Handling the Undeadopens the festival following its debut bow at Sundance.
Suddenly, the power grid goes out, and the deceased begin to move.
He will also be in town to present the Nordic premiere ofNiclas LarssonsMother, Couch.
Jonas Holmberg.JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images.
McGregor stars alongside Taylor Russell in the pic, which debuted at last years Toronto Film Festival.
This years edition, running January 26 February 4, will beJonas Holmbergs last as Goteborg Artistic Director.
After a decade at the helm, Holmbergsteps downand will join Swedens Kalmar Art Museum as director.
Holmberg will be replaced byPia Lundberg, formerly Counsellor for Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Sweden in London.
DEADLINE: This is your last edition in charge.
Why have you decided to step down?
Its also quite a long time in the life of a festival.
So its been a tough decision to step down because I love this festival and job.
But its the right decision.
I think ten years should maybe be a limit anyway.
DEADLINE: How would you assess your tenure?
Weve had the turn to streaming and digitization of the film world.
And, of course, the pandemic.
It has been interesting to try and reinvent what a film festival can be in this landscape.
HOLMBERG:She takes over a festival that is in good shape.
We have a strong position both in terms of the cultural landscape and financially.
Im very proud of that.
The service has affected how we execute the festival and think about the presentation of films.
So, I think there is still space to elaborate and experiment with those things.
DEADLINE: Jonas, you were a critic for many years.
Pia Lundberg, however, joins the festival after a stint at the Swedish embassy in London.
What do you make of the festival being led by a bureaucrat?
HOLMBERG:I wouldnt call her a bureaucrat.
She has been a critic and a journalist for many years and has a festival background.
But apart from that, I think shes a wonderful hire.
She is a very popular figure and has done tremendous work in many areas.
She will be great.
DEADLINE: Why kick off the festival with Thea Hvistendahls Handling the Undead?
The film also features Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie, two wonderful Nordic actors.
DEADLINE: Now, Another Persona.
Jonas, why did you decide to alter Ingmar Bergmans Persona with Artificial intelligence?
These are very important issues for artists to fight for.
Today, these are the same questions we ask about artificial intelligence.
We went to Helsinki and met Alma Poysti.
We recorded her as she did a character sketch of Elizabeth Fogler, the character in the film.
And then through this technology, we blended her performance with the original.
The new film will be screened only once during the festival on the first Sunday.
It will not be screened again.
DEADLINE: You highlight the legal and ethical questions AI raises in cinema.
A lot of people will be wondering, how did you guys work around those issues?
HOLMBERG:We didnt get around them.
SF Studios owns the film and they were immediately very excited about the project.
As were the Ingmar Bergman Foundation, which is responsible for his work.
So it hasnt been complicated in that sense.
We want to give new perspectives on a pressing issue.
DEADLINE: Have you seen the film?
Is it any good?
HOLMBERG:Its a spooky and slightly uncomfortable watch.
DEADLINE: The Nordic Competition.
Can you talk me through your selection and any standout titles?
HOLMBERG:Im so happy with this selection.
Its maybe the strongest in my ten years.
There are so many wonderful filmmakers and a variety of styles and themes.
Weve already discussedHandling The Undead, which is a wonderful film.
Theres alsoThe Missile, which is premiering and is a very charming dramedy.
And its interesting to welcome Daniel Espinosa back to Nordic filmmaking after many years in Hollywood.
Hes back to smaller-scale, personal filmmaking with this very strong story,Madame Luna, about human smuggling.
Why was that talk organized?
HOLMBERG:Leaving after ten years put me in a reflective mode.
What are we doing?
What have we achieved?
What could we have done differently?
And Ruben is now the festivals honorary president.
He is also great at making provocative statements and creating fresh perspectives.
It will be a wonderful discussion.
