Opponent, Paradise is Burning, Together 99 shortlisted for Swedish Oscar submission

Milad Alami’s sophomore feature Opponent has had a solid festival run since its world premiere at the Berlinale’s Panorama last February and won a Special Jury Prize in Seattle. It will soon compete for the coveted Nordic Council Film Prize.

The wrestling film about masculinity and family was produced by Tangy’s Annika Rogell. It opened in Sweden last March via TriArt. Indie Sales handles sales (read our interview with the director)

Paradise is Burning by newcomer Mika Gustafson is world premiering next week at Venice’s Orizzonti. The next stop will be at the London Film Festival where it will screen in the First Feature competition strand. The drama about sisterhood, seizing the moment, even in desperate circumstances, is produced by HOBAB, with Intramovies handling sales. TriArt has set the Swedish release for October 27.

Read our interview with director Mika Gustafson.

Together 99 is the sequel to seasoned director Lukas Moodysson’s 2020 hit Together. Gustaf Hammarsten and Shanti Roney are reprising their roles as Göran and Klasse, the only two people left from the once-thriving community, and determined to get the old gang together.

The film is produced by Moodysson’s long-time partner Lars Jönsson, together with Anna Carlsten for Memfis Film. SF Studios has set the domestic release date for October 13. REinvent handles sales.

The Swedish Oscar committee chaired by the Swedish Film Institute’s head of the international department Petter Mattsson will unveil the final Swedish Oscar candidate for best international feature film September 21.