Swedish artist and filmmaker Ester Bergsmark has unveiled her latest work, A Sweetness From Nowhere, at the 23rd Copenhagen International Documentary Festival (CPH:DOX). Known for pushing boundaries with films like Something Must Break, Bergsmark once again merges art forms in what is described as “a contemporary hybrid of forms and strategies.”
Themes of Transphobia and Healing
The film explores lived experiences of assault and transphobia, weaving together documentary essay, poetic facts, and evocative fable. At its core, it tells a story of survival, lust, and transformation — of finding a way back to life after being frozen by trauma.
Darkness as Nourishment
Bergsmark explains that the film is about how darkness can become nourishment, and how bodies are entangled with the rhythms of nature and the collective. She likens the dance floor to an ocean, where individuals are both separate and shared waves. The film emphasizes healing through fantasy, rhythm, and connection.
Production and Creative Team
Produced by Anna-Maria Kantarius for Garagefilm International, the project is a co-production with SVT, Film Stockholm, Film i Väst, Stær Films, and Arktisk Film Norge Invest. Cinematography was handled by Minka Jakerson and Bergsmark, with editing by Anna Eborn, Isabella Karlström, Marion Tuor, and Neil Wigart. Outplay Films is managing international sales.
A Force of Life
In her director’s statement, Bergsmark highlights the resilience of transgender communities and the strange resonances between human and non-human life. She describes the film as listening for “flashes of sweetness” that emerge in unexpected places, binding together distinct entities in a kind of cosmic intimacy.
Exclusive Trailer
The Hollywood Reporter premiered the trailer, offering audiences a glimpse into Bergsmark’s cinematic world. With its blend of documentary and poetic storytelling, A Sweetness From Nowhere promises to be one of the most daring and thought-provoking films at CPH:DOX this year.
