Slumberland

We read an article in a Swedish newspaper about a social worker and former gang member working in one of the Stockholm suburbs grappling with social exclusion. He talked about severe insomnia among the young criminals he is in contact with. They write to him in the middle of the night, often between three and five. They write asking the same thing: “why can’t I sleep?“. We live in an attention economy, the way we structure life and work today keeps us from sleeping. Up to 30% of people in developed countries now suffer from chronic insomnia. We are too tired to do something about a system that is profiting on every glance or sliding finger on a screen. The young criminals texting a social worker when they should be sleeping are formulating the question of our time. Slumberland is our way to try and get some rest, together with you. Because isn’t the most radical thing then to sleep? And not just as an individual struggle to roost but to collectively shut our eyes for a moment. Slumberland has been in our hearts for a long time and now finally we can say: welcome and goodnight.

  • Emma Bexell Stanisic
    Director
  • Robin Jonsson
    Director
  • Stefan Bexell Stanisic
    Director
  • Emma Bexell Stanisic
    Writer
  • Olivia Hultman
    Producer
  • Vilde Bodsberg
    Key Cast
  • Emelie Wahlman
    Key Cast
  • Jesper Berger
    Lead Artists
  • Samuel Lindgren
    Key Collaborators
  • Andrew Z Kelsey
    Dramaturgy & Distribution
  • John Conlon
    Sound design
  • Matilda Tjäder
    Soundtrack
  • Daniel Tjäder
    Soundtrack
  • Alma Ahnlide
    Graphic design
  • Hedvig Becke
    Social media & communications
  • Project Type:
    Virtual Reality, Performance, Installation, Interactive Film
  • Genres:
    Experimental, Documentary
  • Minimum Runtime:
    50 minutes
  • Maximum Runtime:
    1 hour 10 minutes
  • Average Runtime:
    1 hour
  • Variable Runtime Details:
    The runtime depends on the number of audience. We take a minimum of four participants per run, but can take up to 26 and we speak to everyone individually. Consequently the time varies!
  • Completion Date:
    November 13, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    300,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Sweden
  • Language:
    English
  • Student Project:
    No
  • IDFA DocLab
    Asterdam
    Netherlands
    November 13, 2022
    World premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Emma Bexell Stanisic, Robin Jonsson, Stefan Bexell Stanisic

Bombina Bombast is an award-winning company of performing arts based in Malmö under the artistic direction of Emma & Stefan Bexell Stanisic. Since the start in 2011 Bombina Bombast has produced over 50 original works for stage and screen characterized by the performative meeting innovative technologies, with a focus on virtual reality. The company has presented at festivals and venues worldwide such as theater festivals in Europe, America and Asia and film festivals such as Cannes and IDFA DocLab. Received the prestigious Thalia award in 2020. Robin Jonsson is an established choreographer within the contemporary dance scene. His trademark is using advanced technologies when creating new paradigms for art-making and distribution. His work has mainly involved AI, social robots and virtual reality. His performances has toured Europe extensively. His last work in VR, Alone Together, will be presented at Tanzmesse in Dusseldorf in September 2022, one of the worlds biggest festivals for contemporary dance. He is consistently supported by The City of Stockholm and the Swedish Arts Council.

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Director Statement

We read an article in a Swedish newspaper about a social worker and former gang member working in one of the Stockholm suburbs grappling with social exclusion. He talked about severe insomnia among the young criminals he is in contact with. They write to him in the middle of the night, often between three and five. They write asking the same thing: “why can’t I sleep?“. We live in an attention economy, the way we structure life and work today keeps us from sleeping. Up to 30% of people in developed countries now suffer from chronic insomnia. We are too tired to do something about a system that is profiting on our every glance or sliding finger on a screen. The young criminals texting a social worker when they should be sleeping are formulating the question of our time. Slumberland is our way to try and get some rest, together with you. Because isn’t the most radical thing then to sleep? And not just as an individual struggle to roost but to collectively shut our eyes for a moment. Slumberland has been in our hearts for a long time and now finally we can say: welcome and goodnight.