Chosen by Variety as one of 10 Euro Directors to Watch at 2013’s Karlovy Vary’ with her debut “Eat Sleep Die,” a Venice Critics Week winner, Sweden’s Gabriela Pichler confirmed her unique voice with her sophomore pic “Amateurs”, voted best Nordic film at the 2018 Göteborg Film Festival. At this year’s 47th festival, she makes her comeback with “Painkiller,” her first foray into long-form scripted format, co-written with her life partner Johan Lundborg, who also serves as Dp and editor.
The six-part series is a feisty socially-anchored comedy, which delves into complex mother-daughter dynamics and gentrification in Göteborg, driving class divides.
As explained by the writing duo, the starting point for the story was Pichler’s personal experience of juggling between her work as a celebrated rising Swedish filmmaker, and the reality of her own mother’s struggle with chronic pain.
In “Painkiller,” the adult daughter Andrea is a celebrated avant-garde artist,...
The six-part series is a feisty socially-anchored comedy, which delves into complex mother-daughter dynamics and gentrification in Göteborg, driving class divides.
As explained by the writing duo, the starting point for the story was Pichler’s personal experience of juggling between her work as a celebrated rising Swedish filmmaker, and the reality of her own mother’s struggle with chronic pain.
In “Painkiller,” the adult daughter Andrea is a celebrated avant-garde artist,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Big-budget disaster series “Estonia,” Canneseries winner “Power Play” and “Painkiller,” the TV drama debut of Göteborg victor Gabriela Pilcher (“Amateur”) feature among the five contenders for next year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize which serves to underscore the robust breadth of current Nordic scripted series.
Also in the running is “Prisoner,” a second admired Canneseries main competition contender featuring “The Killing” star Sofie Gråbøl, and “Descendants,” the showrunning debut of famed Icelandic thesp Tinna Hrafnsdóttir.
Backed by the Göteborg Film Festival and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the 8th edition of the Prize, awarded to series’ main writers, pits Beta Film, the sales agent on “Estonia” and owner of its producer, “Bordertown’s” Fisher King, against Fremantle, owner of “Power Play” producer Motlys/Novemberfilm and Red Arrow Studios International, the sales agent on “Descendants.” REinvent International Sales handles sales on “Painkiller” and “Power Play.”
The Nordic drama series...
Also in the running is “Prisoner,” a second admired Canneseries main competition contender featuring “The Killing” star Sofie Gråbøl, and “Descendants,” the showrunning debut of famed Icelandic thesp Tinna Hrafnsdóttir.
Backed by the Göteborg Film Festival and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the 8th edition of the Prize, awarded to series’ main writers, pits Beta Film, the sales agent on “Estonia” and owner of its producer, “Bordertown’s” Fisher King, against Fremantle, owner of “Power Play” producer Motlys/Novemberfilm and Red Arrow Studios International, the sales agent on “Descendants.” REinvent International Sales handles sales on “Painkiller” and “Power Play.”
The Nordic drama series...
- 12/15/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
In The Giant, what lives and breathes as a compelling documentary morphs quickly into a kind of mythological fantasy when it steps outside its mode of social realism. Credit must be given to first-time feature director Johannes Nyholm, his special effects team, and his lead Christian Andren for pulling off a miraculous technical feat with a narrative that almost never steps outside of its fantasy world — until it does.
Andren plays Rikard, a sympathetic autistic man born with a several defects including a massive tumor which has taken over half of his face including an eye. Nyholm opens the film on a pétanque court, one of the few pastimes that gives Rikard pleasure, shortly before he’s abruptly and accidentally struck by a metal ball in the back of the head and blamed for the accident. In a particularly stark scene, Johan Lundborg’s camera lingers on the back of...
Andren plays Rikard, a sympathetic autistic man born with a several defects including a massive tumor which has taken over half of his face including an eye. Nyholm opens the film on a pétanque court, one of the few pastimes that gives Rikard pleasure, shortly before he’s abruptly and accidentally struck by a metal ball in the back of the head and blamed for the accident. In a particularly stark scene, Johan Lundborg’s camera lingers on the back of...
- 9/16/2016
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
Swedish screenwriters and directors Johan Storm and Johan Lundborg attended Fantastic Fest this year for the American debut of two films -- the thriller Corridor (Isolerad) and a 30-minute short film, Rosenhill. Both of these suspenseful movies were well received by audiences at Fantastic Fest, and you can read my review of Corridor. Emil Johnsen, lead actor from Corridor was also here to support the film at both Q&As.
I sat down during the fest with "the Johans" to discuss their films, as well as differences between American and European film audiences and festivals. Johan Storm's uncle is actor Peter Stormare, and we also talked about his involvement in Corridor. Here's what they had to say:
What's it been like to screen Corridor at Fantastic Fest?
Johan Storm: It was the second screening ever of the film. It was a tremendous experience to see it with an audience that good,...
I sat down during the fest with "the Johans" to discuss their films, as well as differences between American and European film audiences and festivals. Johan Storm's uncle is actor Peter Stormare, and we also talked about his involvement in Corridor. Here's what they had to say:
What's it been like to screen Corridor at Fantastic Fest?
Johan Storm: It was the second screening ever of the film. It was a tremendous experience to see it with an audience that good,...
