Regarding the Minister for Culture’s Absence at Göteborg Film Festival 2026 

Göteborg Film Festival regrets that the Minister for Culture will not be attending the Nordic region’s largest film event. 

Göteborg Film Festival is the largest film festival in the Nordic countries. For Swedish film, it is more than that. It is one of the most significant platforms for Swedish cinema, where films meet an engaged audience from across the country while the industry, international stakeholders and political decision-makers come together. This combination is rare – and important. 

It has now been confirmed that the Swedish Minister for Culture, Parisa Liljestrand, has declined to take part in this year’s festival. Naturally, the Minister is free to do so, but it is also an indication of something larger.  

Since the 1980s, every Minister for Culture, regardless of political affiliation, has delivered the opening address at the festival. Not out of habit, but to take part in the conversation and, from its most prominent stage, signal that Swedish film matters. When Parisa Liljestrand now breaks with this long tradition – and, as the first Minister for Culture, also chooses not to attend the festival’s Film Policy Summit – it raises questions that extend beyond a single event. When and where does the government wish to conduct the conversation about Swedish film? And with whom? 

Swedish film is in a vulnerable position. The pandemic, followed by a streaming downturn and economic recession, has hit hard. Meanwhile, audiences have not returned to cinemas, and Swedish public funding for film is far lower than that of our Nordic neighbours and among the lowest in Europe. 

Almost a year ago, the government presented a film policy inquiry containing several relevant proposals: a reduced VAT rate on cinema tickets, a levy on streaming services and a new film fund. Yet no reforms have been implemented or announced. 

At a time when the direction of Swedish film policy remains unclear, and when crucial decisions still lie ahead, dialogue between politicians, film professionals and audiences is particularly important. Taking part in such discussions does not mean avoiding difficult priorities or acting as the industry’s closest ally. It means engaging with different perspectives – including critical ones – and anchoring political decisions where they have tangible consequences. 

In her opening speech at last year’s festival, the Minister for Culture made it clear that she is not the industry’s primary representative. That is perfectly reasonable: politics is, of course, in the service of citizens. But Göteborg Film Festival is not only the industry’s festival – it is first and foremost the audience’s.  

For 51 weeks of the year, Swedish cinema faces a crisis, but for ten days film lovers brave the cold and bleak Nordic winter to make a combined 270,000 cinema visits at Göteborg Film Festival. It is in this broad public commitment to the art of film that we glimpse the outlines of a successful film policy. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly clear that the government is choosing other priorities. 

Göteborg Film Festival remains open to the Minister for Culture. 

Pia Lundberg, Artistic Director 
Mirja Wester, CEO