“The stories from reality are more interesting and rawer”
– The Swedish producer discusses what she finds interesting in working with documentaries, as well as her upcoming projects
Caroline Drab is a Swedish film producer. Her fiction feature Redoubt [+see also:
film review
interview: John Skoog
film profile], directed by John Skoog and co-produced with Erik Hemmendorff at Plattform Produktion, world premiered in San Sebastián’s New Directors section in September. Her previous films have screened at Toronto, Tribeca, IFFR, Thessaloniki and CPH:DOX. and have been nominated for both Swedish and Norwegian Film Awards. Drab is an alumna of EAVE Producers Workshop and Berlinale talents. An interview with her, now selected for the 2026 Emerging Producers programme (read her EP profile here).
Why do you produce documentaries? Do you see documentary cinema as an instrument of social and political change?
I enjoy working with both docs, fiction and animation. One thing about docs though, the stories based on reality are more interesting and rawer compared to fictional stories. Documentaries can bring so many different types of stories, both politically instrumental and art-house, but for me they must be life-affirming in some way or another.
How do you achieve and maintain work-life balance and foster overall well-being?
Working from home is a life hack, but I think the most important thing is to find great colleagues – they help make the tough parts of work fun!
Where do you find audiences for your films?
I’ve found myself working with quite artistic directors, so they also draw in their own audiences and followers because of their unique artistic expressions.
What projects do you have underway (including fiction films and other projects)?
At BCD Film we have launched Redoubt by John Skoog in Swedish cinemas on 27 February. We are also doing a parallel exhibition at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art in Malmö) and I’m super excited about this cross over launch where cinema and art can find audiences together! At the moment, I’m in development of a documentary by Viana Barzan Mikkelsen, with a generational portrait shoot on three continents. The working title is Argentina-Sweden-Kurdistan, and the project is in co-production with Film I Väst. Also, I’m working on the financing of a super cute preschool 2D animation Puck, which won the Eurimages Co-Development Award at the Cinekid Co-Production Market in November 2024. I’m excited to see what 2026 will bring.
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EMERGING PRODUCERS is a leading promotional and educational project, which brings together talented European documentary film producers. The programme is organised and curated by the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival.
Deadline for applications to the EMERGING PRODUCERS 2027 edition is 31st March 2026.
