Sweden’s Oscar Submission: Three Finalists

The Swedish Film Institute’s Oscar committee has selected three finalists for Sweden’s official submission to the 99th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category: Adult Supervision by Alex Schulman, Brace Your Heart by Amanda Kernell and Bloody Men by Jens Sjögren.

Adult Supervision (Arkipelag) by Alex Schulman

When three fathers chaperone their teenage daughters on a rowdy school trip to a remote island, tensions quickly escalate and their grip on the situation begins to slip. As buried memories resurface, games turn into power struggles — and power into violence. Soon no one can tell: who is in charge, and who is in danger? 

Adult Supervision is written and directed by Alex Schulman and produced by Christina Legkova / Warner Bros. ITVP, in co-production with RMV Film, Tiisch Film, Film Stockholm and Scanbox. The film has received support from the Swedish Film Institute's film commissioner Hanna Lejonqvist Sobieski.

Scanbox Entertainment is the film's Swedish distributor, while international sales are handled by Heretic.

Brace Your Heart (Gör hjärtat hårt / Garrat du Váimmu) by Amanda Kernell

In a remote Sámi village high in the mountains, 20-year-old Ejva inherits her late father's reindeer herd. As she struggles to keep the herd thriving, local leader Heaika develops romantic feelings for her, and though hesitant, she feels compelled to accept. But everything changes when Nejla, Heaika’s cousin, arrives, and Ejva discovers true love for the first time. Betrayed and jealous, Heaika reacts harshly, leaving Ejva with a condition that makes her hands shake uncontrollably, threatening her ability to care for the herd. Now, Ejva must find a way to reclaim control over her life and her future.

It was recently announced that the film will have its European premiere in the main competition at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, following its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival.

Brace Your Heart, with the Sámi original title Garrat du Váimmu, is written and directed by Amanda Kernell and produced by Eva Åkergren for Nordisk Film Production. Co-producers include, among others, SVT, Filmpool Nord, Film i Väst and the Sámi production company Forest People, with support from, among others, the International Sámi Film Institute and the Swedish Film Institute's former film commissioner Anders Nylander.

Nordisk Film is the film's Swedish distributor, while international sales are handled by TrustNordisk.

Bloody Men (Jävla karlar) by Jens Sjögren

A coming-of-age story full of darkness and humor about the love for an incapable mother, about a bunch of damn men, and about not becoming one yourself.

Bloody Men is directed by Jens Sjögren from a screenplay by Jakob Beckman and produced by Fredrik Heinig / B-Reel Films, in co-production with SVT, Film i Väst and SF Studios. The film has received support from the Swedish Film Institute's film commissioner Hanna Lejonqvist Sobieski.

SF Studios is the film's Nordic distributor.

The film selected as Sweden’s official entry in the Best International Feature Film category will be announced at a press conference in early September.

Over the years, 17 Swedish films have been nominated in the Best International Feature Film category, with four winning the Academy Award, including Ingmar Bergman’s The Virgin Spring (1960), Through a Glass Darkly (1961) and Fanny and Alexander (1983), as well as Bille August’s Pelle the Conqueror (1987). Last year, Tarik Saleh’s Eagles of the Republic was selected as Sweden’s official Oscar submission.

Read more about Swedish films at the Academy Awards over the years

The 99th Academy Awards will take place in Los Angeles on 14 March 2027.

For more information about the Oscar selection process, please contact:
Theo Tsappos, Consultant of International Promotion at the International Department
theo.tsappos@filminstitutet.se, +46 8 665 11 33.