News
2016-05-05

Svensk Filmindustri Rebrands as SF Studios

Svensk Filmindustri is re-branding itself as SF Studios. 

Founded in 1919 and making it one of the oldest movie companies in the world, since then Svensk Filmindustri – now SF Studios – has built up a library of movie rights with over 1,800 Nordic titles. In addition to its own production and distribution, SF Studios is also a major distributor of foreign films in the Nordic market.

Since becoming part of Bonnier Growth Media in 2012, SF Studios has focused on restructuring its operations to market demands, the new digital reality and opportunities beyond the Nordic borders with intiatives such as the launch of video-on-demand service SF Kids.

“Rebranding Svensk Filmindustri to SF Studios is more than just cosmetic,” says Jonas Fors, CEO of SF Studios. “Svensk Filmindustri is a complicated name to communicate outside the Nordics. In the U.S. and Europe the industry simply calls us ‘Svensk,’ which just means ‘Swedish.’ We are in fact a Nordic company with affiliates in Norway, Denmark and Finland. SF Studios reflects more of who we are, and is more important as we internationalize as a company.”

At present, SF Studios has a number of productions in the pipeline, both in the Nordics and internationally.

In Sweden, preparations are underway for a much anticipated remake of the classic novel The Emigrants, directed by Daniél Espinosa.

In addition, a number of features from the other Nordic countries are in post-production: In Norway, Børning 2 – On Ice, the sequel to the 2014 box-office hit Børning; in Finland, the feature The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki, a true story about the first Finn, Olli Mäki, to fight for a world boxing title (the film is participating in the Un Certain Regard competition section in Cannes); and in Denmark, the World War II drama Across the Waters.

On top of this, SF Studios has acquired the original spec script Horizon Line written by Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken, to be directed by Babak Najafi. The film, a suspense thriller, follows a couple on a small airplane that loses its way over the Pacific Ocean.The film is set to go into production in the fall of 2016 and will soon start casting. Fredrik Wikström Nicastro will be producer for SF Studios and CEO Jonas Fors will be executive producer.