Edward af Sillén

Edward af Sillén (born 25 September 1982 in Blumenau,[1] Santa Catarina, Brazil) is a Swedish screenwriter and director for stage, film and TV. He has translated and directed numerous successful theatre shows including Twelfth Night[2] by William Shakespeare, The Drowsy Chaperone,[3] Bull and Cock by Mike Bartlett,[2] Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein,[2] Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell, and Art by Yasmina Reza.[4]

Edward af Sillén
Af Sillén in the tv-show MUREN, March 2021
Born (1982-09-25) 25 September 1982
NationalitySwedish
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, director
Years active2004−present

Af Sillén has worked on Melodifestivalen and the Eurovision Song Contest as a director, commentator and screenwriter, including in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 where he wrote and directed the interval act "Love Love Peace Peace" with Fredrik Kempe. Following on from writing his first film Medicinen, his second writing Holy Mess became the biggest Swedish film of 2015.[5] In 2019, he directed A Piece of My Heart, a jukebox musical film based on the music of Tomas Ledin and starring Malin Akerman,[6] which was nominated for an Audience Award at the Guldbagge Awards.[7]

Career

Edward af Sillén (2009)

Edward started his career as an actor. Performing both at the Lorensbergsteatern and Stockholm National Theatre. Aged 18, he did stand-up comedy. Hungry to work in the creative side of entertainment and theatre, he knew he could get his foot in the door as an actor.[8]

Film

2014 saw Af Sillén write his first feature film Medicinen. Based on the 2009 book of the same name, written by Hans Koppel (pseudonym Petter Lidbeck). The book was reworked into a screenplay by Af Sillén and his writing partner Daniel Réhn. An all-star cast including Ewa Fröling and Maria Lundqvist, was led by Helena Bergström.

Af Sillén’s second film was the Swedish comedy Holy Mess, again written with Daniel Réhn and starring Robert Gustafsson, Maria Lundqvist and Helena Bergström. Seen by 77,736 people during its premiere weekend, it broke records with the biggest opening for a Swedish film in 2015.[9] It went on to become the most popular Swedish film of 2015,[5] and grossed over $8 million at the box office.[10] The film won Film of the Year at the QX Gaygala 2016.[11]

In December 2019, Af Sillén directed his third and biggest feature film, A Piece of My Heart, a jukebox musical based on the music of Tomas Ledin. The film stars Malin Akerman as Isabella, a lead business woman in the financial district of Stockholm, who returns home to celebrate her father's birthday.[6]

Af Sillén is set to return to cinema direction in his upcoming film Ett sista race, which he also wrote the script for, working once again with Malin Akerman and David Hellenius. The film is based on the Norwegian film Børning.[12]

Theatre

Af Sillén’s theatrical work includes Swedish translations of Steel Magnolias, Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein, Rock of Ages[13] and The Ladykillers. He directed Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the play V.D. and the musical Hair at Stockholm’s National Theatre. His direction of Priscilla the Musical was followed by his translation and direction of the Tony Award winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone in 2015. That same year Af Sillén directed. as well as translated the plays Rumors and the Laurence Olivier Award winner Cock.

Af Sillén has written and directed national tours for major Swedish artists such as Tomas Ledin,[14] Ola Salo[15] and Peter Jöback.[16] He teamed up with Alcazar to create their first full production concert. Disco Defenders was a greatest hits residency which début in the Rondo at Lisberg, Gothenburg Summer 2015. The production moved to Hamburger Börs, Stockholm in Winter 2015. After another sell out run, the group took the show on a national tour then returned to Hamburger Börs in 2016.

Television

2004 brought Af Sillén's screenwriting breakthrough with the script for host Maria Lundqvist at the Guldbagge Awards, the Swedish equivalent of the Academy Awards. He returned in 2007 not only as Sissela Kyle’s scriptwriter, but as director of the show live on SVT.

