SFI hires Bengt Toll
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The Swedish Film Institute (SFI) has recruited veteran Swedish film professional Bengt Toll to head their Audience Department as of February 2009. He will replace Linda Zachrison, who will be leaving the Institute on December 1 to join Stockholm’s State Theatre as the new artistic director for special performances.
Peter Hald, vice managing director of the SFI, will manage the department from December 1 until Toll takes over.
The 60 year-old Toll has held various responsibilities in film, theatre and media in Sweden, most recently as head of development and TV drama for Film i Väst, Sweden’s biggest regional film centre, and chairman of Cine-Reggio.
At the SFI he will be in charge of a SEK70m budget for the domestic and international promotion and distribution of Swedish films, exhibition support and importing quality foreign films. The cinematheque will also be under his aegis.
”We are overjoyed to welcome to the Institute one of the film industry’s sharpest strategists, specialised in areas that are crucial to the future of Swedish cinema,” said SFI Managing Director Cissi Elwin. “The new viewing platforms, digitization of cinemas and the situation of monopoly on the exhibition sector are putting new demands on the Institute. We have worked hard to change our support system and formulate new strategies. With his wide knowledge, network of contacts and international perspective, Bengt will bring a lot to our work in this area.”
Annika Pham cineuropa.org