Ruben Östlund on the work before the Oscars: "Like a presidential election campaign"

With his three nominations in the heaviest classes, Östlund writes himself into Swedish film history.

Only films by Ingmar Bergman and Jan Troell have been nominated for best film before.

But the nominations are not only the fruit of hard, artistic work, but also of long-term and tactical work. 

- If you want to be successful in these rooms, you have to speculate, says Ruben Östlund to Kulturnyheterna. 

Like a presidential campaign 

Since Triangle of Sadness won the Palme d'Or in Cannes, Ruben Östlund has traveled around the US and Europe to show the film to many of the 10,000 members who participate and vote for which films should be nominated. 

- You should meet as many people as possible and shake hands with as many as possible.

The only thing I can compare it to is a presidential election campaign or a campaign where members of parliament go around trying to get elected.

International stardom

It is not the first time Ruben Östlund has been nominated for the Oscars.

His previous film, "The Square", was nominated in the category of best foreign film.

Both films have international stars in the roles.

- If you have a premiere and compete in Cannes, you must have stars who can walk that red carpet.

It's good to have famous actors. 

The actor Sven Wollter auditioned for the role of the drunken ship captain in "Triangle of Sadness", but the role instead went to the American actor Woody Harrelson.

- I told Sven Wollter that if Woody Harrelson accepts, I will take him.

He is needed by the American investors.   

Test the idea on everyone

The vast majority of directors never talk about their ideas until they are finished.

Ruben Östlund does the opposite.

He travels around and tests scripts and ideas in front of audiences to see what works and what doesn't.

That sounds like market research?

- Market research sounds boring somehow, it's about knowing how to communicate the film in the best way.

Hear Ruben Östlund talk about three factors to have a chance of winning the Oscar in the clip above. 

A longer interview can be seen here on SVT Play.