Af Sillén was recruited by Melodifestivalen supervisor Christer Björkman to write and direct the 2009 edition.[17] His mix of humour, music and sparkle saw him return in 2010, 2012 and 2013.[17] After a two-year break, he came back in 2016 to much acclaim. His parody sketch song "Här står jag", performed by Charlotte Perrelli, topped the Swedish iTunes chart.[18] To boost declining viewer figures, Af Sillén was hired as a consultant for the 2019 edition.[17]

A lifelong lover of the Eurovision Song Contest, Af Sillén became the Swedish commentator for SVT in 2009.[19] The following year he wrote the script for his first contest in 2010.[19] He has continued to serve as commentator since, with the exceptions of the 2013 and 2016 contests, held in Malmö and Stockholm respectively, for which he wrote the script.[19] In 2015, the BBC hired him to co-write the script of Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits, a special show to commemorate the 60th edition of Eurovision.[20] The interval act "Love Love Peace Peace", written by Af Sillén and performed by presenters Petra Mede and Måns Zelmerlöw during the final of the 2016 contest, became a highlight of the show. The Independent named it the "ultimate interval act, somehow even upstaging Justin Timberlake himself".[21] Buzzfeed commented that the presenters were the "best thing about this year's contest".[22]

In 2021, Af Sillén served as a judge on the 11th and 12th series of TV4's Talang, the Swedish version of the Got Talent franchise.[23]

Personal life

Edward af Sillén is openly gay. Born in Brazil he was adopted by a Swedish father and an American mother.[24]

Work

Film

YearTitleRole
2014MedicinenScreenwriter
2015En underbar jävla julScreenwriter
2019En del av mitt hjärtaDirector
2023Ett sista raceDirector and screenwriter

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNote
2005–2018QX GaygalaWriter
2006–2010R.E.A.WriterHamburger Börs
2006Det är jul igen by Maria MöllerDirector and writerIntiman
2008Blommor av stål (Steel Magnolias)TranslatorVasateatern
2011Tomas Ledin ShowtimeDirector and writerRondo (Gothenburg), Cirkus (Stockholm) and national tour
2011Trettondagsafton (Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare)DirectorStockholms Stadsteater
2011HairDirectorStockholms Stadsteater
2012I Love Musicals by Peter JöbackDirector and writerNational tour
2013Arnould (Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein)TranslatorStockholms Stadsteater
2013Rock of AgesTranslatorChina Teatern
2013Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the MusicalDirectorGöta Lejon
2014V.D.DirectorStockholms Stadsteater
2014Alcazar Disco DefendersDirector and writerRondo (Gothenburg), Hamburger Börs (Stockholm) and national tour
2015Förklädet (The Drowsy Chaperone)Director and translatorGöta Lejon
2015Skvaller (Rumors)Director and translatorUppsala Stadsteater
2015Cockfight (Cock)Director and translatorStockholms Stadsteater
2015LadykillersTranslatorOscarsteatern
2016Rakt ner i fickan (Cash on Delivery by Michael Cooney)Director and translatorKrusenstiernska Teatern
2017BullDirector and translatorKulturhuset Stadsteatern
2017Shirley ValentineDirector and translatorMaximteatern
2018Så som i himmelenCo-writerOscarsteatern
2019Ola Salo - It Takes a Fool to Remain SaneDirectorRondo (Gothenburg)
2019Häxorna i Eastwick (The Witches of Eastwick)Director and translatorCirkus (Stockholm)
2019Art by Yasmina RezaDirector and translatorHotel Rival (Stockholm)
2019Trassel (Out of Order) by Ray CooneyDirector and translatorKrusenstiernska gården (Stockholm)
2020Pernilla Wahlgren har HybrisDirector and writerHotel Rival (Stockholm) and National Tour
2020Tomten och Bocken (starring Måns Zelmerlöw and Per Andersson)DirectorHamburger Börs (Stockholm)
2021Pappor på prov (It Runs in the Family) by Ray CooneyDirector and translatorKrusenstiernska gården (Stockholm)
2022Brynolf & Ljung StalkerDirectorHotel Rival (Stockholm) and National Tour
2022TootsieDirectorOscarsteatern
2023Peter Pan Goes WrongDirectorCirkus
2023Änglagård (House of Angels)Co-writer and directorOscarsteatern

