Ruben Östlund’s Bold New Film Journey

A new documentary by Swedish filmmaker Sigge Eklund follows the celebrated director Ruben Östlund as he plans his next ambitious project, The Entertainment System Is Down. Filmed over several years and now in post‑production, the film is slated for the main competition at next year’s Cannes Film Festival.

A Grand Ambition

Eklund says the documentary centers on a lofty goal: to become the first director ever to win three Palme d’Or awards. The story opens in 2022, after Östlund’s hit Triangle of Sadness premiered. At the height of his success, he seeks to push even further—what will his next film be about, and how much will he sacrifice to achieve it?

The Flight‑Inspired Narrative

The answer comes in the form of a long‑haul flight where in‑flight entertainment stops. To bring this vision to life, the crew built a full airplane inside a large hangar in Budapest. The production became a risky experiment, testing technical limits, budgets, and emotions.

Production & Distribution

Ruben is produced by Stockholm Synergy and Tiisch Film, with co‑production from Swedish TV SVT and the regional company Film I Väst. Distribution will be handled by SF Studios.

Film i Väst’s Cannes Presence

Film i Väst announced the project at its annual Cannes press event. The company also backs two other main‑competition titles this year: Fjord by Christian Mungiu and Gentle Monster by Marie Kreutzer. Kristina Börjeson, head of production at Film i Väst, highlighted the studio’s decade‑long streak of Cannes entries and expressed excitement about eight new co‑productions being shot or edited in Västra Götaland, hoping they will reach festivals and audiences soon.