Ester Martin Bergsmark is an acclaimed Swedish director and screenwriter most known for her award-winning films like "Sönderby krog" (2019), "Something Must Break" (2014), and "She Male Snails" (2008). She is also the co-founder of the production company The Chimney Pot which produces her own films and other independent projects.
Bergsmark was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1980. She grew up in the suburbs of Stockholm and developed a love for media and storytelling from an early age. She pursued her passion for storytelling by attending the Stockholm University of Arts, Crafts, and Design, where she earned a degree in directing film and television.
Bergsmark's first feature film, She Male Snails, was released in 2008 and was met with critical acclaim. The film follows the story of a young trans woman in Stockholm and her struggles to fit into a society that doesn't fully accept her. The film went on to win multiple awards, including the Outstanding Achievement Award at CPH:DOX and the Best Narrative Feature at the Los Angeles Outfest Film Festival.
Bergsmark continued to explore the themes of gender identity and sexuality in her next feature film, Something Must Break, which was released in 2014. The film follows the story of two young men in Stockholm, one of whom is transgender, and examines their struggles to come to terms with their identities. The film was met with critical acclaim and won multiple awards, including the Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Best International Feature Film at the Gijón International Film Festival.
Bergsmark has also directed multiple short films, including "Puberty" (2006) and "Life 2.0" (2010). She has also directed documentaries such as "Getting to Heaven" (2016) and "The Burden of Proof" (2018).
Bergsmark is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights and has received multiple awards for her work, including the QX Pride Award in 2018 and the Swedish LGBT Person of the Year Award in 2019. She continues to direct and produce films that explore important social issues, and her work has been praised as "visually stunning and emotionally powerful."
