Kaly Halkawt becomes the first recipient of The Ingmar Bergman Script Award
At the closing ceremony of the 20th edition of Bergman Week at Fårö in Sweden, it was announced that Kaly Halkawt is the first recipient of the newly established Ingmar Bergman Script Award, a collaboration between SF Studios and the Bergman Center, for her feature film script Donia's World (Swedish title: Donias värld). The award aims to encourage emerging filmmakers and screenwriters to write scripts for feature films with high artistic ambitions, aiming to reach a broad audience.
"Donia's World is a contemporary story about clashing identities – and about faith, doubt and freedom. Donia is a young wannabe Muslim who, in her spiritual and religious quest, tries to create a future for herself without denying her heritage. With a sense of purpose and an ability to engage her audience, Kaly Halkawt writes with a personal voice, bringing to life a vivid scenario for her characters," the jury's statement read.
Kaly Halkawt is a screenwriter living in Stockholm. Alongside her writing, Kaly is a doctoral student at the department of Child and Youth Studies at Stockholm University. In 2021, her debut book Astera and the Basketball Shoes (Bonnier Carlsen) was published, with illustrations by Sofia Falkenhem. Kaly has also been an episode writer for the series Halva Halva and currently has two feature film scripts in development.
Donia's World is a dramedy about 30-year-old slacker Donia, who becomes unexpectedly pregnant with her new boyfriend Francis. The pregnancy upends her sense of identity. She decides to explore her Muslim heritage, which leads to conflicting demands between who she wants to be and what her religion requires of her.
”It feels really great to receive this award. Ever since I watched Cries and Whispers on a scratched rental DVD in my teens, I have been fascinated by Bergman's existential curiosity, and how as a filmmaker, he was never afraid to ask difficult questions. I have definitely been inspired by his artistic courage and religious doubts in writing Donia's World, even though there might be more humor in it than in Cries and Whispers”, says Kaly Halkawt.
SF Studios and the Bergman Center have collaborated for many years to preserve the legacy of Ingmar Bergman. As part of this collaboration, The Ingmar Bergman Script Award was launched during Bergman Week last year. Sixty-six scripts were submitted to the competition, and the jury's work has been ongoing since February.
The Ingmar Bergman Script Award will be presented annually during Bergman Week at the Bergman Center. The script must be an original story in feature film format in either Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or Finnish, with a clear ambition to reach a broad audience. The selected screenwriter will receive a financial grant of 50,000 SEK for their work and an opportunity to be coached by a recognized filmmaker/director/screenwriter.
Applications for next year's edition are now open with a deadline of February 21, 2025.
Read more about The Ingmar Bergman Script Award and the application process at www.sfstudios.se/theingmarbergmanscriptaward
Read more about the Bergman Center at www.bergmancenter.se
Read more about the Bergman Week at https://www.bergmancenter.se/bergmanveckan/
For more information, please contact:
Jesper Larsson, Communications Specialist, SF Studios, jesper.larsson@sfstudios.se, +46 73 359 96 06
Isabel Nylund, Film Development Lead, SF Studios, Isabel.nylund@sfstudios.se, +46 72 514 15 95
About SF Studios:
SF Studios, established in 1919, is one of the world’s oldest film companies. Today SF Studios is the leading film studio in the Nordic region with its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and offices in Oslo, Copenhagen and Helsinki. The company is producing and distributing feature films and TV series as well as providing the streaming services SF Anytime and Blockbuster. SF Studios is part of the leading Nordic media company Bonnier.
Latest news
Kristofer Hivju and Frida Hallgren to star in Martina Haag and SF Studios’ new film True Love
Following the major success of her directorial debut, Martina Haag is back – with a romantic comedy about love, betrayal, money, and finding the courage to trust someone again.
SF Studios to distribute Elling – Echo of a Friend, starring Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin in a new film by Daniel Fahre
Production has begun on Elling – Echo of a Friend, the fourth feature film based on Ingvar Ambjørnsen's novels. Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin return as Elling and Kjell Bjarne, directed by Daniel Fahre from a screenplay by Melike Leblebicioğlu Kaveh. The film is produced by Fenomen and 4 ½, distributed by SF Studios, with a planned premiere in cinemas in fall 2027.
SF Studios brings Life on Seacrow Island to the big screen as a feature film
Following the success of the 2025 television series Life on Seacrow Island (Vi på Saltkråkan), SF Studios is bringing Astrid Lindgren's beloved archipelago world to cinemas. The feature film is now in production, directed by Fredrik Edfeldt, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Karin Arrhenius. It is produced by SF Studios in collaboration with Astrid Lindgren AB, Sveriges Television, Film Stockholm and Film i Väst, with support from the Swedish Film Institute and the Nordic Film & TV Fond.
