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Jörn Donner(1933-2020)

  • Producer
  • Director
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Jörn Donner
Jörn Donner grew up in a Swedish-speaking family belonging to the Finnish upper class. Already as a student he had radical leftist ideas displayed in magazines and newspapers. His first novel appeared in 1951 when Donner was only 18 years old. He graduated from the University of Helsinki in 1959. In 1961 Donner moved to Sweden when the daily newspaper "Dagens Nyheter" hired him as a film critic. He returned to his home country in 1967. During his stay in Sweden he also directed his first feature film, "A Sunday in September". He temporarily returned to Sweden in the 1970s to head the Swedish Film Institute. Again, Donner returned to his home country after a while.

Donner is best known for his work as an author. He has written several novels. He was awarded the Finlandia Prize in Literature in 1985 for "Father and Son". During the years he has also written many columns for large news papers in Finland.

After his directorial debut in 1963 Donner continued to work in film, mainly as a producer. He formed his own production company Jörn Donner Productions in 1960. He produced Ingmar Bergman's critically acclaimed "Fanny and Alexander" in 1982 and is thereby the first Finn ever to receive an Academy Award.

Ever since his early years as a student and struggling writer Donner has had an interest in politics. He has been a Member of Parliament in Finland and also an European MP. After successfully supporting Social Democrat Ahtisaari's presidential campaign in 1994 he was appointed Finnish consul to Los Angeles. Donner soon returned back to Finland. In 2003 Donner failed to return to politics when he did not get elected in the Finnish parliamentary election.

After a few years in the small town of Ekenäs, Finland Donner has returned to live in the nation's capital where he works as an independent writer, columinst and film producer.
BornFebruary 5, 1933
DiedJanuary 30, 2020(86)
BornFebruary 5, 1933
DiedJanuary 30, 2020(86)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
    • 7 wins & 6 nominations total

Photos1

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Known for

Black on White (1968)
Black on White
5.9
  • Producer
  • 1968
Pernilla Allwin and Bertil Guve in Fanny and Alexander (1982)
Fanny and Alexander
8.1
  • Producer
  • 1982
Här börjar äventyret (1965)
Här börjar äventyret
4.7
  • Director
  • 1965
En söndag i september (1963)
En söndag i september
4.8
  • Director
  • 1963

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Producer



  • The Memory of Ingmar Bergman (2018)
    The Memory of Ingmar Bergman
    7.1
    • producer
    • 2018
  • Fuck Off 2 - Images from Finland (2017)
    Fuck Off 2 - Images from Finland
    6.2
    • producer
    • 2017
  • Yksinteoin 2 (2011)
    Yksinteoin 2
    5.8
    • producer
    • 2011
  • Minna Haapkylä in Kuulustelu (2009)
    Kuulustelu
    6.7
    • producer
    • 2009
  • Martin Bahne in Raja 1918 (2007)
    Raja 1918
    6.6
    • producer
    • 2007
  • Jonna Järnefelt in Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat (2000)
    Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat
    5.5
    • producer
    • 2000
  • Perkele - lisää kuvia Suomesta
    6.1
    TV Mini Series
    • producer
    • 1999
  • Diktonius - Ord lever!
    4.5
    • producer
    • 1995
  • Mannen utan ansikte (1995)
    Mannen utan ansikte
    4.7
    • producer
    • 1995
  • Småstadberättelser
    TV Series
    • producer
    • 1994
  • Avuton Anna
    Short
    • associate producer
    • 1994
  • Hellen Willberg in Goodbye Gibraltar (1993)
    Goodbye Gibraltar
    4.4
    • producer
    • 1993
  • Libanonin kirje
    Short
    • producer (uncredited)
    • 1991
  • Planting
    Short
    • producer
    • 1991
  • Liikkuvat taakse
    • producer (uncredited)
    • 1991

Director



  • The Memory of Ingmar Bergman (2018)
    The Memory of Ingmar Bergman
    7.1
    • Director
    • 2018
  • Fuck Off 2 - Images from Finland (2017)
    Fuck Off 2 - Images from Finland
    6.2
    • Director
    • 2017
  • Armi Alive! (2015)
    Armi Alive!
    5.5
    • Director
    • 2015
  • Jörn Donner in Mannerheim - Jörn Donnerin kertomana (2010)
    Mannerheim - Jörn Donnerin kertomana
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Director (realisation)
    • 2011
  • Minna Haapkylä in Kuulustelu (2009)
    Kuulustelu
    6.7
    • Director
    • 2009
  • Kai Donner in Isäni jalanjäljillä (2006)
    Isäni jalanjäljillä
    • Director
    • 2006
  • Liisamaija Laaksonen and Heikki Nousiainen in Presidentti (2000)
    Presidentti
    5.8
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 2000
  • Martti Ahtisaari heinäkuu 1999
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1999
  • Ingmar Bergman: Om liv och arbete (1998)
    Ingmar Bergman: Om liv och arbete
    7.2
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1998
  • Diktonius - Ord lever!
    4.5
    • Director
    • 1995
  • Ronnie Reagan Was Here
    Short
    • Director
    • 1988
  • Kirjeitä Ruotsista (1988)
    Kirjeitä Ruotsista
    5.2
    • Director
    • 1988
  • Dirty Story (1984)
    Dirty Story
    5.3
    • Director
    • 1984
  • Yhdeksän tapaa lähestyä Helsinkiä (1982)
    Yhdeksän tapaa lähestyä Helsinkiä
    7.1
    • Director
    • 1982
  • Anna Godenius in Men Can't Be Raped (1978)
    Men Can't Be Raped
    6.1
    • Director
    • 1978

Writer



  • Fuck Off 2 - Images from Finland (2017)
    Fuck Off 2 - Images from Finland
    6.2
    • Writer
    • 2017
  • Jörn Donner in Mannerheim - Jörn Donnerin kertomana (2010)
    Mannerheim - Jörn Donnerin kertomana
    7.7
    TV Series
    • planning
    • 2011
  • Martin Bahne in Raja 1918 (2007)
    Raja 1918
    6.6
    • idea
    • 2007
  • Kai Donner in Isäni jalanjäljillä (2006)
    Isäni jalanjäljillä
    • Writer
    • 2006
  • Jörn Donnerin kuusi elämää
    4.7
    TV Series
    • writer
    • 2003
  • Liisamaija Laaksonen and Heikki Nousiainen in Presidentti (2000)
    Presidentti
    5.8
    TV Movie
    • novel
    • screenplay
    • 2000
  • Martti Ahtisaari heinäkuu 1999
    TV Movie
    • planning
    • 1999
  • Angela ja ajan tuulet
    3.7
    TV Series
    • novel
    • 1999
  • Diktonius - Ord lever!
    4.5
    • Writer
    • 1995
  • Kirjeitä Ruotsista (1988)
    Kirjeitä Ruotsista
    5.2
    • Writer
    • 1988
  • Musta kanava
    TV Series
    • workgroup
    • 1986
  • Dirty Story (1984)
    Dirty Story
    5.3
    • novel "Gabriels dag"
    • screenplay
    • 1984
  • Angela's War (1984)
    Angela's War
    5.1
    • novel
    • 1984
  • Yhdeksän tapaa lähestyä Helsinkiä (1982)
    Yhdeksän tapaa lähestyä Helsinkiä
    7.1
    • Writer
    • 1982
  • Anna Godenius in Men Can't Be Raped (1978)
    Men Can't Be Raped
    6.1
    • writer
    • 1978

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Jorn Donner
  • Height
    • 5′ 10¾″ (1.80 m)
  • Born
    • February 5, 1933
    • Helsinki, Finland
  • Died
    • January 30, 2020
    • Helsinki, Finland(lung disease)
  • Spouses
      Bitte Westerlund1995 - January 30, 2020 (his death, 2 children)
  • Children
    • Johan Donner
  • Other works
    A book on Ingmar Bergman: "Djävulens ansikte - Ingmar Bergmans filmer" (In Sewdish; several translations).
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Biographical Movies
    • 1 Print Biography
    • 1 Article
    • 3 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Dated actress Harriet Andersson in the 60s.
  • Nickname
    • Jörkka

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