Tomas Alfredson
Encyclopedia
Tomas Alfredson is a Swedish
film director, best known internationally for directing the 2008 vampire film
Let the Right One In. Alfredson has received the Guldbagge
award for Best Direction twice; in 2005 for Four Shades of Brown
, and in 2009 for Let the Right One In.
, Stockholms län, Sweden. Being the son of comedian, writer, and director Hasse Alfredson, Tomas was used to being treated differently from an early age. "[A small] number of people were public property, and he was one of them", Alfredson said of his father. Hasse was seldom home, and Tomas was mostly raised by his mother. "But I participated in [Hasse's] film productions every summer, it was probably a way for us to reach each other (...) I thought it was great fun." Alfredson would often have minor roles in the Hasseåtage
films. For example, he played the "Count" in The Apple War
(1971), his sole line of dialogue being "Adieu, mon plaisir".
, where he worked as an assistant. He was involved in the creation of the Swedish
television channel TV4, where he worked in the entertainment department. One of his successes was the Swedish adaptation of Fort Boyard
, "Fångarna på Fortet". Alfredson then moved on to Sveriges Television
, creating television series such as Ikas TV-kalas, a children's television show starring Ika Nord
, who would later appear in Alfredson's 2008 film Let the Right One In. According to Nord, Alfredson was "only 25, but already extremely knowledgeable". In 1994 Alfredson directed Bert, another tv production based on the Bert diaries, a popular series of teenage novels written in the diary
form. A feature film, Bert: The Last Virgin, based on the series was made in 1995, for which Alfredson received a Guldbagge
nomination for Best Direction.
Alfredson joined the Swedish comedy group Killinggänget
as a director in 1999. "I saw that they were a little funnier than the others, and a little more thorough", he said. His first collaboration with the group was a 1999 series of four television films, including the mockumentary
Screwed in Tallinn
, which depicts a group of Swedish bachelors who travel to Estonia by bus in the hopes of finding Estonia
n girlfriends. The 2004 film Four Shades of Brown
, directed by Alfredson, is Killinggänget's only feature film to date. The film intertwines four unrelated stories with a common theme of betrayal, in particular parents betraying their children. The film received four Guldbagge
awards, including Best Direction for Alfredson.
Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist
released his debut horror
novel Let the Right One In
in 2004. After reading the novel, Alfredson wanted to get involved in a film adaptation, and approached Lindqvist: "They was a crowd banging on his door to make a movie, so I was #40 or something. When we met, he knew of me and he liked what I'd done previously, and we got along together very well." The film tells the story of a 12-year-old bullied boy who befriends a child vampire in early 1980s Blackeberg
, Sweden. In addition to directing, Alfredson edited the film in collaboration with Dino Jonsäter.
Let the Right One In premiered on 26 January 2008 at the Göteborg International Film Festival, where Alfredson won the Festival's Nordic Film Prize. The film went on to win additional awards, including the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival
. The film quickly became an international success, with the rights being sold to more than forty countries before its theatrical release on 24 October 2008. Domestically, the film won five Guldbagge Award
s, with Alfredson receiving his second Guldbagge Award for Best Direction.
's 1974 novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Produced by Working Title Films
' Tim Bevan
and Eric Fellner
, it premiered in September 2011 at the 68th Venice International Film Festival
.
. He has two children with his ex-wife Cissi Elwin, who is managing director of the Swedish Film Institute
. He resides in Stockholm
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
film director, best known internationally for directing the 2008 vampire film
Vampire films
Vampire films have been a staple since the silent days, so much so that the depiction of vampires in popular culture is strongly based upon their depiction in films throughout the years. The most popular cinematic adaptation of vampire fiction has been from Bram Stoker's Dracula, with over 170...
Let the Right One In. Alfredson has received the Guldbagge
Guldbagge Award
The Guldbagge Award is an official Swedish film award awarded annually since 1964 by the Swedish Film Institute.-Etymology:Guldbagge is the Swedish name for Cetonia aurata, a beetle also known as rose chafer. The name of the award could also be interpreted as a play on the Swedish word skalbagge,...
award for Best Direction twice; in 2005 for Four Shades of Brown
Four Shades of Brown
Four Shades of Brown is a 2004 Swedish film written by the comedy group Killinggänget and directed by their member Tomas Alfredson. The film stars Robert Gustafsson, Johan Rheborg, Henrik Schyffert, Jonas Inde, Maria Kulle and Ulf Brunnberg. The film consists four interweaved stories about life...
, and in 2009 for Let the Right One In.
Early life
Alfredson was born in 1965 in LidingöLidingö
Lidingö is an island in the inner Stockholm archipelago, located north east of central Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. It is also the seat of Lidingö Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 44,000 inhabitants in 2011....
