Videocracy
Silvio Berlusconi in Videocracy. Photo: Folkets bio
One of Sweden’s contributions to this year’s Venice Film Festival is set entirely in Italy. It is of course the Erik Gandini documentary Videocracy.
The film has been something of a hot potato in the Italian press long before being screened, particularly in the editorial pages of newspaper Il Corriere della Sera. It looks at the way Silvio Berlusconi has amassed power through the medium of TV – and at what happens to people in a society where everything is so clearly marked by television. The film will be released at cinemas in no fewer than 30 towns and cities across Italy in September. Videocracy has also been officially selected for the Toronto International Film Festival, 10-19 September.
Erik Gandini grew up in Italy and moved to Sweden at the age of 20. His previous films include the multi-award winning documentaries Surplus (2003), criticising consumerism, and Gitmo (2006), in which he and colleague Tarik Saleh gave viewers a unique insight into the remarkable and alarming Guantánamo Bay detention camp in Cuba.
Videocracy is being screened in a co-operation between Settimana della Critica and the autonomous Venice Days section on Thursday, 3 September at 7.00 pm.
Contacts for Videocracy
Italian Press
Daniela Staffa, Fandango Srl +39 3351337630 daniela.staffa@fandango.it
www.fandango.it
International Press Venice
Ann-Louice Dahlgren, Atmo AB +39) 333 7447944 annlouice@atmo.se
www.atmo.se
Sales
Nicolai Korsgaard c +45 2421 4133
Metropia
Metropia. Photo: SandrewMetronome
Tarik Saleh’s work is also being shown in Venice. His animated feature Metropia shows the audience a frightening Europe in the near future where everything is controlled by a gigantic subway network. Actors lending their voices to the film includes Vincent Gallo, Juliette Lewis and Stellan Skarsgård. Metropia opens the Settimana della Critica section and is in the running for best debut.
The film is being screened on Thursday, 3 September at 2.00 pm.
Contacts for Metropia
Press
Ginger Corbet ginger@premierpr.com
Sales
Nicolai Korsgaard nicolai@trustnordisk.com +45 2421 4133
www.atmo.se
www.metropiathemovie.com
A Rational Solution
Rolf Lassgård and Claes Ljungmark in A Rational Solution. Photo : Nordisk Film
Another Swedish film in the Settimana della Critica section is Jörgen Bergmark’s A Rational Solution (Det enda rationella). As well as competing for the festival’s best debut prize, the film is also in the running for the International Critics’ Week award.
The film was written by Jens Jonsson, director of Sundance winner The King of Ping Pong which won a raft of important festival prizes last year.
A Rational Solution is a relationship drama featuring major Swedish actors such as Pernilla August (Daybreak, Star Wars – Episode 1, Fanny and Alexander) and Rolf Lassgård (Storm, After the Wedding). The film is about Erland, a man married to May but deeply in love with Karin, the wife of his colleague Sven-Erik. The four move in together, which works for a while until things come to a head.
A Rational Solution is being screened on Monday, 7 September at 2.00 pm.
Contacts for A Rational Solution
Press
Anne-Helen Sommarström ah.sommarstrom@telia.com +46 0 708-23 04 40
Sales
The Match Factory
The Ape
Olle Sarri in The Ape. Photo: Nordisk Film
Jesper Ganslandt is returning to Venice in 2009 with the deeply moving drama The Ape (Apan) – a film made largely under great secrecy. In fact lead actor Olle Sarri (Together) was not even allowed to read the script, instead being given instructions for each scene just before shooting. Even the action in the film has been mystified.
The Ape centres around Christer, a husband and father who wakes up in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy.
Jesper Ganslandt made his international breakthrough in 2006 when his debut movie Falkenberg Farewell featured at both the Venice and Toronto festivals. He will be making the same trip again this year, as The Ape has also been selected for Toronto.
The Ape is being screened in the Venice Days section on Thursday, 3 September at 4.30 pm.
Contacts for The Ape
Press
Lena Juhl Seidelin lena@trustnordisk.com +45 27 12 75 42
Sales
Nicolai Korsgaard nicolai@trustnordisk.com +45 2421 4133
Contacts at the Swedish Film Institute
Pia Lundberg, Director, International Department and Festivals, +46 706 92 79 80
Sara Yamashita Rüster, International and Festival Manager – Documentaries, +46 761 17 26 78
Jan Göransson, Head of Press +46 706 03 03 62