CineMerit Award for Stellan Skarsgård: 42nd Munich
International Film Festival to honor the Swedish actor
Stellan Skarsgård will be honored at the Munich International Film Festival for his achievements in the cinematic art. Stellan Skarsgard is a versatile actor, in Cannes I met him at the film reception on the Arte Boat, his latest film was coproduced by Arte. While the world premiere took place in Cannes, Stellan Skarsgard described his part at the press conference as his most complex and powerful role yet, in Joachim Trier's Cannes favorite 'Sentimental Value.'
It is with great pleasure that the Munich International Film Festival wishes to announce, shortly before the start of the festival, that it will be presenting a second CineMerit Award. Stellan Skarsgård will be honored for his outstanding achievements in the cinematic arts. For decades, this Swedish actor has enthralled international audiences in high-grossing blockbusters such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Dune” as well as in acclaimed art house films such as “Melancholia” and “Dogville”. His latest collaborative work with director Joachim Trier, a tragicomic portrait of a father-daughter relationship titled “Sentimental Value”, earned the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival this year and will now have its German premiere in Munich.
“Stellan Skarsgård is an extraordinary artist who captivates, challenges, and inspires audiences around the world. Every role of his demonstrates his versatility as an actor, whether it’s in the biggest blockbuster or a low-key art house drama. Conveying the most complex thought processes through his facial expressions, he has made a deep impression on generations of viewers. In ‘Sentimental Value’, he exhibits this inimitable mixture of intensity and authenticity once again.”
Julia Weigl and Christoph Gröner, artistic directors,
the Munich International Film Festival
Stellan Skarsgård excels as a versatile character actor
Stellan Skarsgård is one of the most versatile actors of his generation — in art house cinema as well as Hollywood blockbusters. At age 16, he was noticed for his role in the Swedish TV series “Bombi Bitt och jag”. His international breakthrough followed in 1990 in “The Hunt for Red October” alongside Sean Connery. Skarsgård once said that he was not someone who sought out major roles, but rather thought of himself as a “bassline” that guided the melody performed by others. Nevertheless, it was a leading role that brought him fame: as Jan Nyman in Lars von Trier’s “Breaking the Waves”, he began to work closely with the Danish director, who cast him in nearly all of his films, including “Dogville” and “Melancholia”. At the same time, Skarsgård also took mainstream cinema by storm, starring in “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Mamma Mia!”, “The Avengers”, and most recently in “Dune” and the Star Wars series “Andor”. Regardless of the genre, what matters to him is “that the forcefulness of expression suits the tone of the film.” In “Sentimental Value”, which is having its German premiere at the Munich International Film Festival, he exhibits this inimitable mixture of intensity and authenticity once again.
Exclusive FilmTalk and award
Not only is celebrated Swedish actor and Golden Globe-winner Stellan Skarsgård a guest of honor at this year’s Munich International Film Festival; he will also be participating in a free FilmTalk moderated by Wendy Mitchell, a well-known journalist. At this special event, Skarsgård will share exclusive details of his impressive career as he is presented with the CineMerit Award.
Preisverleihung CineMerit
The award ceremony takes place on Sunday June 29 at 5 pm at the Amerikahaus
CineMerit-awardee 2025 Stellan Skarsgård, photo: Megan Everett Skarsgård
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