“Critical scrutinizer of societal changes”
Fredrik Gertten, owner of WG Film and director of films such as Becoming Zlatan, Bikes vs Cars and Big Boys Gone Bananas!*, has been appointed the Honorary Doctor’s title at the Faculty of Culture and Society at Malmö University. Portraying the ordinary person from a below perspective, he wants to use his stories to make a difference.
– “I am very happy and honored to be appointed the Honorary Doctor’s title” says Fredrik Gertten, “but it is probably the most unexpected call I have gotten in my entire life, when the Faculty of Culture and Society contacted me. I have not graduated from high school and don’t have any academic points.”
– “This nomination is also a recognition for documentary film, a genre that is today stronger than ever, with a global audience.”
The doctors lecture “Shoot the messenger” will be held on the 10th of October at Malmö University. Read more here.
Motivation for the nomination
“Fredrik Gertten is a filmmaker, film producer and journalist. Throughout his professional career, he has worked with Malmö as a base, and has both documented and critically reviewed the social transformations that the city has undergone since the 1980s. His documentary films about Malmö have included the demolition of Kockumskranen, the construction of Öresund Bridge and Turning Torso, the end of the newspaper Work, Malmö FF and Zlatan Ibrahimovich’s successes and adversities.
In recent years, Gertten has increasingly focused on global phenomena and injustices. His movie Bananas!* drew attention to the struggle of a group of Nicaraguan fruit workers brought to the multinational company Dole. Gertten was sued by Dole, but after an unwanted media debate, the mood was withdrawn. The process was then depicted in the movie Big Boys Gone Bananas.
Through his films about Malmö, Gertten has initiated indefeasible discussions about how the city develops and on whose terms. His documentary interventions into global processes have created opinion and contributed to concrete change. Gertten is therefore a highly worthy honorary doctorate for the Faculty of Culture and Society. “