- 10/10/2010
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
Fantastic Fest Logo 2010Fantastic Fest is moving into its sixth year and the 2010 event will take place in Austin, Texas September 23rd. This year's showings will include over fourty short films, each of which has been listed below. The horror short highlights include the creature feature "Culebra," the exorcist fueled "Deus Irae," the comical "The Legend of Beaver Dam," the dark "La Petit Mort" and undead characterizations in "Only Son." More details on the horror shorts are available below, along with the entire 2010 Fantastic Fest short film lineup.
"5 Minute Dating"
Canada
Director: Peter Hatch.
"A dating service where anyone can find their soul mate" (Fantastic).
"12 Years"
Germany
Director: Daniel Nocke.
"We're not the only species that needs to endure the wrenching pain of relationships gone sour" (Fantastic).
"The Astronomer's Sun"
Director: David Bunting.
"Lovely animated story about a boy and his bear and the secrets of the universe."
"Atomic Hubbub"
UK
Director: Stephen Irwin.
"5 Minute Dating"
Canada
Director: Peter Hatch.
"A dating service where anyone can find their soul mate" (Fantastic).
"12 Years"
Germany
Director: Daniel Nocke.
"We're not the only species that needs to endure the wrenching pain of relationships gone sour" (Fantastic).
"The Astronomer's Sun"
Director: David Bunting.
"Lovely animated story about a boy and his bear and the secrets of the universe."
"Atomic Hubbub"
UK
Director: Stephen Irwin.
- 9/3/2010
- by 28DaysLaterAnalysis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Hot diggity! Fantastic Fest is screening a whole lot of shorts and they're a whole lot of good. We've featured a number of these on Twitch in the past so get searching to turn up a fistful of happiness. Here's the full announcement!
Fantastic Fest 2010 Announces Full Short Films Slate
Over 40 Genre-Bending Shorts From Across The Globe
Set To Premiere At This Year's Festival
Austin, TX---Friday, September 3, 2010--- Fantastic Fest announces the full short films lineup, including over 40 genre-bending selections from around the world. The festival has amassed the ultimate array of cool, twisted, beautiful, mind-bending, horrifying and hilarious short films. The best short films can pack in more emotion, laughs adrenaline, creativity and flat-out insanity than a million big-budget blockbusters. Or they can show you something so ambitiously horrendous that you beg for mercy.
Fantastic Fest 2010 Short Film Lineup
5 Minute Dating
Canada, Director: Peter Hatch
A dating service...
Fantastic Fest 2010 Announces Full Short Films Slate
Over 40 Genre-Bending Shorts From Across The Globe
Set To Premiere At This Year's Festival
Austin, TX---Friday, September 3, 2010--- Fantastic Fest announces the full short films lineup, including over 40 genre-bending selections from around the world. The festival has amassed the ultimate array of cool, twisted, beautiful, mind-bending, horrifying and hilarious short films. The best short films can pack in more emotion, laughs adrenaline, creativity and flat-out insanity than a million big-budget blockbusters. Or they can show you something so ambitiously horrendous that you beg for mercy.
Fantastic Fest 2010 Short Film Lineup
5 Minute Dating
Canada, Director: Peter Hatch
A dating service...
- 9/3/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Fantastic Fest has announced its full 2010 short films lineup, including over 40 genre-bending selections from around the world. The festival has amassed the ultimate array of cool, twisted, beautiful, mind-bending, horrifying and hilarious short films. The best short films can pack in more emotion, laughs adrenaline, creativity and flat-out insanity than a million big-budget blockbusters. Or they can show you something so ambitiously horrendous that you beg for mercy.
Fantastic Fest 2010 Short Film Lineup
5 Minute Dating
Canada, Director: Peter Hatch
A dating service where anyone can find their soul mate.
12 Years
Germany, Director: Daniel Nocke
We’re not the only species that needs to endure the wrenching pain of relationships gone sour.
The Astronomer’s Sun
UK, Director: David Bunting
Lovely animated story about a boy and his bear and the secrets of the universe
Atomic Hubbub
UK, Director: Stephen Irwin
Here’s the newest way to enjoy mankind’s impending self-apocalypse.
Fantastic Fest 2010 Short Film Lineup
5 Minute Dating
Canada, Director: Peter Hatch
A dating service where anyone can find their soul mate.
12 Years
Germany, Director: Daniel Nocke
We’re not the only species that needs to endure the wrenching pain of relationships gone sour.
The Astronomer’s Sun
UK, Director: David Bunting
Lovely animated story about a boy and his bear and the secrets of the universe
Atomic Hubbub
UK, Director: Stephen Irwin
Here’s the newest way to enjoy mankind’s impending self-apocalypse.
- 9/3/2010
- by Lars Nilsen
- OriginalAlamo.com
The folks at EastWest Distribution have alerted us to their trailer for Isolerad ( Corridor ), written and directed by Johan Lundborg and Johan Storm. Peter Stormare ( Constantine ) co-stars in this film about a lonely medical student Frank (Emil Johnsen) who is pleased with his flat, a quiet place to focus on his coming exams. But when he meets the girl upstairs, the intrusive Lotte (Ylva Gallon), he realizes there is something wrong with the place. Each time he leaves his apartment, Frank is scared...the talkative concierge, the annoying child, the love-sick Lotte, her brutal ex-boyfriend and above all, her new jealous boyfriend, the scary Micke (Stormare), they all seem to be Frank's enemies. Corridor is hitting the Berlin film market next month.
- 1/18/2010
- shocktillyoudrop.com
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