Presents

BECOMING ASTRID A film by Pernille Fischer Christensen 123 mins, Denmark/Sweden, 2018 Language: Danish and Swedish with English subtitles

Official Selection: Berlinale Special Gala Screening 2018 – World Premiere

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S H O RT S Y N O P S I S When Astrid Lindgren was very young something happened that affected her  profoundly, and this combination of both miracle and calamity came to shape her entire life.  It was an event that transformed her into one of the most inspiring women of our age and the storyteller a whole world would come to love. This is the story of when a young Astrid, despite the expectations of her time and religious upbringing, decided to break free from society´s norms and follow her heart.

D I R E C T O R A N D S C R E E N P L AY Pernille Fischer Christensen Pernille Fischer Christensen, one of Denmark’s most successful directors received her first prize at the Cannes Film Festival for her short film INDIA (1999), which she created during her training at the National Film School of Denmark. In 2003, Pernille received the Best Short Film Award at the Danish Film Academy for HABIBTI MY LOVE. Her debut feature film A SOAP (2006) world premiered at the Berlinale and was awarded the Silver Bear - (the Jury Grand Prize) and Best Debut Film Award. A SOAP also received Best Script at San Sebastian and won the Danish Film Critic´s Award (Bodil) for Best Film in 2007. Fischer Christensen is also known for SOMEONE YOU LOVE (2014) and A FAMILY (2010), both awarded at the Berlinale. Filmography 2006 2008 2010 2014

A Soap (En soap) Dancers (Dansen) A Family (En familie) Someone you love (En du elsker)

S C R E E N P L AY Kim Fupz Aakeson Kim Fupz Aakeson is one of Denmark’s most productive, well-know and award-winning writers. He has over 100 titles under his belt; comic book series, a string of children’s books, collections of short stories and novels. Since the mid 90s Fupz has been devoted to feature film scripts, among others; THE ONE AND ONLY (director Susanne Bier), IN YOUR HANDS (director Annette K Olesen, in the main competition at the 2004 Berlinale), A SOAP (director Pernille Fischer Christensen, winner of the Silver Bear 2006), PRAGUE (director Ole Christian Madsen) and LITTLE SOLDIER (director Annette K Olesen).

D I R E C TO R ´ S C O M M E N T Dear Astrid Lindgren,

I spent much of my childhood in the forests of Småland. It was a simple life. Without electricity and hot water, no toilet, telephone or television. Without other children. I was often bored and very often alone. Luckily, I was able to immerse myself in books. Your books. You were the first person to make me think about my existence. You taught me that evil and goodness exists. That death must be faced. That forgiveness is possible, but that faith in life is the most powerful force. You shaped me – but what shaped you? When you were very young, something happened that I think affected you profoundly and made you the great storyteller you became. Something that gave you a deep insight into the soul of a child. Something that forced you to break with the norm, religion and culture of your time. Something that made you one of the most innovative and influential artists of our time. This is the event that shaped my story Becoming Astrid. Thank you.

Pernille Fischer Christensen

BECOMING ASTRID ASTRID has led a carefree life with her siblings in the forests and fields of her childhood home in Småland. But now, a young woman, she yearns for adult life, love and a future in the wider world. This initially leads her to the local newspaper and its charismatic editor BLOMBERG, who recognises his young intern’s writing talent, not to mention her youth and wit. He falls head over heels in love with her and, despite being old enough to be her father, Astrid responds. The repercussions quickly become serious when Astrid falls pregnant. Blomberg is married and in the throes of a divorce. He promises to marry her, but for now her situation must remain a secret, 1920s Vimmerby would be scandalised. But with her growing belly Astrid can’t bear to bring shame on her parents, so she leaves her childhood home and goes to Copenhagen to give birth to her son, LASSE, in secrecy, and then reluctantly leaves him in the care of a foster mother, MARIE. Astrid goes into self-imposed exile in Stockholm, in the end refusing Blomberg’s offer of marriage, and now Astrid leads a hand-to-mouth existence, saving up her paltry salary for the short but life-giving visits to see Lasse and Marie. Astrid’s separation from her son causes her untold agony. Lasse becomes attached to Marie, and Astrid cannot bear to tear him away from the life he knows and loves, but Marie becomes seriously ill and must give up caring for him. Astrid brings Lasse to Stockholm, where mother and son must try to connect. It is by no means easy. But Astrid’s imagination, creativity and flair for story-telling slowly brings them together. She can finally return home to Vimmerby hand in hand with her son, a grown woman who has seen dark times but who has emerged with a new-found courage that later on will form the foundations of a vast and beloved body of work.

