Lone Scherfig facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lone Scherfig
Scherfig at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	(1959-05-02) 2 May 1959 (age 66) Copenhagen, Denmark
Occupation	Film director, screenwriter

Lone Scherfig (born May 2, 1959) is a talented Danish film director and screenwriter. She is famous for directing movies like Italian for Beginners (2000) and An Education (2009). She has also directed many popular romantic comedies, including One Day (2011).

Lone Scherfig's Early Life

Lone Scherfig finished her studies at the National Film School of Denmark in 1984.

Before becoming a film director, she worked in advertising. She even won awards for her advertising work.

Lone Scherfig's Career

Starting Out in the 1980s and 1990s

Lone Scherfig began her directing career with a TV film called Margrethes elsker in 1985. Her first movie as a director was Kaj's fodselsdag. This film was a success and won her two awards at the Rouen Nordic Film Festival.

After this, Scherfig wrote and directed some short films. She also worked on radio shows and for the stage. In 1998, she directed Når mor kommer hjem. This film won the Grand Prix at the Montreal Film Festival. It also received the Cinekid Award in Amsterdam.

Breakthrough with Italian for Beginners

Lone Scherfig became known around the world with her film Italian for Beginners (2000). This movie was highly praised and won several awards. It received the Jury Grand Prix Silver Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Italian for Beginners is seen as a feel-good movie. It talks about themes like hope, happiness, and making choices. It is known as one of the most successful Scandinavian films ever.

This film followed the rules of the Dogme 95 movement. This meant Scherfig filmed it in a small space and used only natural sounds. The movie is about different characters and their romantic stories. Unlike many other Dogme 95 films, Scherfig's movie is very cheerful and funny.

Other Films in the 2000s

..... This film is a touching story about a man who wants to end his life. His brother always saves him and takes care of him. Critics found the movie surprisingly lighthearted. They praised Scherfig for creating deep and interesting characters.

Scherfig worked closely with writer Anders Thomas Jensen on the script for this film. Even though it was well-received, Wilbur did not earn as much money as Italian for Beginners.

In 2007, Scherfig wrote and directed another film focused on characters, called Just Like Home. This comedy is set in a small town. Several people come together to find out who is causing trouble at night. The movie explores the lives of the town's residents and how they interact. Scherfig said the story is about "trust." She explained it's about believing that people you barely know will want the best for you.

More Success in the 2010s

In 2009, An Education was released. This is one of Scherfig's most praised films. The script was written by the famous British author Nick Hornby. The movie is based on a journalist's teenage experiences in Britain after a war.

The story follows 16-year-old Jenny (played by Carey Mulligan). One rainy night, she meets David (played by Peter Sarsgaard). He introduces her to the exciting adult world of London. The movie focuses on this gentle and sometimes complicated relationship between David and Jenny. Many reviewers praised Carey Mulligan's amazing acting. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role. The film was also nominated for Best Picture.

Scherfig's next film was One Day, released in 2011. This movie follows the lives of two people in love. Their paths cross on the same day each year. The film is based on the novel of the same name by David Nicholls. He also wrote the screenplay. This movie helped Scherfig reach a much larger audience than her previous films.

The story of One Day is simple and easy to guess. However, critics noted that Scherfig made the dialogue and mood of the film feel fresh. The well-known actors Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess also helped attract more viewers.

Scherfig also worked as a writing consultant for the Danish film Alting. She helped write and develop characters for other projects too. Her film The Riot Club came out in 2014. It is based on the play Posh by Laura Wade. The movie is about two new students at Oxford University. They want to join the famous Riot Club, where reputations can be made or ruined in one night.

Scherfig at the 2017 Miami International Film Festival

Her more recent works include Their Finest (2016), The Kindness of Strangers (2019), and The Movie Teller (2023).

Awards and Recognition

Lone Scherfig is known as a very talented person in the film industry. She is recognized for trying new things with creative rules and for paying close attention to details.

She has received many awards and nominations. These include a BAFTA nomination, a FIPRESCI Award, and a Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. Movies she has directed have also received BAFTA and Oscar nominations.

Her film Kaj's fødselsdag won two awards at the Rouen Nordic Film Festival in 1991. Når mor kommer hjem won the Cinekid Film Award in 1998.

At the Berlin International Film Festival, Italian for Beginners won several awards. These included the FIPRESCI Prize and the Silver Berlin Bear. It was also nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear. Italian for Beginners won awards at many other film festivals around the world.

..... These included the Festróia-Tróia International Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film Festival.

An Education received many nominations, including at the BAFTA Awards and the Academy Awards. It won awards at the Chicago International Film Festival, the Independent Spirit Awards, and the Sundance Film Festival.

Lone Scherfig's Filmography

Film

TV movies

• Margrethes elsker (1985)
• Den gode lykke (1993)

TV series

See also

In Spanish: Lone Scherfig para niños