This is WG Film
Since 1994 and in love with local stories with a global impact. We have survived over the years only by producing high-end documentaries. Films that engage audiences all over the world. In an era where traditional media is in a deep crisis, the genre of documentaries is stronger and more needed than ever. We feel that energy from the daily emails, tweets and posts we receive.
WG Film has extensive experience from working with films as a tool to create change. Films like BANANAS!*, Burma VJ, Big Boys Gone Bananas!*, I Bought a Rainforest and Bikes vs Cars have been used by many as tools to talk about the environment, climate, human rights, freedom of speech and city planning. Now our latest productions Dead Donkeys Fear No Hyenas, PUSH and Jozi Gold follow in that tradition.
Engagement with our community is a huge priority for us. Our work with outreach has become a critical component of our company. We have built up a community of over 50,000 people. By keeping our audience close, we get inspiration and energy back, something that is really needed in the documentary “business” where money is never easy to attain. That’s why we also need you as a friend. ACT NOW - support us by buying our films on Vimeo, donating or arranging screenings of our work (you can do that by writing to film@wgfilm.com).
We are proud to have films that have been selected to festivals like IDFA, Sundance, Berlinale, Cannes, Hot Docs, SXSW and CPH:DOX, but we are just as pleased with our films flying to hundreds of other cool festivals around the world. We also do theatrical releases, special screenings, sell to broadcasters, and release our films on DVD, VOD, Netflix and iTunes. All of our films are available on
Vimeo on Demand.
DONATE
We’re on a mission, to create films that inspire change towards a better world. But we need your help to be able to keep spreading the word. Support our films by donating to our Paypal using the button below.
TEAM
FREDRIK GERTTEN
Director
fredrik@wgfilm.com
SEBASTIAN CRONHOLM
Technical Manager
sebastian@wgfilm.com
MARGARETE JANGÅRD
Producer
margarete@wgfilm.com
HANNA MARKKANEN
Producer
hanna@wgfilm.com
KARINA BERNAUER
Outreach/Impact producer
karina@wgfilm.com
CANDELARIA GUTIERREZ
Production Assistant
candelaria@wgfilm.se
BRUNO
Emotional Support Manager
ALVA FRIEDLAENDER
Production Assistant
alva@wgfilm.se
INTERNSHIP
We are always looking for interns to work with us. Send a few lines about your background and what you’re interested in working with as well as your CV to hanna@wgfilm.com.
Please note that an internship at WG Film is office-based and most likely does not include filming (except promotional videos) or work on set. The tasks we are able to offer are to do with communications, editing, research, social media, podcast production, graphics, administrative work, development, and release of films.
We are open for candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds (such as film, media and communications, journalism, politics, human rights or marketing, for example), but interest and skills in any of the above are appreciated. A passion for documentary films is a must!
FILM IDEA
WG Film is always looking for new, interesting projects and the directors that can bring them to light. If you have a documentary idea, don’t hesitate to contact us at film@wgfilm.com. Please note that we don't accept fiction pitches or scripts.
OUR HISTORY
It all started when veteran filmmaker Lars Westman and Fredrik Gertten teamed up to make a film about the construction of the bridge connecting our hometown Malmö with Copenhagen. Walking on Water — A huge project. It took five years and meanwhile other film projects where born: local films about the transition of Malmö, including the early films about Malmö FF – True Blue and The Way Back, featuring a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Lars Westman left the company and moved to Brazil in 2000. Since then, Fredrik Gertten has been the sole owner of WG Film, but with a strong partnership with Margarete Jangård, who has been running the daily operations for the past 15 years.
Understanding that Swedish documentary film needed stronger structures and stronger producers, WG Film set off with the goal of creating better conditions for the sort of documentary film that we love. The company has grown out of necessity – it is hard today for a documentary filmmaker to manage on his own if he wants to make films with high artistic and technical quality. High-end films need a long editing process and some energy remaining for the release. We have created good conditions for that by financing our films internationally.
Today as always, we mostly work with long, time-consuming film projects, often with a production time of more than two years, sometimes even longer. We have had the time to develop the skill of managing large quantities of recorded material and turning that into strong documentary films like Love Always, Carolyn, Milkbar, Belfast Girls, Maria and Her Shadow. WG Film also co-produces with friends from all over the world with projects such as Burma VJ, Final Image, The Man Who Saved the World.
Our films meet new viewers every day, so far in over 100 countries. Do you want to organize your own screening? Just contact us at film@wgfilm.com
