The Swedish Film Institute announced this morning in a press release that Pernilla August's BEYOND is selected as Sweden's entry for the Academy Awards.
Beyond, Pernilla August's debut feature, is loosely based on Susanna Alakoski's award-winning novel of the same name. Set both in the present and in the southern Swedish town of Ystad in the 1970s, the film is a gripping story of a woman's confrontation with memories from her troubled childhood.
The cast includes Noomi Rapace, Ola Rapace, Ville Virtanen and Outi Mäenpää, and the film was produced by Helena Danielsson at HeppFilm and Drakfilm's Ralf Karlsson.
Beyond went on general release on 10 December 2010, since when it has been seen by some 400,000 cinemagoers in Sweden. In addition to the Nordic countries, it has sold well internationally, with Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Romania and Israel among the countries that have bought the film.
The film has also picked up a raft of prestigious international awards, including prizes at last year's Venice festival and at festivals in Hamburg and Sao Paulo. At home in Sweden, Beyond scooped three Guldbagge awards.
Beyond was granted production funding from the Swedish Film Institute by the former feature film commissioner, Peter "Piodor" Gustafsson. The distributor is Nordisk Film, with international sales organised through TrustNordisk.
For further information on the selection process, contact:
Pia Lundberg, Head of the International Department, Swedish Film Institute
pia.lundberg@sfi.se
+46 8 665 11 39