And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine

“The camera records what’s in front of it. What should we do with that opportunity?”

And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine is a plunge into the vast historic ocean of media culture. From the birth of the camera obscura to the screening of the first moving picture and from the invention of the webcam to the first viral video, the witty and thought-provoking documentary chases the rise of image culture as we know it. By collaging historic archive material of great dictators parading in front of cheering crowds with home videos, live-streaming content and clips of thrill-seekers hanging out at the top of a skyscraper, or harrowing press photography exhibiting violence, it offers an emblematic study of cinema and the social history it creates: What are the implications of being exposed to the billions of images competing for our attention?
by Axel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck Sweden / Denmark 2023 Swedish,  English,  French,  German,  Arabic,  Subtitles: English 88’ Colour & Black/White European premiere | Documentary Form | recommendation: 14 years and up

Crew

DirectorsAxel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck
ScreenplayAxel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck
CinematographyAxel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck
EditingMikel Cee Karlson, Axel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck
Sound DesignAnne Gry Kristiansen
ProducersAxel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck
Executive ProducersErik Hemmendorff, Ruben Östlund
Associate ProducerRikke Tambo Andersen
Co-ProducerVibeke Vogel
Co-ProductionBullitt Film, Kopenhagen
Film i Väst, Trollhättan
Sveriges Television, Stockholm

Produced by

Plattform Produktion

Göteborg, Sweden

plattformproduktion.se plattformproduktion.se

Axel Danielson

Born in Vittskövle, Sweden in 1976, he studied film at the Valand Academy in Gothenburg and joined the Swedish production company Plattform Produktion in 2013. He has been working closely with Maximilien Van Aertryck ever since, both being involved in the creation of their joint films as director/producer and cinematographer/editor. Their short film Hopptornet screened in Berlinale Shorts in 2016. And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine is their debut feature-length film.

Filmography (with Maximilien Van Aertryck)

2015 Second Deputy Speaker; short film 2016 Because the World Never Stops; short film · Extra Material · Hopptornet (Ten Meter Tower); short film 2021 Jobs For All!; short film 2023 And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine

Maximilien Van Aertryck

Born in Paris, France in 1989, the filmmaker has collaborated with Axel Danielson as part of the Swedish production company Plattform Produktion since 2013. The pair has made several short films together which premiered at festivals including Cannes, Toronto, Aspen and Sundance. Their film Hopptornet screened in the 2016 Berlinale Shorts, won over 30 international awards, was shortlisted for an Oscar in 2017 and was nominated for an Emmy Award. Danielson and Van Aertryck work closely with the audience design strategist Kathleen McInnis.

Filmography (with Axel Danielson)

2015 Second Deputy Speaker; short film 2016 Because the World Never Stops · Extra Material · Hopptornet (Ten Meter Tower); short film 2021 Jobs for All!; short film 2023 And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine

Dates

Sat Feb 18 12:00

Cubix 8

Screening for press and industry professionals | With accreditation only

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Sun Feb 19 10:00

Zoo Palast 2

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Mon Feb 20 13:00

Urania

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Wed Feb 22 15:45

Cubix 8

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Fri Feb 24 12:30

Filmtheater am Friedrichshain

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