Georg Riedel

Georg Riedel, recipient of the Honorary Prize

"With his timeless film music, Georg Riedel has created an entirely unique musical universe for children’s films. Over his 50 years as a film composer, he has provided the soundtrack to childhood for generation after generation. It is impossible to imagine Pippi, Alfons, or Emil without his music playing in the background. Therefore, it is fantastic that Georg Riedel will be attending the festival to receive our honorary prize," says Jonas Holmberg, Artistic Director of Göteborg Film Festival.

"I feel honoured and surprised. Now I’m so old that people should have forgotten about me. But what makes me happiest is if the festival and my prize help to make culture for children be seen as important, because it really is! That, and much more, I learned from Astrid Lindgren," says Georg Riedel.

Georg Riedel is Sweden's foremost composer of children’s film music. Idas sommarvisa, Pirate Fabbe, Little Cat, and Du käre lille snickerbo are just a few of the classics in his impressive catalogue of songs. Georg Riedel received the honorary prize in conjunction with a screening of Emil in Lönneberga on October 28. On the same day, he held a concert with his daughter, singer Sarah Riedel, and their band at the Trappscenen in the City Library.