Nilsson & Simonsson Focus
Johannes Stjärne Nilsson and Ola Simonsson (both born in Lund in 1969) have known each other since they were seven, when they both acted in the school play together. Johannes attended a Master’s course in Stockholm in the visual arts and became an industrial and graphic designer, cartoonist, director and producer. Ola graduated from the conservatoire in Malmö. He is a musician, singing teacher, director and composer. Neither attended a film academy or any other audiovisual training course. Their work has been screened at many international festivals and often won prizes. Kostr-film in Stockholm is their independent production company, which also makes music productions and art projects alongside short films, features and full-length documentaries. The work of Nilsson and Simonsson is based on everyday reality, but thanks to the black humour and their masterfully firm style, they manage to give this rather boring reality a wayward turn of its own. Offices are their favourite locations, fascinated as they are by bureaucracy and mechanical, modern life. Their background as a designer and musician can be seen in the beautiful art direction and original soundtrack. Memories of Tati, the early films of Polanski and their compatriot Roy Andersson (Film Maker in Focus in 2001) come to the fore when watching their absurdist films that are always made from a warm, deeply felt curiosity for human motives and behaviour. Their filmography comprises both short documentaries and fiction films. The festival honours these makers, as yet unknown in the Netherlands, with a programme in which both genres are included: a representative cross-section of their oeuvre. In 2002, the festival already successfully screened Music For One Apartment and Six Drummers (also included in the programme). Way of the Flounder, their latest film, has been nominated for the Prix UIP and is of course also being screened.
In this combined programme
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Hotel Rienne
Drily comic story about Henry’s working day, in which time passes differently from usual. -
Way of the Flounder
Beautifully portrayed life of a fish after it’s caught. Nominated for the Prix UIP Rotterdam. -
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Music for One Apartment and Six Drummers
Beautifully performed music film for six drummers and an apartment. Enormous international festival hit. -
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