CAST Astrid - Alba August Alba August was born in 1993. She made her debut at eight years of age in Bille August’s A SONG FOR MARTIN (2001). After primary school, she studied theater at Södra Latin High school and acted in Pernilla August’s BEYOND (2010). August continued her drama studies at the Danish National School of Performing Arts. August broke through in 2013 when she played the leading role as Selinda in William Olsson’s drama RELIANCE, for which she was praised for her contribution. She has since starred in roles for television and film; IRL, JORDSKOTT and BELOW THE SURFACE. She was also in the stage version of THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VON KANT at the Malmö City Theater. This year, Alba will also be seen in THE RAIN, Netflix first Nordic original series. Alba is nominated Shooting Star by the European Film Promotion jury for her work in BECOMING ASTRID. The jury’s motivation: With an abundance of intuition and curiosity, Alba won over the jury with her convincing portrayal of the real-life writer, Astrid Lindgren, in BECOMING ASTRID, ably depicting her from an early age. Alba's performance on screen is as sensible and deep as it is unpredictable, imbuing the character with an inner life that allows us to explore the woman behind the writer.

Hanna - Maria Bonnevie Maria Bonnevie is one of the leading actresses in Scandinavia with an impressive repertoire of roles in both film and theater. She graduated from Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1997 and made her debut at the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm the same year in the play YVONNE by Ingmar Bergman. In 1991, at the age of fifteen, Bonnevie debuted in Hrafn Gunnlaugsson´s THE WHITE VIKING. In the following period she played the lead role in Academy Award winning director Bille August’s JERUSALEM (1996). In 2002 Bonnevie was nominated Shooting Star by the European Film Promotion at the Berlinale and that same year she had a major breakthrough as Dina in I AM DINA directed by Ole Bornedal where she plays opposite Gerard Depardieu and Mads Mikkelsen. For her critically acclaimed achievement she won the Amanda, the Norwegian Film Award, for best actress and was awarded at Montreal World Film Festival for best foreign actress. In Denmark she was nominated for both a Danish Critic´s Association Award and a Danish Academy Award. Bonnevie went on to star in the double role as Aimee and Simone in Christopher Boe’s award winning debut RECONSTRUCTION (2003) for which she was nominated for a Bodil Award for best actress in 2004. In 2007 she played the lead role in Andrei Swjaginzew´s THE BANISHMENT which was nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival. In 2014 she played opposite Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Nikolaj Lie Kaas in Academy Award winning director Susanne Bier’s A SECOND CHANCE. Most recently she appeared as the young widow and mother Melussina in the Danish adventure film THE SHAMER´S DAUGHTER (2015) directed by Kenneth Kainz.

Samuel - Magnus Krepper Magnus Krepper is a Swedish actor, magician and dancer. Krepper studied ballet at the Academy of Ballet, in Gothenburg, 1987-90. He then went on to drama studies at the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts 1995-98. After drama school he was engaged at the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm. Magnus Krepper is known to the audiences for his roles in the tv dramas KOMMISSARIE WINTER, Lisbeth Salander´s MILLENNIUM-trilogy, THE BRIDGE and in the feature films CALL GIRL, GENTLEMEN (director Mikael Marcimain) and MOUTH TO MOUTH (director Björn Runge) for which he was awarded a Guldbagge, the Swedish Film Award for best actor in a supporting role 2005. Krepper has recently completed filming the Danish/South African tv drama LIBERTY (director Mikael Marcimain) and the Danish feature film A BETTER LIFE (director Michael Noer).

