Three Swedish regional film centres – Filmpool Nord, Film i Väst and Film i Skåne – have joined the Swedish Film Institute’s talent development programme, Moving Sweden, a three-year venture that was instigated with Swedish pubcaster SVT and Region Stockholm-Mälardalen, among others.

At the Göteborg International Film Festival, film commissioner (since September 2014) Helen Ahlsson, of Moving Sweden, and programme director Christian Wikander, of SVT Drama, informed attendees about the new partners at the Stora Teatern, before screening the first two one-hour films supported by the scheme.

The first of these was Råggywood: We Will Be Rappers, directed by David Danial (who also wrote the screenplay), produced by Erik Hemmendorff, and starring Bile Abdullahi, Brouk Worku, Karen Harutyunyan and Johan Anhari. Based on Danial’s Råggywood shorts, which have been seen by millions, the film follows two homeless brothers, Brouk and Bile – 18 and 19 years old – who must find a job if they want to stay with Johan. They must also find a job for Johan’s son, Karen, but Karen will only accept if they set him up with Fanny.

The second title was Guerrilla, directed and written by Anders Hazelius, produced by Lizette Jonjic, and starring Adam Palsson and Siri Hjorton Wagner. Hazelius, whose short The First Time (2013) won the Special Prize in the Berlinale’s Generation 14plus, tells the story of Adam, who – while he still wants his ex-girlfriend back – spends time with feminist artist Lara, who is very critical of society. He gets absorbed in her fight against patriarchy, and love is in the air.

Launched in April 2013, and operating on an annual €2.1 million budget, Moving Sweden aims to back local filmmakers – no matter whether they are at the beginning of their careers or are more experienced – who want to kick open new doors and look for powerful stories to shoot in the 30-minute, 45-minute or 60-minute formats. Selected projects are realised by an independent producer and SVT, with Institute funding.

In other Institute sessions at Göteborg, SFI CEO Anna Serner will participate in a seminar on documentaries, and analyst Torkel Stål will present a new study on audiences for Swedish features, entitled “Who Saw the Film?”. Swedish director Ruben Östlund will talk about his award-winning Force Majeure [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Ruben Östlund
scheda film], and film commissioner Baker Karim will announce the winner of the “Black Is the New Black” script competition.