Egghead Republic
2025 Swedish science fiction film
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Egghead Republic is a 2025 Swedish science fiction film directed and written by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja. Inspired in part by Kågerman's tenure at Vice Magazine and the novel The Egghead Republic by Arno Schmidt, the film is set in an alternate reality in which the Cold War persists and a nuclear bomb has struck in Soviet Kazakhstan.[1][2]
- Pella Kågerman
- Hugo Lilja
- Pella Kågerman
- Hugo Lilja
- Nina Lund
- Pella Kågerman
| Egghead Republic | |
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Teaser poster | |
| Directed by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | The Egghead Republic by Arno Schmidt |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Malin Gutke |
| Edited by | Oskar Blondell |
| Music by | Juhana Lehtiniemi |
| Animation by | Arild Andersson |
Production company | YouSavedMe |
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Release date |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | Sweden |
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The film was selected in the Discovery section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and had its World premiere on 6 September 2025.[3][4]
Cast
- Ella Rae Rappaport as Sonja Schmidt, the young Swedish club kid
- Tyler Labine as Dino Davis, the magazine owner
- Arvin Kananian as Turan Hiram
- Emma Creed as Gemma
- Andrew Lowery
- Gina Dirawi as Pin-Up Bob
- Merlin Leonhardt as Sergeant Barcoff
- Milan Dragisic
- Hussain Currimbhoy as Journalist
- Anna-Lu Franz
- Lara Golay
- Stephen Rappaport as Bob Singleton
Production
Release
Egghead Republic had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September 2025 in Discovery section.[6][7]
It was presented at the Riga International Film Festival in Nordic Highlights on 17 October 2025.[8]
It was presented at the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival for its Italian Premiere and competed in Méliès Competition on 30 October 2025.[9][10]
It competed in Competition section of the 2025 Stockholm International Film Festival on 8 November 2025 vying for the Bronze Horse.[11]
In March 2026, it will be presented in the Country Focus section of the Glasgow Film Festival.[12]
It is scheduled for release in Swedish theatres on 28 November 2025 by NonStop Entertainment.[13][14]
Reception
Davide Abbatescianni of Cineuropa, at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, described the film as a "cinematic anomaly" marked by its extremes. Abbatescianni noted that the film shifts "from genius into sheer madness," with humour that is "broad" and surreal elements that verge on excess. Because of these qualities, Abbatescianni found the film unforgettable, calling it "hilarious and gruesome, incisive and idiotic, at once inspired and deranged." He suggested that while some viewers may dismiss it as nonsensical, others might regard it as visionary, concluding that "forgetting [the film] is not an option".[15]
Accolades
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm International Film Festival | 16 November 2025 | Bronze Horse | Egghead Republic | Nominated | [16] |
| Audience Award | Won | [17] | |||
| Guldbagge Awards | 19 January 2026 | Best Film | Nina Lund, Pella Kågerman, and Hugo Lilja | Nominated | [18][19] |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Ella Rae Rappaport | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Arvin Kananian | Nominated | |||
| Best Makeup and Hair | Tuija Valén | Nominated | |||
| Best Production Design | Petra Kågerman | Won |
