Serner will be leaving the Institute in the fall 2021, exactly ten years after she was appointed as CEO.

A well-known personality on the world stage for her stand on gender issues, Serner has been a guest and lecturer at festivals around the world, and was the initiator of the SFI’s 50/50 by 2020 scheme, launched at the Cannes Film Festival 2016, which inspired many other world organisations and companies to act in favour of greater gender parity in the film and TV industry.

“During these past ten years a lot has happened within the film industry", said Serner. “I have been invited to so many conversations and meetings all over the world. We all have the same challenges and we have so much to learn from each other. There has been a blend of everything from Mogul speaker at TIFF, hosting five Ministers on stage at Cannes, speaking at LGBTQ+ festival Side-By-Side in St Petersburg, and meeting Maori film makers in New Zealand. It has been educative and deeply rewarding. Also, each and every time I have been able to show a Swedish film, that 'has blown their minds out'. This has been a privilege,” she added.

Commenting on her resignation, Claes Ånstrand, Chairman of the Board at the SFI said: “Anna Serner has contributed to a wider range of filmmakers in Sweden during her years at the Swedish Film Institute. We in the board especially wish to emphasise the great and important work Anna Serner has done to find new means to raise and widen quality by working with inclusion perspectives.”

Explaining her decision to step down, Serner said: “I feel that there is still a lot to be done, and that there are so many active people who are in good positions to continue the path of change. Therefore, I want to step back and allow for new voices and perspectives to step forward. I think this is particularly important in Sweden, since the assignment as CEO of the Swedish Film Institute brings on a lot of power. I will do my very best to contribute to a smooth succession during the coming six months. After that I will take time to focus on what my next steps will be.”

Until her departure, on top of her daily duties at the SFI, Serner will continue chairing the working group for gender inclusion and wider inclusion at EFADs.