Lone Scherfig, a writer and director, graduated from The National Film School of Denmark in 1984. Her first feature film, THE BIRTHDAY TRIP, was released in 1990 and received significant recognition, being selected for the Panorama in Berlin, the New Directors section at MOMA in New York, and winning the Grand Jury Prix in Rouen.
Her subsequent film, ON OUR OWN, was released in 1998 and received the Grand Prix in Montreal and the Cinekid Prize in Amsterdam. Scherfig then wrote and directed ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS, the Danish 'Dogma' #5, in 2000, which became a huge audience hit and earned her the Silver Bear and the international film critics' award FIPRESCI at the 2001 Berlinale, as well as numerous other awards worldwide.
Scherfig's first English-language feature, WILBUR WANTS TO KILL HIMSELF, was released in 2002 and toured the festival circuit, garnering awards from France, the US, and Japan. Her next production, AN EDUCATION, was released in 2009 and won the Audience Award at Sundance, earning nominations for three Oscars and eight BAFTAs.
Subsequent to AN EDUCATION, Scherfig directed three British films: ONE DAY in 2011, THE RIOT CLUB in 2014, and THEIR FINEST in 2016, which premiered at TIFF in 2016 and screened in Sundance and London as the Mayor's gala. In 2019, Scherfig's THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS opened and was in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival.
In addition to her feature film work, Scherfig has directed a range of TV-series, including TAXA in 1997, QUIET WATERS in 1999, BETTER TIMES in 2004, and most recently, THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB in 2015, which was conceptualised by Scherfig.
