As early as last fall, the festival management learned that Liljestrand would not be coming to the festival.
"The reason we have been told is that she has other commitments," says Pia Lundberg.
It is very unusual for a Minister of Culture to decline to inaugurate the Nordic region's largest film festival. "When and where does the government want to have the conversation about Swedish film? And with whom?" asks the festival's management in a press release.
Liljestrand was not at the film policy meeting last year either.
It would have been the perfect venue for her to give the opening speech. The country's cultural politicians were sitting there discussing Swedish film policy, and she didn't get there.
“Strangely quiet”
The film investigation was presented in the spring, but in the autumn there has been a "strange silence" from the government, according to Pia Lundberg. The festival management emphasizes that the dialogue between politics, film actors and the audience is "particularly important" right now.
We have not seen any proposals or a bill. The film policy meeting is the main arena in Sweden for discussing film policy. Almost everyone comes there; it is a unique opportunity.
Understand the reaction
In his much-hyped inaugural speech last year, Liljestrand said that it is not "politicians' job" to be the industry's "best friends and representatives in the government."
"I can understand the audience's reaction, but I don't think it's good for a speaker to be booed," says Pia Lundberg.
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Corrected: In a previous version there was an incorrect statement that it was the first time a Minister of Culture had refused to inaugurate the festival.
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