"Swedish" gets on-demand deal


Derek Sieg
PHOTO BY JAKE MALONEY

The locally filmed Lukas Haas/January Jones vehicle, Swedish Auto, has finally gotten a release– on-demand TV through IFC Films. And even though Comcast cable doesn't carry the Independent Film Channel, not to worry. The cable company will have Swedish Auto available on demand August 27 through October 28.

Swedish Auto, filmed here in 2005, was written and directed by Western Albemarle High grad Derek Sieg, and produced by his UVA frat brother, Tyler Davidson. After a Charlottesville premiere at the 2006 Virginia Film Festival, the movie languished and never saw a major theatrical opening.

The on-demand release through IFC's new platform, Festival Direct, which festures indies that have been on the festival circuit, will be followed by DVDs three months later, and that's better than straight to video, says Sieg. "I'm most excited being on the IFC label," he says. "It's very well-respected in the independent film world. I would prefer this over a small theatrical release then trickling out on DVD. This will give us more exposure."

Swedish Auto made the rounds of film festivals in 2006, including the Los Angeles Film Festival. Sieg notes that of the independent movies shown there that year, only one got a theatrical release. "Just having anything released, I feel very fortunate," he says.

Swedish star January Jones has gone on to the smokin' hot AMC TV show, Mad Men, and Haas has appeared in several movies and last year's Dirt, the television show starring Courtney Cox as a tabloid editor.

Reached in L.A., Sieg says he has several projects in the works, including a film he's writing about John Brown, and a political thriller set in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

For those who want to see local scenery like Mel's, West Main and the Lawn on the big screen, be not dismayed. Sieg doesn't rule out a theatrical release for Swedish Auto in Charlottesville.

7 comments

Swedish Auto opened the 2006 Virginia Film Festival, followed by a panel discussion with Derek Sieg and January Jones. Richard Herskowitz moderated.

I posted a few photos from that event here:

http://tinyurl.com/57pjg6

I heard that movie just wasn't all that interesting.

So what? Look how handsome that director is!

Comcast in Greene County carries the IFC. I didn't realize there was such a difference between the lineups in Greene and Albemarle/Cville.

Well, he's 2 for 2 with good reviews at MRQE.
You cann look it up, the log software won;t let me post the link..
www
.mrqe
.com/movies/m100024272?s=1

Wonder when it comes to DVD.

Maybe as a penalty for all those typos!

Comcast channel 164 is IFC in Charlottesville. If you have the next package up after basic cable, you probably do have the IFC.