Patrik Eklund's FLICKER has won for Best Picture in the AMD Next Wave Spotlight Competition at the largest genre film festival in the US, Fantastic Fest.
The section, "which recognizes outstanding new talent in genre film directing", is the highest honor of the festival, choosing FLICKER amongst 8 other titles from 7 different countries.
FLICKER, which has also been shown at Gothenburg International Film Festival (where it also won an award), Edinburgh Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival, is Eklund's feature film debut. Eklund's short films list SITUATION FRANK (2007), which screened in Cannes' Critic's Week, INSTEAD OF ABRACADABRA (2008), which was selected for Sundance and earned an Academy Award-nomination and SEEDS OF FALL (2009), which won in Cannes' Critic's Week.
Crowdpleasingly silly comedy from Sweden marks Oscar-nominated writer/director's smooth transition from shorts to features. The electricity may be intermittent but the giggles keep on coming in Swedish wunderkind Patrik Eklund's daffy debut (...) reminding us once again that cinema from Europe's northern fringes isn't all about Nordic noir or Bergmanesque gloom.
The Hollywood Reporter
A slyly observed gem of a film, FLICKER announces Eklund as a director who could be a sort of surrogate Coen Brother, should he ever choose to go that route. Eklund certainly shares the Coen´s gift for observation and their appreciation of the absurd, but Eklund´s obvious love for his characters stands in stark contrast to the lurking cynicism of most who walk this road, and marks him as a truly unique voice.
Todd Brown
Like a cross between The Office and Robert Altman´s Short Cuts, Flicker tells several stories that weave in and out of each other. This is a movie that will reward repeat viewings, and will probably be just as funny every time.
The Edinburg Reporter
A funny, original and often tender début feature from the talented Mr. Eklund and one that marks him out as a filmmaker to keep an eye out for in the future.
EYE FOR FILM
Eklund´s left field style - think Wes Anderson with a sprinkle of Jean-Pierre Jeunet - is so packed full of inventiveness and unpredictable twists that all you can do is hang on for the ride. This is a genuine cinematic treat: creative, engaging and wholly satisfying.
TV BOMB