Andersson's previous film Songs from the Second Floor had won Best Direction and Best Script in 2001. When taking the stage to collect one of his awards, the filmmaker addressed Sweden's Culture Minister Lena Adelsson-Liljeroth: "You often say that in Sweden, we should protect our Cultural heritage. This is all well and good of course, but isn't it also about supporting those who in the future can become a cultural heritage?"
The most nominated film, Johan Kling's Darling which just a few days earlier had been voted Best Film by the Swedish Critics Association, won two Guldbagges for Best Actor (Michael Segerström) and Best Cinematography (Geir Hartly Andreassen). Michelle Meadows, the film's enigmatic lead actress lost to Sofia Ledarp, rewarded for her performance in To Love Someone by Åke Sandgren.
The Swedish blockbuster Arn - The Knight Templar was the most awarded with Guldbagges for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Bibi Andersson), Achievement in Costume Design (Kicki Ilander) and Stunt (Kimmo Rajala), plus the coveted Audience Award. The other winners were Hassan Brijany, Best Actor in a Secondary Role for his performance in Daniel Wallentin's One Eye Red (Ett öga rött), The Nun by Maud Nycander, Best Documentary film, Shane Meadows' This is England, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Achievement in casting (Pär Brundin, Frida Hallberg and Charlotta Miller) for the children's film That Special Summer, and Gunilla Heilborn, Kim Hiorthøy and Mårten Nilsson's What You Do, Best Short Film.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to actor Gösta Ekman, and the Gullspira Award 2008 to Ulf Stark.
The 2008 Guldbagge jury included Pernilla August, Katinka Faragó, Maaret Koskinen, Nils Petter Sundgren, Vinca Wiedemann, Jonas Åkerlund and Guldbagge jury chairman (non-voting member)Eva Swartz.
Four of the award-winning films - You, the Living, One Eye Red, Arn, the Knight Templar and The Nunn were supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond.