Scandinavia's largest film festival's new CEO is Mikael Fellenius. He has 13 years experience from the Göteborg Opera, where he has worked as a Project Manager, Finance Manager, Sales Manager and Sponsorship Manager. He also has a background as a percussionist with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and most recently Gothenburg Wind Orchestra, where he has worked as CEO since 2007.

- It is with great enthusiasm I look forward to lead one of the largest, most beloved and respected cultural events in Gothenburg. Simply a dream job, says Mikael Fellenius. The film festival in Gothenburg is one of the largest and most important film festivals in Europe and I see great opportunities for further expansion.

In addition to Mikael Fellenius's long experience in cultural life, he has a solid education in finance, brand management and marketing. He has an MBA from the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, a Masters Degree in Music from the University of Cincinnati, USA, and a Master of Fine Arts from the Academy of Music at the University of Gothenburg. Michael is 48 years and will start his job as CEO at the end of the summer.

- I feel very confident with a CEO who has experience in the cultural world, and who even has been working as a musician. Mikael's excellent network and his long experience of working with the financing of cultural activities, I see as a huge, long-term asset to the festival, says Artistic Director Marit Kapla.

Göteborg International Film Festival Chairman Sven-Olof Bodenfors is also pleased with the recruitment:
- The Film Festival has a proud heritage to uphold, and a promising future in terms of both depth and width. Mikael Fellenius has a nearly perfect background for this. With his large network and his background in strategic development and financing, we think he is up to the challenge of making the Göteborg International Film Festival one of the strongest festivals in the world.

Göteborg International Film Festival has steadily increased its audience numbers and annually attracts more than 200 000 visitors, making it one of the largest public film festivals in the world. The festival is also an important marketplace for new Nordic films. The next festival, the 35th, will be held January 27 to February 6, 2012.