The Swedish Film Institute has awarded funding to three new feature films and a number of documentaries.

After 17 years abscence, critics' favourite Kay Pollack is set to make a highly-anticipated comeback. The director, best-known for his coming-of-age drama Children's Island (Barnens O), which was nominated for the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 1981, has not made a film since Love Me! (Alska mig) in 1986. His new film, Sa Som I Himmelen, is a contemporary drama set in the north of Sweden. It is being produced by Anders Birkeland of GF Studios AB and will be distributed by Sonet Film. The film received $690,000 (SEK 6m) from the SFI.

The new film Bea, by Norwegian director Peter Naess (Elling), was awarded $138,000 (SEK 1.2m) from the Swedish Film Institute. Bea tells the story of 16-year-old Oslo girl who falls in love with Daniel. The only problem is that Bea's friend tells her that she shouldn't make her sexual debut with someone she is in love with, since the first time is always a failure. The film will be co-produced by Charlotta Denward of Sweden's Filmlance International, who produced last year's biggest Swedish box office hit, The Guy In The Grave Next Door.

Also set to shoot this year is a new film by Daniel Fridell, director of films like Beneath The Surface (Under ytan) and Cry (30:e november). In Blodsbroder, 30-year-old Jon gets out of prison, only to find that it is hard to start a new life when everyone thinks you are a criminal. Scanbox Entertainment AB will produce the film which received $92,000 (SEK 800,000) from the SFI.

Most notable among the documentaries that were backed by the SFI is a film co-written and co-directed by Lukas Moodysson and Stefan Jarl. Titled Varlden idag (The World Today), it will be produced by Stefan Jarl AB and Moodysson & Moodysson AB. The SFI allocated $92,000 (SEK 800,000) to the film.

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