films ready to open. Its latest major release, Arn-The Kingdom at Road’s End, the second instalment of the film based on Jan Guillou’s best-selling novels, opened strongly on Swedish screens last weekend with 114,503 tickets. The next film to open in Sweden on September 19 is the animation film Mamma Moo and Crow.