Swedish Film Institute (SHI) Considers New Rules For Training On Sexual Harassment In Industry

Oscar winner Alicia Vikander

The Swedish Film Institute (SFI) is responding with lightening speed to the recent #MeToo letter signed by nearly 600 local actresses, including Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (above), calling out harassment and abuse in Sweden's film, theater industry.

SFI head Anna Serner's proposal, which requires board approval, stipulates that production companies seeking public funding attend free educational seminars, likely one or two per year, that would cover issues, such as sexual harassment, gender equality and diversity. 

Asserting “zero tolerance against sexual exploitation and violence” the letter signatories demanded that employers, from film companies and theaters to book publishers and Swedish television networks, “stop protecting, hiring and making money on perpetrators” of sexual violence.

Writing on her blog, Serner said the #MeToo movement could only truly change the culture "if there are consequences" and called for zero tolerance of sexual harassment. The problem, writes Serner, is about power and an industry decision to profit from known abusers.

It is about a distribution of power. And it's about there are men who consciously exercise their power through sexual harassment. They also make it unconsciously, which also needs consciousness, but the testimonies we receive now are not about anything but oppression by violation.

Sweden is always at the top of countries committed to gender equality. In 2012, Sweden became the first country to target full gender equality in the public funding of films, calling for half the funding to go to films directed by women. In 2015, Sweden reached their goal, writes The Hollywood Reporter. Britain is also looking to implement a new set of guidelines that address bullying and harassment.