Waldemar Bergendahl

Waldemar Bergendahl (18 April 1933) is a Swedish film director, film editor, film producer, cinematographer and screenwriter. Bergendahl is best known as the producer behind the films based on novels by Astrid Lindgren.

Waldemar Bergendahl
Born(1933-04-18)18 April 1933
Årsunda, Gästrikland, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
OccupationFilm director, editor, producer, screenwriter
Years active1957–

Life and career

Bergendahl was born in April 1933 in Årsunda. He grew up on a farm between Årsunda and Gästrike-Hammarby. His parents were farmers with cows, horses, chickens, pigs and many other animals. Bergendahl later went to University in Gävle. Then he moved to Stockholm.[1]

In 1957 Bergendahl lived along with the production manager of Europafilm in an apartment in Stockholm. The production manager told Bergendahl to apply for a job at the film company. One year later, Bergendahl was part of the film crew of Miss April, a film with Gunnar Björnstrand and Gaby Stenberg in the leading roles. At that time he did know anything about film work, so he tried to help wherever he could.[2]

Bergendahl dreamed of becoming an actor, but realized soon that he was not suitable for the job. However, he wanted to continue working in the film industry and therefore decided to work as a producer.[1]

In 1963 Bergendahl produced the film Raven's End. In 1984 he started working with Astrid Lindgren and produced Ronia, the Robber's Daughter. His film My Life as a Dog (1988) was nominated as the best non English film for the British Academy Film Award.

Bergendahl has produced around 120 films. He has worked along with Astrid Lindgren, Tage Danielsson, Bo Widerberg, Lasse Hallström, Helena Bergström and many others.[3] He always selected the employees for his films himself.[4]

In 2010 Bergendahl was honored as a film producer by winning the Hedersguldbaggen.[5]

Private life

Bergendahl lives in Stockholm.[6] He has two younger sisters. In 2008 Bergendahl was diagnosed with Parkinson's.[3]

Filmography (selection)
Film
Year Title Notes
1963 Raven's End
1967 Elvira Madigan
1967 Joe Hill
1984 Ronia, the Robber's Daughter
1985 False as Water
1985 My Life as a Dog
1986 Jönssonligan dyker upp igen
1986 The Children of Noisy Village
1987 Jim & Piraterna Blom
1987 Leif
1987 More About the Children of Noisy Village
1988 Strul
1988 Go'natt Herr Luffare short film
1988 Allrakäraste syster short film
1988 Gull-Pian short film
1988 Ingen rövare finns i skogen short film
1989 Brenda Brave short film
1989 Hoppa högst short film
1989 Hajen som visste för mycket
1989 The Women on the Roof
1989 Jönssonligan på Mallorca
1989 1939
1989 Peter och Petra
1990 Blackjack
1990 Nils Karlsson Pyssling
1990 Pelle flyttar till Komfusenbo
1991 Agnes Cecilia – en sällsam historia
1992 Lotta på Bråkmakargatan
1992 Svart Lucia
1993 Sökarna
1993 Lotta flyttar hemifrån
1993 The Slingshot
1993 Family Matters
1993 Sune's Summer
1996 Hamsun
1996 Bill Bergson Lives Dangerously
1997 Adam & Eva
1997 Pippi Longstocking
1997 Bill Bergson and the White Rose Rescue
1999 Adult Behavior
2002 Karlsson på taket
2004 Håkan Bråkan & Josef
2007 Mind the Gap
2007 Arn – The Knight Templar
2008 Arn – The Kingdom at Road's End
Television
Year Title Notes
1988 Mimmi TV Series, 4 episodes
1997 Pippi Longstocking TV Series, 1 episode
1999–2000 Eva & Adam TV Series, 16 episodes
2002 Karlsson on the Roof TV Series

Awards & nominations

BAFTA Awards

Guldbagge

References
  1. Stefan Andersson. "Årsunda-son legendarisk i film-Sverige".
  2. Lena Wreede. "Waldemar Bergendahl: "I början ville jag hoppa av"".
  3. Lena Wreede. "I början ville jag hoppa av".
  4. Marlene Edmunds. "Svensk topper ankles his post. Bergendahl will still produce pix".
  5. Bodil Juggas. "Bergendahl ÄR svensk film".
  6. Lena Wreede. "Filmskapare som gärna lever om sitt liv".
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