Gothenburg Film Festival — Still the Best in Scandinavia
Once again, Gothenburg Film Festival showed why it continues to be the leading film festival in Scandinavia. With its unique blend of artistic excellence and industry focus, the festival remains a vital hub for both Nordic and international film professionals.
For FrameSage, Gothenburg was a defining moment. As the final feature of Film Forum, we officially launched FrameSage to the film industry. Following the launch, FrameSage hosted a public mingle, open to all industry festival guests — an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with a wide range of filmmakers, producers, investors, and creators.
Later, the evening after, FrameSage co-hosted an exclusive dinner, together with Gothenburg Film Studios and Storyline, gathering around 30 specially invited representatives from across the industry. It was an intimate setting for deeper discussions about the future of film financing and production — and a great way to kick off FrameSage’s journey. On that dinner the FrameSage video was shown for the first time.
At Drama Vision, I was able to catch a glimpse of some very exciting upcoming projects, take part in inspiring meetings, and find new creative sparks from several of the panels and conversations. Drama Vision is always a blast, and this year was no exception — a true highlight of the festival.
Most of all, a huge thank you to everyone I met in Gothenburg — your insights, creative visions, and enthusiasm made the festival a truly inspiring experience.
Reflections from Berlinale — A Festival of Inspiration, Collaboration, and… Unexpected Drama
Straight from Gothenburg to Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), February became a month of relentless creativity, sharp industry insights, and unforgettable moments.
At Berlinale, I had many fruitful meetings on collaborations, sales, and co-productions, and was reminded yet again of the vital role international partnerships play in getting films made today. The market was buzzing, with countries actively competing via tax incentives and rebates, creating an exciting environment for producers and investors alike.
I met both new talents and long-established industry veterans, some with careers spanning back to the 1960s — an incredible opportunity to exchange views on how filmmaking and financing have evolved over the decades.
A definite highlight was Nordic Film Music Days, where I took part in insightful speed meetings and had the chance to explore the ever-evolving role of music in film.
One of the most moving encounters was meeting a Ukrainian filmmaker who shared firsthand accounts of the war — a sobering reminder of the world outside our creative bubble and the deep responsibility artists hold in times like these.
However, Berlinale also had its share of unexpected drama…
During the HARPA Nordic Film Music Awards at the Nordic Embassies — a fantastic event that celebrates the very best in Nordic film music — a shocking incident unfolded.
In the middle of an on-stage interview with nominees, a man in a suit stormed onto the stage, spraying urine from a bottle over everyone present.
For a brief, surreal moment, everyone froze. Some even thought it might be a strange performance art piece — but it quickly became clear this was not the case. The man began shouting about Spotify, commercialism, and corruption, before standing silently, as everyone realized the seriousness of what had just happened.
In that split second, instinct kicked in. I stepped forward, shouting "FUCK OFF. GO AWAY. RAUS!", moving directly toward him. He flinched, turned to run, and I made sure he left — giving him a firm push in the back as he ran straight into security’s arms.
Despite this surreal and disturbing moment, the evening continued — a testament to the resilience and solidarity of our community. I would like to thank all of you who have thanked me for stepping in. It means a lot.
Beyond this incident, Berlinale was an incredible experience, filled with valuable conversations, new friendships, and promising collaborations. It was especially great to reconnect with Swedish and Danish colleagues and explore how we can work together across borders.
A Heartfelt Thank You — To Everyone I Met in Gothenburg and Berlin
As I reflect on both festivals, I’m filled with gratitude for all the inspiring meetings and conversations I had — with producers, investors, creators, and fellow professionals from across the industry.
Both Gothenburg and Berlin were powerful reminders of why we do what we do: telling meaningful stories, pushing creative boundaries, and collaborating to bring films to life.
With FrameSage now officially launched, and following weeks of exciting discussions, I’m looking forward to following up on all these promising leads — and hopefully turning new connections into concrete collaborations.
➡️ If you’re curious about FrameSage and how we can support your film project, visit www.framesage.com to learn more.
Once again — a huge thank you to everyone I met in Gothenburg and Berlin. Let's keep the conversations going!
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