Why Not Watch?
Falling in love with documentaries means you are now destined to spend your life telling the people around you about all the great films they Absolutely Must See. If you’re Influence Film co-founder Cristina Ljungberg, falling in love with documentaries means you don’t just limit yourself to the people around you; you instead put your brains, savvy and enormous drive towards making sure the whole world sees these important and entertaining films, because you know that docs can make a difference. In Influence Film Forum’s interview series On Their Way Cristina fills us in on mushrooms, the 3 B’s and something called Ringly.
How do you get to work each day?
Getting to work each day on foot is an absolute gift, when it’s not raining or snowing. It takes me about 7 minutes.
What project are you currently working on?
Influence Film Club is keeping me busy, along with supporting about 15 projects through IFFoundation.
When do you feel most creative?
I think the saying is the 3 B’s: Bed, Bath and Bus. For me it’s more like Running, Airplane and Massage. If totally relax and let my mind wander amazing things start happening. I just need to remember, not only to make notes, but review them later.
What is your favourite way to relax?
On the couch, watching great films. A documentary, of course! Just watched Dinosaur 13 last night.
What are your current obsessions …
Food/Drink:
It’s mushroom season in Sweden. I can’t get enough. I know I have reached my limit if my eyes are swollen in the morning. It’s only happened once. I am also obsessed with foraging for wild greens.
Travel:
I am still waiting for someone to invite me to swim with the whales at the Tonga Islands. In the meantime, I am longing to go back to Vienna.
Gadgets:
I can’t wait to get my Ringly. I have pre-ordered this ring that will sync with my phone. It looks like jewelry, but it’s really a bunch of technology jammed in a beautiful ring.
Reading or watching:
At home we are reading, Big Questions from Little People and Simple Answers from Great Minds by Gemma Elwin Harris. I love the discussions that are happening at the breakfast table with my kids.
As a teenager I was completely into …
Collecting and identifying wildflowers. I still pick them out on the side of the road or a path through the woods.
In another life I would be …
A marine biologist or scientist in the field
Cristina has been involved in documentaries since joining the team behind the award-winning documentary, THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK, as a producer. The film, which focused on the crisis in Darfur, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. Since that time, she has continued to support film projects and maintained a fervent interest in documentaries that champion untold stories. She is committed to bringing new audiences to documentary and creating spaces for engaging discussion around them.
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