Empire, written by actress and screenwriter Anna Neye, is a story about power and human interdependence set in the Danish West Indies in 1848, which strongly challenges Denmark's historical amnesia with both deep seriousness and absurd comedy. Watch the trailer here.

The Nordic Council Film Prize is one of the most honorable film awards in the Nordics. Empire was selected among six Nordic candidates by a jury consisting of one member from each of the Nordic countries, including Greenland. Read more about the Nordic Council Film prize 2023 here.

Synopsis
St. Croix, the Danish West Indies, 1848. Anna Heegaard and Petrine are close friends. Both are women of colour, but their living conditions are very different – Anna is free and owns the enslaved Petrine. Anna shares her life with Danish Governor General Peter von Scholten at her country house, where she manages the home, her fortune and her beloved and trusted housekeeper Petrine. Things are seemingly fine until rumours of a rebellion begin to swirl. Which side are Anna and Petrine really on - and is it the same?

Empire is directed by Frederikke Aspöck and written by Anna Neye, who also plays the leading role Anna. Sara Fanta Traore plays her best friend Petrine. The role of von Scholten is played by Claus Riis Østergaard and  Admiral Irminger is played by Jesper Groth. The cast also includes Caroline Henderson, Christopher Læssø, James Sampson, Søs Sif Thiele, Jesper Asholt, Anders Brink, Prince Yaw, Cherie Malone, Karen Makupa, Peter Gantzler, Mikkel Hilgart and Tyler Errol Murray.

The film is produced by Pernille Skydsgaard, Nina Leidersdorff and Meta Louise Foldager Sørensen for Meta Film in co-production with Brain Academy with support from the Danish Film Institute, Nordic Film & TV Fund, DR & SF Studios in collaboration with SVT & Seven Islands Films. SF Studios distributes the film in the Nordics and REinvent handles international sales. 

For more information, please contact:
Malin Strihagen, Vice President Brand & Communications, SF Studios, malin.strihagen@sfstudios.se, +46 70 780 39 35

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 service SF Anytime. SF Studios is part of the leading Nordic media company Bonnier.

About REinvent
REinvent is a packaging, sales and financing studio all in one. REinvent has extensive knowledge of original trends and sales opportunities in both the Scandinavian and international markets and works with high profile European production companies.