Step in through the impressive iron gate with the Swedish Film Industry logo on top and enter what once was one of Europe's most modern and one of the world's largest film studios.
Filmstaden (meaning The Film City in Swedish) was built in 1919. It was owned and operated by SF Studios (Svensk Filmindustri), the main Swedish film producer at the time. It can be hard to imagine today but it was a busy facility with filming pavilions, dressing rooms, laboratory, restaurant and more. About 400 movies have been filmed at Filmstaden and practically all Swedish actors and film directors of the 20th century worked here. Today, only eight of the original buildings are left and the place reminds more of a ghost town. But you can still get the feeling!
The first movie to be filmed at Filmstaden was The Phantom Carriage (Körkarlen, 1921) by Victor Sjöström. One of the last major films was The Emigrants (Utvandrarna, 1971) directed by Jan Troell. A long line of film classics both during the silent film and sound film eras were filmed here in between, including Ingmar Bergman’s masterpieces Summer with Monika, Smiles of a Summer Night, The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries. Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman both started their careers here before becoming Hollywood stars.
In 1969, Svensk Filmindustri left Filmstaden and the studios were used by small film producers, production of television dramas and the Riksteatern Theatre. Most of the buildings were quite well preserved until the beginning of the 21st century, when Filmstaden had to make way for a housing development. However, some buildings have been renovated and SF Studios has moved its headquarters back into a former studio building.
You can join a guided tour or just wander around imagining how the legendary actors, actresses and directors were walking these streets and working in the studios. Do not miss the café which serves waffles during weekends and has a small exhibition dedicated to the Swedish films of the 30s, 40s and 50s.
Photo: Holger Ellgaard
