15th Swedish Film Festival opens; Seoul-set 'Seven Steps' screens on 8th

Festival runs through the 20th in four cities, with nine films including documentaries

The '15th Swedish Film Festival', known for the cool Nordic sensibility and deep insight into the human psyche that define Swedish cinema, opens in grand fashion on the 8th.

This year's festival takes as its distinctive theme 'Stories That Could Only Be Made in Sweden.' Starting at Seoul's Art House Momo, it will meet audiences through the 20th in 'four cities' across the country, including Busan Cinema Center, Incheon's Cine Space Juan and CGV Daegu Hyundai.

The most anticipated 'opening film' is 'Seven Steps,' a mystery drama showcasing the delicate direction of 'Andreas Öhman.' Set primarily in Stockholm, Paris and Seoul, the film sensibly weaves together scenes of love emerging amid the weighty theme of loss. The production received extensive support from the 'Seoul Film Commission,' drawing unusual interest from South Korea's film industry.

Another unmissable work is 'Beautiful That Year,' the debut feature-length documentary by 'Angelica Ruffier,' a rising director attracting attention in Sweden's film industry. The director's autobiographical narrative stands out as it reflects on personal memories and legacy through the medium of film. The festival also presents a diverse lineup of 'nine films,' including Lisa Langseth's 'Dance Club,' which sharply cuts into the darker side of the mental health industry; Susanna Edwards' 'Dialogue Police'; and Kim Ekberg's 'Doggerland.'

'Andreas Öhman' and 'Angelica Ruffier' will attend the opening ceremony in person and engage in in-depth conversations with South Korean audiences. Karl-Olof Andersson, 'Swedish ambassador to South Korea,' and 'Emil Wiklund,' CEO of Unlimited Stories, are among the prominent guests expected to attend.