SF Studios and Paradox's Beloved Selected as Opening Film of the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund
SF Studios' Norwegian production company Paradox announces that Beloved, written by Nobel Prize laureate Jon Fosse and directed by Erik Poppe, will premiere on 23 August 2026 as the opening film of the 54th Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund.
Ville Gideon Sörman wins this year's Ingmar Bergman Script Award
At the closing ceremony of Bergman Week, Ville Gideon Sörman was announced as the recipient of the Ingmar Bergman Script Award for his feature film screenplay Lange Lyse Nætter (Long Lasting Nights). The award is a collaboration between SF Studios and Bergman Center, established to encourage promising filmmakers and screenwriters to develop feature-length scripts that unite artistic ambition with broad audience appeal.
Pretty Young Thing, Pretty Young Love and Pretty Young Summer: SF Studios begins production on the final film in the Pretty Young trilogy
Three films. Three years of high school. One last summer. SF Studios has started principal photography on Pretty Young Summer (Smukkest), the final film in the popular Danish Pretty Young trilogy. Produced by Marcella Dichmann, the film will premiere in cinemas in autumn 2027. SF Studios handles Nordic distribution, with LevelK managing international sales.
Production underway on Rocky The Troll with lead cast revealed for new Norwegian family film
A new Norwegian family adventure is taking place in the dramatic landscape between Dovre and Trollheimen. From Motion Blur, part of SF Studios, and the team behind Troll and Troll 2, Rocky The Troll brings a fresh take on Nordic troll mythology. Filming is currently underway in the capitol of trolls, Oppdal, Norway.
SF Studios unveils first teaser for the Norwegian comedy The Pension Heist
The first teaser for SF Studios’ upcoming distribution title The Pension Heist has been released, giving audiences a first look at the Norwegian comedy starring Hege Schøyen, Anne Marie Ottersen and Anette Hoff. The film will premiere in cinemas across Norway on October 16.
SF Studios begins production on The Closed Book starring Alba August and Gustav Lindh in a new film by Charlotte Sieling
The feature film adaptation of The Closed Book is now in production. Director Charlotte Sieling has begun principal photography, based on the bestselling novel by Jette A. Kaarsbøl, with Alba August (Becoming Astrid, Bullshit) and Gustav Lindh (The Northman, A Prayer For the Dying) starring as Frederikke and Frederik. The Closed Book is produced by SF Studios, with Lars Bredo Rahbek and Mette Marie Munch-Petersen as producers, with planned premiere in cinemas in summer 2027.
No Rest for the Wicked selected for Fantasia International Film Festival
SF Studios’ feature film No Rest for the Wicked has been selected for the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it will have its world premiere this summer. The film will compete for the coveted Cheval Noir top prize in the festival’s main selection.
The official teaser for the feature film Beloved is now released
The official teaser for the film Beloved has now been released, offering a first look at the upcoming Norwegian feature film written by Nobel Prize laureate Jon Fosse and directed by Erik Poppe.
SF Studios secures film adaptation rights to Sara Blædel’s popular children’s crime series
SF Studios has acquired the film adaptation rights to Sara Blædel’s popular children’s crime series De Berygtede (The Notorious), including the first book The Notorious: The Mystery of the Blue Lady. Already a major success among young readers, the series will now be developed into a Danish family film produced by SF Studios, with Sara Blædel closely involved in the creative process.
SF Studios strengthens SF Anytime with Katarina Werner as new EVP & General Manager
SF Studios today announces that Katarina Werner has been appointed EVP & General Manager SF Anytime, effective June. With more than 15 years of experience scaling digital, subscription, and content-driven businesses across media and streaming, she will lead the continued development and growth of SF Anytime.
Greenland is suddenly everyone’s business - now it’s Blockbuster’s too
And yes, Greenland 2: Migration premieres at the same time. Greenland has recently found itself at the centre of global headlines and geopolitical conversations. Now, it’s getting another kind of attention: The streaming service Blockbuster is officially launching on the island.
Eagles of the Republic by Tarik Saleh Wins Six Guldbagge Awards
Tarik Saleh’s political thriller Eagles of the Republic enjoyed a major triumph at the Guldbagge Awards, Sweden’s national film awards, held this evening at Cirkus in Stockholm. The film won six Guldbagge Awards, including Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Male Actor in a Leading Role for Fares Fares.
