Thomas Vinterberg, Goteborg’s Artistic Director Pia Lundberg Address Controversial Remarks of Swedish Minister of Culture: ‘Fight Back’

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Thomas Vinterberg, a well-known director, and Pia Lundberg, the head of Goteborg, voiced their opinions on the contentious statements made by Sweden’s Minister of Culture, Parisa Liljestrand.

Lundberg confessed that the Minister’s declaration during the January 24th opening ceremony took her off guard, causing quite a stir at the onset of the occasion.

In the discourse, Lundberg posed a question to Vinterberg in a public setting about whether Sweden, which receives approximately $50.5 million annually in state aid for its film industry and lags behind Denmark and Norway in terms of funding for local film production (with Denmark having double Sweden’s budget and Norway even more), could potentially inspire Denmark in the realm of cinema.

He expressed it as awful,” he said, and that’s when Vinterberg visited Sweden to receive the Nordic Dragon Award.

Cultural Affairs Ministers typically serve for a maximum of four years, after which they step down. In this case, she’ll be leaving office shortly.

Lundberg suggests Swedish industry occasionally feels envious towards Danish films. However, Vinterberg countered by saying: “I don’t believe there’s anything you can learn from us. Instead, I think you have a great deal of power here, and if it’s not evident now, then you’ll discover it soon. Such things are transient; they ebb and flow.

As a movie enthusiast, I find myself echoing similar sentiments about the Danish film industry. It’s disheartening to see that while we’re producing exceptional films by budding talents, they’re often overlooked by audiences. This lack of viewership makes it easier for those in positions of power, like the Minister of Cultural Affairs, to undervalue them. However, if these films weren’t being made, we wouldn’t have the privilege of watching masterpieces like “The Girl with the Needle,” a work of art by Goteborg-born Magnus Von Horn, which earned an Oscar nomination.

Give it your trust, defend it, and let it flourish – that’s the key. We both have the advantage of government backing and renowned film schools. This combination is extraordinarily potent. The unique aspect of our film community, which encourages the creation of such themes, significantly strengthens our cinematic legacy. He was referring to his own Academy Award-winning ‘Another Round,’ when he said, ‘Imagine trying to make it without state funding? You’d be up against it.’

Vinterberg expressed his gratitude towards his colleagues and stated that we are fortunate to have a strong support system in place. He warned, however, that if your support system is being undermined by ministers who lack knowledge about art, then you must stand up for yourself and fight back.”

“Vinterberg praised our support system and thanked his colleagues for it. But he cautioned us to be prepared to defend ourselves if the people in charge, who are ignorant of art, try to weaken or undermine our support system.

During her address at the opening of the Göteborg festival, Liljestrand emphasized that films aren’t just pieces of art, they’re also a form of commerce, an area that requires careful oversight as well.

There’s a red carpet, fancy gowns, and jabs at funding issues – all signs that this isn’t your typical commercial film. Yet, everyone understands that the movie industry is indeed commercial. However, she stated emphatically before stirring up the festival crowd, ‘It can seem like politics should just be about numbers, without asking questions. But that’s not what politics is truly for.’

As a movie connoisseur, I understand the allure of being seen as the closest ally and most influential figurehead within the government’s creative sectors. Admittedly, such an image could earn you quite the applause, especially at events like this glamorous gathering. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that politics is not about friendship or representation, but about making tough decisions for the greater good.

Politics isn’t about continually asking citizens for higher tax contributions simply because we can’t prioritize our goals ourselves… Rather, as Minister of Culture, my role is to carry out the policies that a majority of Swedes have chosen through their votes. In the realm of film, this translates into several aspects, such as:

1. Supporting and promoting Swedish filmmakers and their work.
2. Ensuring accessibility of cinematic art for all citizens.
3. Encouraging the creation and distribution of diverse and high-quality films that reflect our society and values.
4. Protecting and preserving our rich film heritage for future generations.
5. Fostering international collaborations to enhance Sweden’s global impact in the film industry.

She stated that it’s crucial to safeguard creative liberty, discussing a proposed law by the Swedish government, which aims to combat piracy and unauthorized file-sharing, expected to be enacted towards the end of this year.

As a cinephile, I find myself weighing in on the recent controversy. Mikael Fellenius, the head of Scandinavia’s largest regional film fund Film i Väst, shared his thoughts with EbMaster: “Our Cultural Minister may have stumbled in her opening speech. Her intention was to emphasize that film is not just an art form, but an industry that requires support, both financially and through a broader film policy and reflection. She wants to foster film and see the film supply chain play a more significant role in the sector’s financial structure. However, discussing this intricate subject at the opening of the Göteborg Film Festival might not have been the ideal setting for such a discussion,” he remarked.

The Swedish administration plans to release a comprehensive research paper and a set of suggestions in late February concerning ways to boost the competitiveness of Swedish cinema. These suggestions will focus on addressing concerns about the tax incentives rolled out in 2023, which have been criticized within the industry for being insufficiently funded (with an annual budget of SEK 100 million or approximately $9 million). However, professionals suggest that a more adequate budget of SEK 300 million ($27 million) is required. Furthermore, the suggestions will address the current funding process, which has been criticized for being based on a first-come, first-served basis and deemed inadequate.

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2025-01-29 01:19