# Waldemar Bergendahl

Waldemar Bergendahl (18 April 1933 – 21 March 2022) was a Swedish film director, film editor, film producer, cinematographer and screenwriter. Bergendahl is best known as the producer behind the films based on novels by Astrid Lindgren.

## Life and career

Bergendahl was born in April 1933 in Årsunda. He grew up on a farm between Årsunda and Gästrike-Hammarby. His parents were farmers with cows, horses, chickens, pigs and many other animals. Bergendahl later went to University in Gävle. Then he moved to Stockholm.
In 1957 Bergendahl lived along with the production manager of Europafilm in an apartment in Stockholm. The production manager told Bergendahl to apply for a job at the film company. One year later, Bergendahl was part of the film crew of Miss April, a film with Gunnar Björnstrand and Gaby Stenberg in the leading roles. At that time he did know anything about film work, so he tried to help wherever he could.
Bergendahl dreamed of becoming an actor, but realized soon that he was not suitable for the job. However, he wanted to continue working in the film industry and therefore decided to work as a producer.
In 1963 Bergendahl produced the film Raven's End. In 1984 he started working with Astrid Lindgren and produced Ronia, the Robber's Daughter. His film My Life as a Dog (1988) was nominated as the best non English film for the British Academy Film Awards.
Bergendahl produced around 120 films. He worked along with Astrid Lindgren, Tage Danielsson, Bo Widerberg, Lasse Hallström, Helena Bergström and many others. He always selected the employees for his films himself.
In 2010 Bergendahl was honored as a film producer by winning the Hedersguldbaggen.

## Private life

Bergendahl lived until his death in Stockholm. He has two younger sisters. In 2008 Bergendahl was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

## Selected filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1961 | Lovely Is the Summer Night | |
| 1963 | Raven's End | |
| 1967 | Elvira Madigan | |
| 1967 | Joe Hill | |
| 1984 | Ronia, the Robber's Daughter | |
| 1985 | False as Water | |
| 1985 | My Life as a Dog | |
| 1986 | Jönssonligan dyker upp igen | |
| 1986 | The Children of Noisy Village | |
| 1987 | Jim & Piraterna Blom | |
| 1987 | Leif | |
| 1987 | More About the Children of Noisy Village | |
| 1988 | Strul | |
| 1988 | Go'natt Herr Luffare | short film |
| 1988 | Allrakäraste syster | short film |
| 1988 | Gull-Pian | short film |
| 1988 | Ingen rövare finns i skogen | short film |
| 1989 | Brenda Brave | short film |
| 1989 | Hoppa högst | short film |
| 1989 | Hajen som visste för mycket | |
| 1989 | The Women on the Roof | |
| 1989 | Jönssonligan på Mallorca | |
| 1989 | 1939 | |
| 1989 | Peter och Petra | |
| 1990 | Blackjack | |
| 1990 | Nils Karlsson Pyssling | |
| 1990 | Pelle flyttar till Komfusenbo | |
| 1991 | Agnes Cecilia – en sällsam historia | |
| 1992 | Lotta på Bråkmakargatan | |
| 1992 | Svart Lucia | |
| 1993 | Sökarna | |
| 1993 | Lotta flyttar hemifrån | |
| 1993 | The Slingshot | |
| 1993 | Family Matters | |
| 1993 | Sune's Summer | |
| 1996 | Hamsun | |
| 1996 | Bill Bergson Lives Dangerously | |
| 1997 | Adam & Eva | |
| 1997 | Pippi Longstocking | |
| 1997 | Bill Bergson and the White Rose Rescue | |
| 1999 | Adult Behavior | |
| 2002 | Karlsson på taket | |
| 2004 | Håkan Bråkan & Josef | |
| 2007 | Mind the Gap | |
| 2007 | Arn – The Knight Templar | |
| 2008 | Arn – The Kingdom at Road's End | |
Television :
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1988 | Mimmi | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1997 | Pippi Longstocking | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1999–2000 | Eva & Adam | TV series, 16 episodes |
| 2002 | Karlsson on the Roof | TV series |

## Awards and nominations

BAFTA Awards
* 1988: Best Foreign Language Film: My Life as a Dog (Nomination)
Guldbagge
* 1986: Best Film (Bästa film): My Life as a Dog (Award)
* 1992: Best Film (Bästa film): Agnes Cecilia – en sällsam historia (shared with Ingrid Dalunde, Nomination)
* 1994: Best Film (Bästa film): The Slingshot (Nomination)
* 1996: Best Film (Bästa film): En på miljonen (Nomination)
* 1998: Best Film (Bästa film): Adam & Eva (Nomination)
* 2010: Hedersguldbaggen as film producer (Award)