Marie - Trine Dyrholm Trine Dyrholm is one of Denmark's most acclaimed actresses as well as an accomplished singer-songwriter and director. In 1998 Dyrholm landed a breakout role in Thomas Vinterberg´s THE CELEBRATION. The international audiences got to know her even better in the role as the bitter wife and mother in Susanne Bier´s Oscar-winning drama IN A BETTER WORLD. Trine has received international attention for her roles in the tv drama THE LEGACY, Susanne Bier’s ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE and Thomas Vinterberg’s THE COMMUNE, for which her performance was awarded a Silver Bear at the Berlinale in 2016. In 2017 Trine Dyrholm played Nico in NICO, 1988 (director Susanna Nicchiarelli) which earned her the Horizons Award at the Venice Film Festival. Dyrholm was again acknowledged in 2017 with a Robert-nomination for best female lead in Peter Schønau Fog´s YOU DISAPPEAR as well as yet another nomination from the Danish Film Critic´s Association for her role in the epic tv drama THE LEGACY. BECOMING ASTRID is Trine Dyrholm and director Pernille Fischer Christensen´s sixth collaboration.

Blomberg - Henrik Rafaelsen Henrik Rafaelsen, born 1973 in Kristiansand, is a Norwegian actor, known for films such as THELMA, (director Joachim Trier), BLIND (director Eskil Vogt), HAPPY HAPPY (director Anne Sewitsky) and THE ALMOST MAN (director Martin Lund). Rafaelsen studied acting at the Swedish National Academy 1994-1998. In 2011 he won best actor at the Norway´s Amanda Awards for his work in HAPPY HAPPY. For his contribution in THE ALMOST MAN Rafaelsen was also awarded best actor at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and nominated best actor in a leading role at the Kosmorama Trondheim International Film Festival. Rafaelsen has also performed in the tv-series LILLYHAMMER and ACQUITTED.

ASTRID LINDGREN Astrid Lindgren is a critically acclaimed and loved author of children’s books. She is best known for Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, the Six Bullerby Children (Children of Noisy Village in the US), Ronia, the Robber's Daughter, and The Brothers Lionheart. She is the fourth most-translated children's book author in the world after Enid Blyton, H. C. Andersen and the Brothers Grimm. Lindgren has sold roughly 165 million books worldwide. Her books are translated into 100 languages. Astrid Lindgren became not only one of Sweden's foremost authors, she also became one of the most influential voices in the country. She was an active supporter of children's rights, fighting injustice and oppression. Astrid Lindgren’s dedication to every child´s right for security and love remains a constant thread throughout her entire work.

BECOMING ASTRID Original titel: Unga Astrid

Production Designer: Linda Janson

Year of production: 2018

Costume Designer: Cilla Rörby

Genre: Drama

Make-up Designer: Linda Boije af Gennäs

Length: 123 min

Sound Design: Andreas Franck & Bent Holm

Format: 35mm (colour) 1:2.39 Cinemascope

Composer: Nicklas Schmidt

Language: Swedish, Danish

Executive Producer: Henrik Zein Co-producers: Tomas Eskilsson, Josefine Tengblad, Marc Schmidheiny

Director: Pernille Fischer Christensen

Tomas Radoor, René Ezra, Christoph Daniel, Dario Suter, Joel Brandeis

Screenplay: Kim Fupz Aakeson & Pernille Fischer Christensen Producers: Maria Dahlin, Anna Anthony, Lars G Lindström

MAIN CAST

Cinematographer: Erik Molberg Hansen

Astrid: Alba August

Editors: Åsa Mossberg & Kasper Leick

Hanna: Maria Bonnevie

Casting Director, Sweden: Jeanette Klintberg

Samuel: Magnus Krepper

Casting Director, Denmark: Djamila Hansen

Blomberg: Henrik Rafaelsen

Casting Director Children, Denmark: Jette Termann

Marie: Trine Dyrholm

PRODUCTION BECOMING ASTRID is produced by Maria Dahlin and Anna Anthony, Avanti Film and Lars G Lindström, Nordisk Film Production. The film is co-produced with Film i Väst, TV4, Nordisk Film Production Denmark and DCM in collaboration with DR, with support from the Swedish Film Institute, Danish Film Institute, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung Medienboard, Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH, Nordic Film & TV Fund and Creative MEDIA Europe.

P R O D U C T I O N C O M PA N Y Avanti Film Maria Dahlin Telephone +46 73 350 80 23 Email: maria.dahlin@avantifilm.se Anna Anthony Telephone +46 70 832 43 94 Email: anna.anthony@avantifilm.se Nordisk Film Production Lars G Lindström Email: lars.lindstrom@nordiskfilm.com

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