, Stockholms län, Sweden. Being the son of comedian, writer, and director Hasse Alfredson, Tomas was used to being treated differently from an early age. "[A small] number of people were public property, and he was one of them", Alfredson said of his father. Hasse was seldom home, and Tomas was mostly raised by his mother. "But I participated in [Hasse's] film productions every summer, it was probably a way for us to reach each other (...) I thought it was great fun." Alfredson would often have minor roles in the Hasseåtage
Hasseåtage
Hasseåtage is the commonly used name for the popular Swedish comedy-duo featuring Hans "Hasse" Alfredson and Tage Danielsson. The term was created by the Swedish press in the 1960s, and was never used by the duo themselves...
films. For example, he played the "Count" in The Apple War
The Apple War
The Apple War is a 1971 Swedish comedy-drama film directed by Tage Danielsson, starring Gösta Ekman, Hans Alfredsson, Tage Danielsson, Monica Zetterlund and Max von Sydow. The political theme of the film is the battle between nature on the one hand and commercialisation and industrialisation on...
(1971), his sole line of dialogue being "Adieu, mon plaisir".
Directing career
Alfredson's career started at Svensk FilmindustriAB Svensk Filmindustri
AB Svensk Filmindustri or Svensk Filmindustri is a Swedish film production company, distributor and movie theatre chain, currently owned by the Bonnier Group. It was established on December 27, 1919....
, where he worked as an assistant. He was involved in the creation of the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
television channel TV4, where he worked in the entertainment department. One of his successes was the Swedish adaptation of Fort Boyard
Fort Boyard (TV series)
For the fortress see Fort Boyard Fort Boyard is a French game show created by Jacques Antoine that was first broadcast in 1990 and is popular to this day...
, "Fångarna på Fortet". Alfredson then moved on to Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
, creating television series such as Ikas TV-kalas, a children's television show starring Ika Nord
Ika Nord
Ulrika Christina Elisabeth Nord, stage name Ika Nord is a Swedish actor and mime. In Sweden, she is best known for her work in children's television shows,...
, who would later appear in Alfredson's 2008 film Let the Right One In. According to Nord, Alfredson was "only 25, but already extremely knowledgeable". In 1994 Alfredson directed Bert, another tv production based on the Bert diaries, a popular series of teenage novels written in the diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
form. A feature film, Bert: The Last Virgin, based on the series was made in 1995, for which Alfredson received a Guldbagge
Guldbagge Award
The Guldbagge Award is an official Swedish film award awarded annually since 1964 by the Swedish Film Institute.-Etymology:Guldbagge is the Swedish name for Cetonia aurata, a beetle also known as rose chafer. The name of the award could also be interpreted as a play on the Swedish word skalbagge,...
nomination for Best Direction.
Alfredson joined the Swedish comedy group Killinggänget
Killinggänget
Killinggänget is a Swedish comedy group, started in 1991. It is named after Glenn Killing, a character played by Henrik Schyffert who has appeared in many of their shows....
as a director in 1999. "I saw that they were a little funnier than the others, and a little more thorough", he said. His first collaboration with the group was a 1999 series of four television films, including the mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
Screwed in Tallinn
Screwed in Tallinn
Screwed in Tallinn is a 1999 Swedish comedy-drama film written by and starring the comedy group Killinggänget, and directed by their member Tomas Alfredson...
, which depicts a group of Swedish bachelors who travel to Estonia by bus in the hopes of finding Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n girlfriends. The 2004 film Four Shades of Brown
Four Shades of Brown
Four Shades of Brown is a 2004 Swedish film written by the comedy group Killinggänget and directed by their member Tomas Alfredson. The film stars Robert Gustafsson, Johan Rheborg, Henrik Schyffert, Jonas Inde, Maria Kulle and Ulf Brunnberg. The film consists four interweaved stories about life...
, directed by Alfredson, is Killinggänget's only feature film to date. The film intertwines four unrelated stories with a common theme of betrayal, in particular parents betraying their children. The film received four Guldbagge
Guldbagge Award
The Guldbagge Award is an official Swedish film award awarded annually since 1964 by the Swedish Film Institute.-Etymology:Guldbagge is the Swedish name for Cetonia aurata, a beetle also known as rose chafer. The name of the award could also be interpreted as a play on the Swedish word skalbagge,...
awards, including Best Direction for Alfredson.
Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist
John Ajvide Lindqvist
John Ajvide Lindqvist is a Swedish writer, mostly of horror novels and short stories. Ajvide Lindqvist grew up in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg. His debut novel Let the Right One In a romantic, social realistic vampire horror story published in 2004, enjoyed great success in Sweden and abroad...
released his debut horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
novel Let the Right One In
Let the Right One In
Let the Right One In , or Let Me In, is a 2004 vampire fiction novel by Swedish writer John Ajvide Lindqvist. The story centers on the relationship between a 12-year-old boy, Oskar, and a centuries-old vampire child, Eli. It takes place in Blackeberg, a working class suburb of Stockholm, in the...
in 2004. After reading the novel, Alfredson wanted to get involved in a film adaptation, and approached Lindqvist: "They was a crowd banging on his door to make a movie, so I was #40 or something. When we met, he knew of me and he liked what I'd done previously, and we got along together very well." The film tells the story of a 12-year-old bullied boy who befriends a child vampire in early 1980s Blackeberg
Blackeberg
Blackeberg is a suburb of Stockholm built in the 1950s, and is part of the Bromma borough. Blackeberg was originally a croft first mentioned in 1599. The croft was demolished in 1861 by Knut Ljunglöf, who built a house, a stable, a mill and a saw instead. The saw and mill are now both cultural...
