Women’s agency in the Swedish film industry: Annoying little buggers and passionate team players

Abstract

The article is based on transcripts of interviews with twenty women directors in the Swedish film industry conducted in 2018 and 2019, focusing on narratives from women working under varying conditions and in several genres who have actively chosen various strategies to manage their work situation. We contextualize their actions and choices to unpack how their work and efforts fit into an industry still dominated by men and influenced by a culture of masculinity idealizing the male genius. In the first section, we discuss how the women experienced their first encounters with the industry and what strategies they developed at this stage. In the second section, we discuss women’s deliberations about how to make work on the set manageable and productive. In the final section, we investigate various strategies related to work opportunities and the possibilities for women to realize their visions and their passion for making films.