Frida Kempff

Frida Kempff
Kempff in 2020
Born1977 (age 47–48)
Sala, Sweden
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter

Frida Kempff (born 1977) is a Swedish filmmaker best known for the 2021 psychological thriller film Knocking.[1]

Early life

Kempff was born in 1977 in Sala, Sweden.[2]

Career

After graduating from the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts, Kempff directed the documentary short film Bathing Micky about an elderly woman who is a member of her local bathing club. The short won the Prix du Jury at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.[3][4]

Kempff's fiction short While You Were Gone about a young man's changing relationship with his father premiered in 2011, followed by the 2015 documentary short Circles about a man's return to Stockholm after serving through Doctors Without Borders.[5][6]

In 2015, Kempff's feature-length debut, Winter Buoy, premiered at that year's Gothenburg Film Festival. The documentary highlighted a public health program in Toronto supporting at-risk pregnant women.[7]

Kempff next directed two more fictional short films: Dear Kid (2016), about a mother who suspects a swimming coach is abusing one of his pupils, and Wolf (2017), about a young woman who encounters a wolf that threatens her family's sheep.[8][9]

Kempff's feature fiction film debut Knocking, based on a novella by Johan Theorin, debuted at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.[4]

The Swedish Torpedo, Kempff's biographical period drama about Swedish woman Sally Bauer swimming the English Channel, will premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.[10]

Filmography

Year English title Original title Notes Ref.
2010 Bathing Micky Micky Badar Short film [11]
2011 While You Were Gone Medan du var borta Short film [5]
2015 Circles Circlar Short film [6]
Winter Buoy Vinterboj — [7]
2016 Dear Kid Älskade unge Short film [8]
2017 Wolf Varg Short film [9]
2021 Knocking Knackningar — [1]
2024 The Swedish Torpedo † Den svenska torpedoen — [10]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2010 Cannes Film Festival Prix du Jury – Short Film Bathing Micky Won [11]
Expresion en Corto International Film Festival Best Short Documentary Won [3]
Nordisk Panorama Film Festival Nordic Documentary Film Award Nominated [3]
Skepto International Film Festival Grand Prix Won [3]
2011 Stockholm International Film Festival 1km Film Award While You Were Gone Nominated [3]
2015 Nordic International Film Festival Best Documentary Winter Buoy Won [3]
Gothenburg Film Festival Best Nordic Documentary Nominated [3]
2016 Stockholm International Film Festival 1km Film Awawrd Dear Kid Won [3]
Nordisk Panorama Nordic Short Film Award Circles Nominated [3]
Gothenburg Film Festival Short Film Award Nominated [3]
2017 Cinalfalma Lisbon International Film Awards Best Debut Film Wolf Won [3]
2021 Narcisse Award Best Feature Film Knocking Nominated [3]

References

  1. ^ a b Simon, Alison. "Swedish Helmer Frida Kempff on Göteborg Festival Closer 'Knocking'". Variety. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ^ "While You Were Gone". Zagreb Dox. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Frida Kempff". Salomonsson Agency. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Lumholdt, Jan. "Frida Kempff • Director of Knocking". Cineuropa. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b "While You Were Gone". Full Frame Film Festival. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Circles". Frida Kempff. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Winter Buoy". Momento Films. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Dear Kid". Premium Films. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Wolf". Frida Kempff. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b "The Swedish Torpedo". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Bathing Micky". Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved 16 August 2024.