The Stockholm Film Festival is presenting its Achievement award for 2025 to Alexander Skarsgård and his latest film "Pillion" will be one of the draws at the capital's film festival.
It's extra fun that he comes up with a film like "Pillion", which is a charming and funny, kinky rom-com, says Beatrice Karlsson.
BDSM drama
“Pillion” received a lot of attention when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Skarsgård plays the leader of a gay motorcycle club who takes young Colin (Harry Melling) as a lover in a BDSM relationship.
The film festival also pays tribute to David Lynch, by showing several of his films and inviting Isabella Rossellini to Stockholm. The actor had a close collaboration with Lynch and also a relationship with him.
We paid tribute to Isabella Rossellini in 2020, during Covid, but then she couldn't come and receive the Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award. So now it feels extra nice to have this framing with Lynch, says Beatrice Karlsson.
"The Rock"
The American director passed away earlier this year. Lynch is strongly associated with the Stockholm Film Festival, his film "Wild at Heart" was shown at the very first festival in 1990 and in 2003 he received an award for his life's work.
The Stockholm Film Festival takes place at the same time as several critically acclaimed films begin their campaign for the Oscars later this winter. The festival shows several talked-about films, including "The Smashing Machine" with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in an unusually dramatic lead role. Director Benny Safdie is coming to Stockholm.
It's really fun to pay tribute to him, because he is a director who has created new life in the American independent scene with nerve and stories about the anti-heroes and losers in the US, says Beatrice Karlsson.
The Stockholm Film Festival runs from November 5–16.
Mikael Forsell/TT
Festival director Beatrice Karlsson gives tips on 5 films at the festival
TT
"The smashing machine".
"A hard-boiled anti-sports flick about an MMA fighter who has to learn to lose."
"No other choice".
"World-class Korean social satire".
"Pillion".
"A nuanced BDSM drama with very charming dialogue."
“Sorry, baby”
"Eva Victor's film smells like 'Fleebag' and 'Frances Ha'. Very impressive debut film."
"The secret agent".
"A depiction of 70s Brazil and the military dictatorship where violence and threats are around the corner."
And two more unexpected or odd tips:
"Reflection in a dead diamond".
"It's a French film that smells of the 60s, Bond and spies in suits on the French Riviera."
"If I had legs I'd kick you".
“An existential fever nightmare about motherhood, marriage, and therapy in New York.”
