Stockholm International Film Festival mourns the death of iconic director and artist David Lynch, who has died aged 78. One of the most innovative and influential voices in cinema, Lynch left an indelible mark on both the art of cinema and popular culture.
Lynch was one of the first to define the nature of the festival as a meeting place for innovative and transgressive cinema. When his Wild at Heart opened the very first edition of the Stockholm International Film Festival in 1990, it set the stage for the festival’s future commitment to showcasing both artistic and challenging films, while at the same time screening the groundbreaking and niche television series Twin Peaks, which completely floored audiences. Lynch had an immediate and lasting impact on both the audience and the festival’s identity.
David Lynch returned to Stockholm in 2003 to receive the Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his groundbreaking work and profound impact on the world of film. A special section, Lynch by Lynch, was created in his honour, showcasing some of his most significant and beloved works, including Blue Velvet, Eraserhead, Wild at Heart, Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive. His unique ability to explore dark, surreal universes has had a profound and lasting effect on cinema history.
Stockholm International Film Festival is dedicating this year’s festival, held 5-16 November, to David Lynch. During the festival we will present a special programme celebrating his filmmaking, as well as holding talks and discussions about his impact on cinema and how he changed the way we look at film. Through this programme, we want to shed light on Lynch’s influence on our time and his distinctive cinematic language that influenced a whole world. We will also explore his unique ability to create dreamlike and often shocking worlds, which have enriched film lovers and critics around the world.
‘It all started with Lynch. It was his film Wild at Heart that opened our first festival in 1990 and set the tone for the unique and challenging film festival we wanted to create. Lynch has not only shaped the way the festival has been organised, but also influenced the way we look at film as an art form. His visionary work has continued to inspire us and audiences around the world. We dedicate this year’s festival to Lynch with all our hearts, to honour his life’s work and give everyone the opportunity to relive his masterpieces,’ says Git Scheynius, Chairman of Stockholm International Film Festival.
Lynch’s films, with their surreal stories and complex characters, continue to inspire and challenge today’s filmmakers and audiences. His artistic expression, which combines the beautiful with the terrifying and the mysterious, will forever be a central part of the development of cinema.
Stockholm International Film Festival is proud and happy to continue to shine a light on Lynch and his work through this tribute during this year’s festival and invite our audience to remember and celebrate together one of the greatest visionaries in film history.