, Sweden. In addition to directing, Alfredson edited the film in collaboration with Dino Jonsäter.
Let the Right One In premiered on 26 January 2008 at the Göteborg International Film Festival, where Alfredson won the Festival's Nordic Film Prize. The film went on to win additional awards, including the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
. The film quickly became an international success, with the rights being sold to more than forty countries before its theatrical release on 24 October 2008. Domestically, the film won five Guldbagge Award
Guldbagge Award
The Guldbagge Award is an official Swedish film award awarded annually since 1964 by the Swedish Film Institute.-Etymology:Guldbagge is the Swedish name for Cetonia aurata, a beetle also known as rose chafer. The name of the award could also be interpreted as a play on the Swedish word skalbagge,...
s, with Alfredson receiving his second Guldbagge Award for Best Direction.
International career
After finishing the work on Let the Right One In, Alfredson publicly announced that he would not be making any more films in the "foreseeable future". He stated that he had grown tired with the Swedish film and television industry, which he considered "drained of power, courage, and gravity." While he had received several offers from Hollywood producers, he was reluctant to leave his "home, children and all the colleagues I depend on to be good." However, in March 2009 he announced that he would partake in a big international film production. In July 2009, Alfredson signed to direct a film adaptation of John le CarréJohn le Carré
David John Moore Cornwell , who writes under the name John le Carré, is an author of espionage novels. During the 1950s and the 1960s, Cornwell worked for MI5 and MI6, and began writing novels under the pseudonym "John le Carré"...
's 1974 novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Produced by Working Title Films
Working Title Films
Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London, UK. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. It produces feature films and several television productions, including films starring comic actor Rowan Atkinson...
' Tim Bevan
Tim Bevan
Tim Bevan, CBE is a film producer.Bevan was born in Queenstown, New Zealand. He co-founded Working Title Films in London with Sarah Radclyffe in the 1980s....
and Eric Fellner
Eric Fellner
-Life and career:Fellner went to Cranleigh School in Surrey, England from 1972-77. He attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He is a good friend of Hugh Grant, who is the star of some of Working Title's biggest box office hits. Fellner and his long-time partner, model Laura...
, it premiered in September 2011 at the 68th Venice International Film Festival
68th Venice International Film Festival
The 68th annual Venice Film Festival, held in Venice, Italy, took place from 31 August to 10 September 2011. American film director Darren Aronofsky was announced as the Head of the Jury. American actor and film director Al Pacino was presented with the Glory to the Film-maker award on 4 September,...
.
Personal life
Alfredson is the brother of film director Daniel AlfredsonDaniel Alfredson
Hans Daniel Björn Alfredson is a Swedish film director who is best known for directing film versions of two parts of the Millennium Trilogy: The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest...
. He has two children with his ex-wife Cissi Elwin, who is managing director of the Swedish Film Institute
Swedish Film Institute
The Swedish Film Institute was founded in 1963 to support and develop the Swedish film industry. The institute is housed in the Filmhuset building located in Gärdet, Östermalm in Stockholm...
. He resides in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
Filmography
| Director | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Feature films | |||
| Year | English title | Original title | Other notes |
| 1995 | Bert: The Last Virgin | Bert: Den siste oskulden | |
| 2003 | Office Hours | Kontorstid | |
| 2004 | Four Shades of Brown Four Shades of Brown Four Shades of Brown is a 2004 Swedish film written by the comedy group Killinggänget and directed by their member Tomas Alfredson. The film stars Robert Gustafsson, Johan Rheborg, Henrik Schyffert, Jonas Inde, Maria Kulle and Ulf Brunnberg. The film consists four interweaved stories about life... |
Fyra nyanser av brunt | With Killinggänget Killinggänget Killinggänget is a Swedish comedy group, started in 1991. It is named after Glenn Killing, a character played by Henrik Schyffert who has appeared in many of their shows.... |
| 2008 | Let the Right One In | Låt den rätte komma in | |
| 2011 | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy | ||
| Television | |||
| Year | English title | Original title | Other notes |
| 1990 | Ikas TV-kalas | ||
| 1994 | Bert | ||
| 1999 | Offer och gärningsmän | ||
| 1999 | Fyra små filmer: Gunnar Rehlin, Ben & Gunnar, På sista versen and Screwed in Tallinn Screwed in Tallinn Screwed in Tallinn is a 1999 Swedish comedy-drama film written by and starring the comedy group Killinggänget, and directed by their member Tomas Alfredson... |
With Killinggänget | |
| 2000 | Soldiers by Moonlight | Soldater i månsken | |
| 2005 | En decemberdröm | Also known as Julkalendern Julkalendern Julkalendern or Adventskalendern is an annual Swedish Christmas calendar television series broadcast by Sweden's national television broadcasting company Sveriges Television , since 1960 and has developed into a living part of contemporary Swedish yuletide tradition.Every series consists of 24... 2005 |
|
| Other | |||
| Year | English title | Original title | Other notes |
| 2001 | Spermaharen | Internet project with Killinggänget | |