Even this year the Stockholm International Film Festival attracted a big audience of 130 000 visitors for the entire year. During the 21st festival Gus Van Sant and Stellan Skarsgård slapped each other open heartedly at the Skandia Theater stage, Harriet Andersson got standing ovations during the Award ceremony and Holly Hunter lead the Jury and raised the festival spirit.
180 films from more than 50 countries were shown during 12 intense days filled with Face2Face meetings with more than 100 filmmakers and actors, a record of ackredited journalists and industry represetatives, outdoor screenings at Norrmalmstorg, Gus Van Sant’s photos at Fotografiska and exciting seminars such as Found! Female Directors and Swedes On the Intl Scene.

The Festival invited some of the film world’s real aces, such as top director Shane Meadows, Oscar winning editor Bob Murawski and special effects genious Gareth Edwards who each held a master class for swedish filmmakers. An exclusive master class for chosen filmmakers was also hosted by the recipient of this years Stockholm Visionary Award, Gus Van Sant. Among the fortunate few was this year’s 1 km film winner, Hugo Lilja, who’s visionary film knocked the jury.

− This year’s festival has shown a real width. To both get visits by stars such as Gus Van Sant and Holly Hunter and at the same time be able to inspire young and unestablished filmmakers to take another step in their careers is one of our strongest goals, says festival director Git Scheynius.

This year's most seen films are (in mentioned order) The Town by Ben Affleck, Cemetery Junction by Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant, Winter's Bone by Debra Granik, Shanghai by Mikael Håfström, Biutiful by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Four Lions by Chris Morris, Shelter by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, Monsters by Gareth Edwards, Heartbeats by Xavier Dolan and I’m Still Here by Casey Affleck.

The Stockholm International Film Festival thanks all enthousiastic, comitted festival visitors for yet another festival year! The preparations have already begun for next years Junior festival, April 11th -16th 2011. The 22nd Stockholm International Film Festival takes place on November 16th - 27th 2011.