BEST YOUNG AUDIENCE ACTIVITIES:
FOLKETS BIO, (SWEDEN)


This award recognizes the diversity and quality of activities aimed at young audiences. This year it goes out to Folkets Bio, a firm that runs 20 cinemas, three of which
are members of the Europa Cinemas network: the Hagabion in Göteborg (3 cinemas), the Sodran in Lund (1 cinema) and the Zita in Stockholm (3 cinemas).

Founded in 1973 by Stefan Jarl and Ulf Bergreen, the Folkets Bio chain (“the people’s cinema” in Swedish) began as an association whose aim was to show politically-oriented films which were rarely seen in Sweden. It is possible to say that Folkets Bio contributed to bringing filmmakers such as Fellini, Truffaut, Antonioni and Tarkovski to
Swedish audiences.

The chain is now found all over Sweden. It continues to be very active and has developed
an important programme of activities for young people. Orlando Freire, who manages the Hagabion in Göteborg, explains that he introduces school groups to European films every morning. He also sponsors a festival called Cinemania which shows the debut films of young directors from 17 to 28 years old. This year, 38 short films were programmed as part of this initiative.

(November 2003)