Between Art, Economics, Commerce, and Nationalism : Notes on the interaction between different perspectives in Swedish Film Policy 1963-2013

During the last two decades or so, film support, film policy and the public financing of audiovisual production in Scandinavia and particularly Sweden have undergone extensive transformation. In diverse ways, these changes can be seen as responses to globalization, to increased sub-national regional independence, to the emerging idea of nurturing ‘creative industries’ taking hold, and as a result of developments where the borders of the European nation state has become more permeable.
In the proposed paper, my intention will be to trace a trajectory of some tensions and oppositions between art, economics and commerce, policy and politics as well conflict and cooperation in a geographically marginal part of Europe ever since film support and cultural policy were introduced. A rationale for going thus far back is that the reform planted the first seeds of tension and conflict that is still discernible in the present situation.