Simon Staho

Danish film director Simon Staho (born 1972) has worked with a number of renowned Swedish actors, including Mikael Persbrandt, Noomi Rapace, Pernilla August and Erland Josephson.

Staho’s first feature film Vildspor/Wildside (1998) was shot in Iceland and starred Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. It was selected for the San Sebastian International Film Festival. Variety wrote in its review: “A solidly crafted thriller with links to classic film noir, though the bleakly beautiful Icelandic settings invest this tale of friendship and betrayal with a distinct ambience. Intelligent and suspenseful fare.”

In 2002, Staho directed Nu/Now, a short film about a man whose marriage is destroyed when he has a secret homosexual relationship. The film - shot in black and white - stars Mads Mikkelsen and Mikael Persbrandt as the male lovers.

With a cast of Swedish actors, Staho directed Dag och Natt/Day and Night (2004), also selected for San Sebastian and winner of the Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival.