"Films and TV series have always portrayed different forms of intimacy, but until now, Sweden has lacked guidelines for how to film these scenes without risking that co-workers on a production set are put in uncomfortable and inappropriate situations. Therefore, we are proud to present the first Swedish guidelines for how these scenes can be filmed in a safe and secure way for everyone involved. They are an important tool for improving the working environment in film and tv productions", says Simon Norrthon, at The Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Film.

The guidelines aim to provide support for production companies as well as raising the level of competence and to increase awareness of key functions such as Directors, photography, mask, costume, actors, and others involved in filming intimate scenes. The long-term ambition is that it will be as common to involve an intimacy coordinator or person with similar competence in productions with intimate scenes, as it is today, to involve a stunt coordinator when filming stunt and action scenes.

"We have many examples, both in Sweden and internationally, on how both the result becomes better and the filming process becomes safer, when you bring in expertise who can support the production in shooting intimate scenes. The guidelines will be great support to actors, film workers and production companies, and will help to further professionalize the industry", says Jan Blomgren, Chairman of The Swedish Film & TV Producers Association’s film and drama section.

The development of the guidelines has been driven as a joint industry project, initiated, and financed by The Swedish Film & TV Producers Association, The Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Film and SF Studios. The guidelines have been developed together with a broad reference group consisting of professional film workers, actors, directors and producers. In addition, two of Sweden's intimacy coordinators have been involved as advisors in the process.

"The need for guidelines for intimate scenes has become more clear in recent years given the risk of inappropriate behavior. We are convinced that these guidelines will be an important tool of improving the working environment on set and making production companies and our industry more sustainable over time", says Kristina Linglöf, EVP HR & Operations at SF Studios.

The work to develop the guidelines is a continuation of the industry cooperation that the initiators have had since #metoo 2017. Since then, the organizations have arranged several industry seminars to raise awareness and increase competence. The seminars have highlighted themes such as measures to secure workplaces free from offensive discrimination and sexual harassment and how the industry can increase inclusion and representation. The most recent seminar, during the spring of 2022, highlighted the theme of intimate scenes and in connection with this, the work to develop industry-wide guidelines was initiated.

The guidelines are available in English and Swedish via this link:
https://filmtvp.se/information/rapporterutredningar/

The seminar on intimate scenes arranged in March 2022 is available via this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyTfVBrf8Lg

Contact information to the initiators:

• Kristina Linglöf, SF Studios, kristina.linglof@sfstudios.se, +46-703-052227
• Lisa Rosengren, The Swedish Film & TV Producers Association, lisa@filmtvp.se, +46-739-837753
• Simon Norrthon, The Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Film, simon.norrthon@scenochfilm.se, +46-705-713300