Gender equality in the film industry is something of a hot topic these days after a wave of women came forward to accuse Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.
The allegations set off a ripple effect, empowering other victims of historic abuse to come forward, both in Hollywood and elsewhere.
And Stockholm is no exception, with the ensuing #metoo campaign leading to revelations about inappropriate behaviour from several leading entertainment and media figures.
“I’ve met guys like Harvey Weinstein here,” admits Stockholm-based film producer Gila Bergqvist Ulfung.
But unlike many of her counterparts outside of Sweden, Gila felt empowered to push back against the stereotypical ‘alpha-male’ embodied by Weinstein, thanks in no small part to the emphasis on gender equality that is a cornerstone of Swedish society.
“I was lucky because I had a platform of my own, so I could say ‘Stop it, you’re making a fool of yourself!’”, she explains.
Now I’m always looking out for it and giving people the option to speak up.”
Gila is one of several women in the Swedish film industry who have built successful careers in the Stockholm region.
Recent statistics released by Filmregion Stockholm-Mälardalen (the Film region), the production center for film and film funds in the Stockholm region, confirm the considerable progress in the region when it comes to achieving equality in the industry.