"Watch out for the Jönsson League", which would have had its cinema premiere on Christmas Day, would have been this year's big Christmas film.

The new restrictions regarding the maximum ceiling of eight people at public gatherings meant that the premiere was canceled.

The film has received millions in support in production and launch support from the state operation Swedish Film Institute.

Among other things, this applies to one million in production support and 800,000 in market support.

The investment is thus partly financed by the Swedish people's common money.

Sold to payment service

Now the new film about the Jönsson League will instead be one in the crowd of all films in the streaming services.

On Monday, it was announced that the film had been sold to a service that requires users to sign up for a payment subscription.

Director: "Ashamed as a dog"

In an open letter, director Tomas Alfredson expresses his disappointment at the situation that has arisen and criticizes the choice to sell the partially tax-financed film to a streaming service with a pay wall.

- I have gained the great confidence to be able to use this money and now I am ashamed as a dog to disappoint you, the director writes and continues:

- I think it is shitty and unfair for all of you who have aimed to see this film.

There must be other solutions to make this movie accessible to everyone.

"Ways to save the film to reach its audience"

Anna Serner, CEO of the Swedish Film Institute, comments on the situation in an interview with SVT.

- I understand that it is a big disappointment for Tomas Alfredson, the whole intention with the film has been to get a Christmas premiere, which is the biggest and finest you can get.

The pandemic hits everything under the legs, says Anna Serner.

At the same time, she wants to point out that the Swedish Film Institute's support is not platform-dependent.

Thus, they have no real control over where the films are shown.

- There is nothing in our funding that binds a film to a cinema, this is a way to save the film from reaching its audience as quickly as possible, says the CEO.

Kulturnyheterna is looking for SF Studios, which has made the decision to locate the premiere of a streaming service.