Backyard has added Swedish director Jesper Ohlsson to its roster, marking his first U.S. commercial representation. Already he has wrapped the first worldwide TV endeavor for TripAdvisor out of Boston agency The Fantastical and is currently shooting a Hershey’s spot for Arnold NYC. Ohlsson continues to be repped in Sweden by Social Club and in Germany by Cobblestone.
Ohlsson’s knack for both visual and character-driven campaigns are showcased in spots for Nokia, Carlsberg, and Hyundai.
“I enjoy creating offbeat characters and visuals that express a specific mood,” said Ohlsson. “Sometimes all it takes is one carefully delivered image or performance. Backyard’s directors, including my Swedish friend and mentor Jesper Ericstam, all do this beautifully and efficiently. Backyard has felt like my home away from home since day one.”
Ohlsson grew up and went to film school in Sweden, where his musings on film were published locally. After directing a handful of shorts, he quickly transitioned to spots. In 2006, his KPA “Landmines” work produced by Social Club was shortlisted for the Young Director’s Award at the Cannes Lions. Outside of film, Ohlsson finds inspiration in music and through his love of photography, for which he recently held a gallery exhibition in Stockholm.
“Conclave” Tops BAFTA Film Awards With 12 Nominations, One More Than “Emilia Pérez”
Papal thriller “Conclave,” which stars Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal overseeing the election of a new pope, leads the race — just — for the British Academy Film Awards, with nominations in 12 categories, one more than the genre-busting trans musical “Emilia Pérez.”
But with the wildfires in Los Angeles over the past week fresh in the minds of everyone in the movie industry, Wednesday’s announcement of the latest BAFTA nominations was understandably subdued.
“We are very much thinking of our colleagues, friends, community over there,” said BAFTA chair Sara Putt. “It’s devastating what’s going on.”
She wouldn’t be drawn on whether the fires may impact the BAFTA ceremony, which is due to take place on Feb. 16.
“The ceremony is a month away, it would be inappropriate and far too early to say anything about that,” Putt said.
The five films nominated for the prestigious best film award were “Conclave,” “Emilia Pérez,” the 215-minute postwar epic “ The Brutalist,” the Palme d’Or-winning comedy/drama “ Anora “ and the Bob Dylan biopic “ A Complete Unknown.”
“The Brutalist” ended up with nine nominations, including leading actor for Adrien Brody, who faces stiff competition from Fiennes and Timothee Chalamet, who plays the young Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.”
The other actors nominated are Hugh Grant for his creepy role in the horror film “ Heretic,” Colman Domingo in real-life prison drama “ Sing Sing “ and Sebastian Stan for his portrayal of a real estate mogul — a certain Donald Trump — in “ The Apprentice.”
“Anora,” the sci-fi epic “Dune: Part Two” and “Wicked” each received seven nominations. “A Complete Unknown”... Read More