Vibeke Løkkeberg‘s documentary “The Long Road to the Director’s Chair,” which takes an unflinching look at the historical struggles for gender equality in filmmaking, is set to become a multi-part TV series. The adaptation was announced by producer Anders Tangen of Viafilm ahead of the film’s world premiere at this year’s Berlinale Forum.
Originally shot in November 1973, the documentary delves into the first International Women’s Film Seminar held at Berlin’s Arsenal Cinema. Through a series of interviews with female filmmakers from around the world, Løkkeberg captures the ambitions, challenges, and perseverance of women in cinema. The film not only highlights the battles for gender equality but underscores the enduring struggles that remain unresolved half a century later.
The archival footage, which sat untouched for nearly five decades after being dismissed by the male-dominated management of state broadcaster NRK, was rediscovered in 2019 at Norway’s National Library. The unexpected find inspired Løkkeberg and provided a trove of interviews that form the foundation of a powerful narrative about women’s rights, creativity and equality.
Tangen brings an impressive resume to the adaptation, having previously worked on hit TV series like “Lillyhammer” and “Norsemen.” According to the producer, there are nearly 3.5 hours of footage, of which only 70 minutes were used for the film.
“A film’s format imposes certain laws with regards to dramatic structure,” he explains. “It means we still sit on a gold mine of material that we can use for a multi-part series of 30-minute episodes with different accents, allowing us to dig deeper and shine a light on other topics.”
The upcoming series will not only revisit the original footage but also include new content filmed during this year’s Berlin festival. Tangen’s crew is capturing interviews with some of the women featured in the film, reflecting on the past five decades of progress, or lack thereof, in the cinema industry. Notable figures such as German filmmakers Helke Sander and Claudia von Alemann — central figures during the 1973 seminar — along with U.S. filmmaker Ariel Maria Dougherty and German producer Christiane Schäfer, are expected to attend the feature’s screening.
Additionally, Løkkeberg, now 80, will participate in a conference titled The 26% Ceiling for Female Filmmakers in Europe, organized by FERA, where she will discuss the ongoing gender imbalance in the industry. The conference will take place at the Nordic Embassy on Feb. 14, followed by a Q&A session after the world premiere screening.
Screenings of the film will be held at the Berlinale on Feb. 14 and 15, with Løkkeberg and Tangen available for interviews in Berlin.
