Film i Väst – A Proud Film Tradition
Film i Väst was founded in Västra Götaland in 1992. Since then, it has grown to become Scandinavia’s leading co-producer of Swedish and international feature films, drama series, documentaries, and short formats. A journey from Trollhättan to Cannes and Berlin. And to the rest of the world...
30 Years with Film i Väst – A Sneak Peek
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"Trollywood" – The Early Years
Film i Väst was founded in 1992 in Västra Götaland, a region relatively poor in film production and, therefore, in directors, screenwriters, and producers. Thanks to the Swedish public service television company SVT’s drama productions, some filming and post-production took place here. The gradual development of a film fund led to the first feature films by Björn Runge and Stefan Jarl. Yet, few truly believed in the idea of "Trollywood," as the local population named Film i Väst when it moved from Alingsås to Trollhättan.
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Film Regions Emerge
Film i Väst, along with Filmpool Nord and Film i Skåne, was pioneering both film regions and the shift of film production from the capital, Stockholm, to the countryside. The move in western Sweden was primarily made possible by the significant and long-term support from what is now Region Västra Götaland.
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Lars von Trier's Melancholia
The Great Door Openers
The collaboration with Lars Jönsson and Anna Anthony, who opened the door to filmmakers such as Lukas Moodysson, Ella Lemhagen, Josef Fares, Lisa Aschan, Maria Blom, and Colin Nutley, as well as the Danish film world: Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, and Susanne Bier. Just to name a few creators that Film i Väst still collaborates with today.
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The International Breakthrough
The major international breakthrough came with Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark, which, despite some hardships, was filmed in Trollhättan. In 2000, it was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. It won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, and Björk won the award for Best Actress. The film also won four European Film Awards.
Now, Film i Väst seriously took the giant leap from Västra Götaland to Cannes and Berlin, and gradually, the rest of the world. With that came more and more festival successes and audience hits.
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The Film Industry in Västra Götaland
At the same time, Film i Väst contributed to the development of an increasingly stronger film industry in Västra Götaland, with production and post-production companies, film professionals, and jobs for actors and extras.
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Film i Väst's Contribution
For Film i Väst to invest in and co-produce a project, it's not only about achieving artistic and audience success or discovering new talents and stories. A key requirement is that the production is filmed and/or post-produced within the region. This generates local spend that flows back into the region and supports a strong film industry. The role as financier and co-producer is paired with persistence, expertise, and a wide network. These qualities have been essential in – more often than not – choosing the right project for the right festival, or in reaching an audience that truly loves film.
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Ruben Östlund's Palme d'Or winner The Square
Long-Term Collaborations
Long-term commitment through both success and setbacks has built mutual trust and collaboration between Film i Väst and Swedish directors such as Ruben Östlund, Sanna Lenken, Hannes Holm, Gabriela Pichler, Mikael Marcimain, Ninja Thyberg, Tarik Saleh, and Mika Gustafson. This is reflected in approximately 190 Guldbagge Awards and well over 400 nominations.
On the international stage, we can mention Wim Wenders, Agnieszka Holland, Magnus von Horn, Lone Scherfig, Ali Abbasi, Kaouther Ben Hania, Hlynur Pálmason, Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, Isabella Eklöf, Erik Poppe, Jim Jarmusch, Per Fly, and Joachim Trier—directors who have left their mark on festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Sundance, and Toronto.
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För barn & unga
JerryMaya, Håkan Bråkan, Sune, Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, Nelly Rapp, Bamse, Bodri, and all the characters from the Vem family. These are just some of the beloved characters from films co-produced by Film i Väst, especially aimed at children and young audiences — and warmly embraced by viewers both young and old. Often, these characters become the true heroes of the cinema audience.
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The Drama Series
Our drama productions have led to audience hits such as The Restaurant, Stenbeck, Breaking Point, Painkiller, Bäckström, and A Family Like Ours. They have also created continuity for film professionals and production companies by generating more long-term employment opportunities.
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The Talents
"Talents don’t need to be young or experienced. But everyone has to start somewhere. Film i Väst organizes special programs and events each year with the aim of developing directors, screenwriters, and producers who live and work in Västra Götaland."
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Sustainable and analytical
In recent years, Film i Väst has expanded its operations with a stronger focus on knowledge, particularly through the Film i Väst Analysis report series on public film funding and the future of European cinema. Achieving sustainable film production at every level is also a key priority.