Stockholm International Film Festival proudly present this year's Industry Days

Stockholm Film Festivals Industry Days is an inspiring meeting place for the Swedish, Nordic, and international film industries. This year's exciting program includes Masterclasses featuring the two-time Academy Award-winning director Steve McQueen and Ukrainian filmmaker and commander in Ukraine’s armed forces Oleh Sentsov. A pivotal panel debate will explore the future of Swedish cinema.

This year’s Industry Days will take place at Filmhuset in Stockholm from November 12–14. There will be a special focus on emerging filmmakers, who will have the opportunity to pitch new film ideas to industry representatives, as well as on the screening and discussion of Works in Progress. New this year is the Nordic Wave competition, in which five selected Nordic filmmakers will present their first, second, or third feature-length project to compete for SEK 400,000 in production support.

Program highlights:

MASTERCLASS
STEVE MCQUEEN – Meet the recipient of this year's Stockholm Visionary Award, the director behind acclaimed films such as Hunger (2008), Shame (2011), and 12 Years a Slave (2013). His latest film, Blitz (2024), will be screened during the festival. Known for his clear-sighted approach and unwavering emotional integrity, McQueen’s work reminds us of the importance of honesty and integrity in filmmaking and life. This masterclass offers an inside look at his creative journey and invaluable insights from a visionary filmmaker.

Location: Bio Skandia
Date & Time: November 12, 13:00–14:15
Screening of "Blitz" + Q&A: Bio Skandia, November 12, 17:45

MASTERCLASS
OLEH SENTSOV – Known for films like Gámer (2011) and Rhino (2021), Sentsov joined the Ukrainian army shortly after Russia's invasion in 2022 and now presents his new film, Real – an unfiltered account from the front lines, which will be screened at the festival. In this masterclass, attendees will have the chance to delve into Sentsov’s remarkable journey as both filmmaker and soldier, exploring the interplay between personal conviction and artistic integrity that defines his work.

Location: Bio Mauritz, Filmhuset
Date & Time: November 14, 10:45–12:00
Screening of "Real" + Q&A: Zita, November 13, 18:00

BEHIND THE SCENES
THE CAIRO TRILOGY
TAREK SALEH

Writer and director Tarik Saleh has captivated audiences worldwide with films like The Nile Hilton Incident (2017) and Boy From Heaven (2022). He is completing the third and final chapter in his Cairo Trilogy – Eagles of the Republic. In this session, Saleh will discuss his sources of inspiration, and also the collaborations and political landscapes that have shaped his cinematic universe.

Location: Bio Victor, Filmhuset
Date & Time: November 14, 14:30–15:30

PANEL DISCUSSION
Visions in Swedish Cinema
How can the film industry reverse the current downward trend, and where is the vision for Swedish cinema headed in the latter half of the 2020s? This compelling panel discussion will feature Anna Croneman, CEO of the Swedish Film Institute; Eva Hamilton, Chair of the Swedish Film and TV Producers Association; Erik Hemmendorff, producer and co-founder of Plattform Produktion; Ossian Melin, artist, film- & theater director, KonstAB and Axel Petersén, filmmaker and film commissioner at the Swedish Film Institute. The discussion will be moderated by culture journalist Hynek Pallas.

Location: Bio Skandia
Date & Time: November 12, 14:30–16:00

Read the complete Industry Program here.

As an accredited journalist you are welcome to attend a selection of industry events, by request, subject to availability.

Please RSVP to pressekreterare@stockholmfilmfestival.se if you are interested in attending any event.

The last day for press accreditation is 31 October. Register here.