Filming on The Emigrants relocates from Czech Republic to Sweden due to Covid-19

SF Studios’ feature The Emigrants begins filming on location this week in Sweden, having re-located from the Czech Republic due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Sweden shoot will run for seven weeks in the Västra Götaland region and in the surrounding areas of Alingsås and Munkedal.

The large-scale drama is an adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg’s late 1940s novels about the hardship faced by rural families in Sweden and the families who left their lives behind to find a new future across the Atlantic. 

Erik Poppe (pictured) directs a cast led by Lisa Carlehed and Gustaf Skarsgård as Kristina and Karl Oskar. Swedish pop star Tove Lo makes her feature acting debut, appearing alongside Sofia Helin.

Liv Ullman, who was due to play the role of Kristina’s mother, has been replaced by Lena Strömdahl, also due to the ongoing pandemic. 

“We are very happy to finally be able to start shooting The Emigrants, and I am especially excited that the production will now take place here in Sweden. 

“The Emigrants is SF Studios’ most ambitious Swedish film this decade and the fact that we have been able to adapt to the circumstances even as we face new challenges due to the pandemic and move a production of this size to Sweden, will hopefully give a much needed boost to Swedish, as well as Nordic and international film production,” said Fredrik Wikström-Nicastro, producer SF Studios.

Peter Possne, head of production at Film i Väst, added: “It is fantastic that Västra Götaland has been chosen as the region for the next big Swedish blockbuster. There are incredibly beautiful locations here and Film I Väst has vast experience in hosting large-scale productions, so we’re excited to welcome The Emigrants here. It means a lot for the Swedish film industry to have the production move back home, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of it”. 

The production will adhere to the strict Covid19 safety guidelines issued by the Swedish Public Health Authority.

The Emigrants is being produced by SF Studios in co-production with TV4/ Cmore, Film i Väst, Nordsvensk Filmunderhållning, Paradox, SF Studios Danmark and Fantefilm with support of the Swedish Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Norwegian Film Institute, the Danish Film Institute and DR.