Production credits

YearTitleRoleNote
2004GuldbaggegalanScreenwriterHosted by Maria Lundqvist
2007GuldbaggegalanDirector and screenwriterHosted by Sissela Kyle
2009Roast på BernsWriterFor Kanal 5
2009Melodifestivalen 2009Director and scriptwriterHosted by Petra Mede
2010Melodifestivalen 2010Director and scriptwriterHosted by Måns Zelmerlöw, Christine Meltzer and Dolph Lundgren
2010Eurovision Song Contest 2010Director and scriptwriterHosted by Erik Solbakken, Haddy N'jie and Nadia Hasnaoui
2012Melodifestivalen 2012Director and scriptwriterHosted by Gina Dirawi, Sarah Dawn Finer and Helena Bergström
2013Melodifestivalen 2013Director and scriptwriterHosted by Gina Dirawi and Danny Saucedo
2013Eurovision Song Contest 2013Director and scriptwriterFor SVT, hosted by Petra Mede
2015Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest HitsCo-scriptwriterFor the BBC, hosted by Graham Norton and Petra Mede
2016Melodifestivalen 2016Director and scriptwriterHosted by Gina Dirawi (all shows), Petra Mede (heat 1), Henrik Schyffert (heat 3), Sarah Dawn Finer (heat 4), Ola Salo, Peter Jöback (second chance) and William Spetz (final)
2016Eurovision Song Contest 2016Director and scriptwriterHosted by Petra Mede and Måns Zelmerlöw
2017Uuden Musiikin KilpailuSwedish jury spokesperson
2018Eurovision: You DecideScreenwriterHosted by Mel Giedroyc and Måns Zelmerlöw
2019Eurovision: You DecideScreenwriterHosted by Mel Giedroyc and Måns Zelmerlöw
2019Melodifestivalen 2019Consultant and adviserHosted by Sarah Dawn Finer, Kodjo Akolor, Marika Carlsson and Eric Saade
2020MurenEntertainment expert
2021–presentMasked Singer SverigeDirector
2021–2022TalangJudgeFor TV4 with Sarah Dawn Finer, Bianca Ingrosso and David Batra
2022Årets quizHost

Eurovision Song Contest commentary

YearCo-commentator
2009Shirley Clamp
2010Christine Meltzer
2011Hélène Benno
2012Gina Dirawi
2014Malin Olsson
2015Sanna Nielsen
2017Måns Zelmerlöw
2018Sanna Nielsen
2019Charlotte Perrelli
2021Christer Björkman
2022Linnea Henriksson
2023Måns Zelmerlöw

Guldbagge Awards

YearAwardResult
2020Guldbaggens publikpris (Audience Award) for A Piece of My HeartNominated

QX Gaygala

YearAwardResult
2014TV of the Year for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013Won
2016Film of the Year for Holy Mess, Stage of the Year for Alcazar Disco DefendersWon
2021TV Star of the YearNominated
2021Stage of the Year for Hybris starring Pernilla WahlgrenNominated

References

  1. Niang, Matilda (18 May 2013). "Christer Björkman: "I kväll kan allt hända"". SVT Nyheter. SVT. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. "HAR MEDVERKAT I". Kulturhuset Stadsteatern. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  3. "FÖRKLÄDET". Göta Lejon. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  4. ""ART" AT THE RIVAL FALL 2019". RIVAL. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  5. "EN UNDERBAR JÄVLA JUL är 2015 års mest sedda svenska film". Mynewsdesk (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  6. "A Piece of My Heart". IMDB. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  7. "Aftonbladets läsare bestämmer – utser Guldbaggens publikpris". Aftonbladet (in Swedish).
  8. Melin, Inger (9 March 2012). "Edward af Sillén – en skämtare i skymundan - Borås Tidning". Borås Tidning (in Swedish). Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  9. "Publikrekord för julfilmen "En underbar jävla jul" - DN.SE". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 18 November 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  10. "Holy Mess". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  11. Ottosson, Philip. "Här är vinnarna på QX Gaygala 2016". QX.se (in Swedish). QX. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  12. "Bakom kulisserna: se första bilderna från "Ett sista race" med Malin Åkerman". MovieZine.
  13. "Rock of Ages". Chinateatern (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  14. Peterson, Jens. "Tomas Ledins låtar blir musikalfilm". Aftonbladet (in Swedish).
  15. Rogsten, Eva. "Ola Salo showar på Rondo: "Färgsprakande och maffigt"". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  16. Forsén, Joacim. "Jöbacks största stund på scen". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  17. Ek, Torbjörn. "SVT anlitar hyllade regissören Edward af Sillén för att rädda Melodifestivalen". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  18. Perrelli, Charlotte (14 February 2016). "Wow! #1 på iTunes". blogg.damernasvarld.se. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  19. "Commentators: The national hosts of Eurovision". Eurovision. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  20. Demirian, Natalie; Ek, Torbjörn. "Mede tokhyllas i Storbritannien". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  21. Loughrey, Clarisse (15 May 2016). "Watch Sweden's hosts steal the show with the perfect Eurovision song". The Independent. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  22. Bryan, Scott. "Petra Mede And Måns Zelmerlöw Were The Best Thing About This Year's Eurovision". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  23. "Ny stjärnspäckad jury i Talang 2021". www.tv4.se (in Swedish).
  24. "Sverige! - Avsnitt 11 | SVT Play". SVT Play. Archived from the original on November 16, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
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