But arm’s length distance from politics can turn into a stranglehold
share-arrowDela
unsaveSpara
expand-left
full screen Anna Croneman becomes the new CEO of the Swedish Film Institute – a celebrated choice. Photo: Private
The tribute chorus to Anna Croneman as the new CEO at the Film Institute is closest to unison. With right. Finally a person with quality insight and concrete experience from filmmaking, everything from the 1990s production of films that Daniel Alfredsons “Stray dogs” and Lisa Ohlins “Veranda för en tenor” to SVT’s breadth and impact as head of drama.
She is also both fearless and clear. Not least, she created clarity about the political consequences that can arise with a state film policy when “liberals” abandon democratic principles and open the gates to emerging fascism.
There is thus a mood of optimism in Swedish cinema right now. Underscored by the recently proclaimed film investigation whose expert group is a pure dream team for those who worried about the “government’s background” motions in the Riksdag.
Optimism is an intangible force that should not be denied.
But neither should political realities.
Anna Croneman is forced live with the current cultural policy’s starvation diet. (See Petter Larsson’s rugged review on this page.) Even before her appointment, the Film Institute also carries out substantial downsizing; 20 percent on display support, 10 percent of the consultants’ production support. Less money for Folkets cinema with more, fewer Swedish films.
And when it comes to film investigations, there is a disturbing Swedish tradition. Trash next! Both P O Enquists in the 1990s and ten years later Mats Svegfors. So there is every reason to distrust what our unofficial government – the so-called coordination office with its collection of career racists with special pay benefits – will do with the film investigation in a year’s time. Especially if it proposes democratic goals about equality and diversity and does not emphasize it like SD motioned about: “Swedish film production will become more nationally conservative”. Stop “left-wing political detail control via the Swedish Film Institute”. The goal is defined by films “that highlight and bring to life the Swedish history and the Swedish cultural heritage” in order to “contribute to strengthened community and cohesion in Sweden”.
A challenge for Anna Croneman. Support from the Ministry of Culture cannot be counted on. We have a historically weak minister of culture, drawn from local politics, who, for example, used the term “unanimity” when she in Expressen commented SD’s party secretary Mattias Bäckström-Johanssons promise that cultural policy is an issue that “must be drilled into” because the financing of culture is characterized by “left-wing governance”.
So arm’s length distance turns into a stranglehold.
But we hope for you Anna!
