The 48th Göteborg Film Festival kicks off on January 24 with the world premiere of Safe House, directed by Eirik Svensson. The film will be screened in Gothenburg, in cinemas across Sweden, while also marking the launch of the festival’s digital platform.
Based on Lindis Hurum’s autobiography Det finnes ingen de andre – det er bare oss, the film depicts a field hospital in the Central African Republic during the 2013 civil war. A Muslim man seeks refuge in the hospital while a Christian militia demands his life. Aid worker Linn, played by Kristine Kujath Thorp, faces difficult decisions to save the man and protect her colleagues. The screenplay was written by Harald Rosenløw Eeg and Lars Gudmestad.
“The opening film reflects this year’s theme, disobedience, and highlights courage and moral dilemmas,” says Pia Lundberg, the festival’s artistic director.
Director Eirik Svensson describes the film as a tribute to humanitarian work:
”What an honor and great joy it is to have our premiere as the opening film at the fantastic Göteborg Film Festival! In today’s climate, with a world on fire, it has felt deeply meaningful to contribute to telling this powerful story. We all benefit from reflecting on the responsibility we have and what we can mean to another person. I hope people embrace the film, and I am very much looking forward to returning to Göteborg and the festival,” says director Eirik Svensson.
Safe House is Eirik Svensson’s fifth feature film. He has previously directed films such as Betrayed and Harajuku, which competed in the Nordic Competition at the Göteborg Film Festival in 2019.
The film is also competing in the Nordic Competition and is eligible to win one of the largest cash prizes in the film industry, 400,000 SEK.
Safe House received NOK 10,000,000 in production support from the Norwegian Film Institute.
Director: Eirik Svensson
Screenwriters: Harald Rosenløw Eeg and Lars Gudmestad
Cast: Kristine Kujath Thorp, Mattis Herman Nyquist, Bibi Tanga, Alexander Karim, Alma Pöysti, Martial Batchamen Tchana, Tracy Gotoas, Nixon Singa, Chris Djuma
Producers: Fantefilm (Catrin Gundersen and Hugo Hagemann Føsker)
Co-producers: Film i Väst, Cinenic Film, ReelMedia, and Nordisk Film
Distributor: Nordisk Film Distribution
The film premieres in Norway on February 28, 2025, and will be presented at the Norwegian Film Institute’s Film Spring event on January 8th 2025.
Manager International Relations, Feature Films
