{{Short description|2025 drama film by Maria Eriksson-Hecht}} {{Infobox film | name = | image = Kevlar Soul.jpg | alt = | caption = Film poster | native_name = {{Infobox name module|sv|Kevlarsjäl}} | director = Maria Eriksson-Hecht | producer = {{plainlist| *Ronny Fritsche *Lizette Jonjic}} | writer = Pelle Rådström | starring = {{plainlist| *Josef Kersh *Rio Svensson}} | music = Pessi Levanto | cinematography = Josua Enblom | editing = {{plainlist| *Mervi Junkkonen *Robert Krantz}} | studio = Zentropa Sweden | distributor = | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2025|1|29|Gothenburg|2025|8|22|Sweden}} | runtime = 101 minutes | country = {{plainlist| *Sweden *Norway *Finland}} | language = Swedish | budget = | gross = }} '''''Kevlar Soul''''' ({{langx|sv|'''Kevlarsjäl'''}}) is a 2025 coming-of-age drama film directed by Maria Eriksson-Hecht in her directorial debut from a screenplay written by Pelle Rådström. It stars Josef Kersh and Rio Svensson as Alex and Robin, respectively, two teenage brothers whose relationship drifts apart after finding love. It is an international co-production between Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
It had its world premiere at the Gothenburg Film Festival on 29 January 2025, competing at the Nordic Competition. It received seven nominations at the 61st Guldbagge Awards, including Best Film.
==Premise== A close relationship between two teenage brothers drifts apart after the older brother finds love and the younger one becomes involved in a conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stormfilms.no/kevlarsoul|title=Kevlar Soul|work=Storm Films|accessdate=15 December 2025}}</ref>
==Cast== *Josef Kersh as Alex *Rio Svensson as Robin *Adja Sise Stenson as Ines *Jonay Pineda Shellac as Dennis *Torkel Petersson as Bo *Tyrone Michele as Nabil
==Production== In an interview with ''Cineuropa'', Eriksson-Hecht stated that the main focus of the film was "children who take on huge responsibilities because there's no adult around to do it". She also noted that the film was partly inspired by the 2000 song of the same name by Swedish alternative rock band Kent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/interview/473170/|title=Maria Eriksson-Hecht • Director of ''Kevlar Soul''|date=4 February 2025|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Jan|last=Lumholdt|work=Cineuropa}}</ref> The project was first showcased at the 2019 Stockholm Industry Days at the STHLM Debut initiative.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/381126/|title=Stockholm Industry Days' jam-packed schedule kicks off today|work=Cineuropa|date=12 November 2019|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Jan|last=Lumholdt}}</ref> In November 2020, the project participated at the Baltic Event Co-Production Market, held during the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/394756/|title=Tallinn's digital Baltic Event announces its selection|work=Cineuropa|date=9 November 2020|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Vassilis|last=Economou}}</ref> It was chosen by the Baltic Event to be presented at the 2021 Marché du Film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nordiskfilmogtvfond.com/news/stories/baltic-event-brings-seven-projects-to-the-marche-du-film|title=Baltic Event brings seven projects to the Marché du Film|work=Nordisk Film & TV Fond|date=10 June 2021|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Annika|last=Pham}}</ref> In March 2022, it participated at the m:brane Pitch Days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/423250/|title=The 2022 m:brane financing forum gets ready for all things pitching|work=Cineuropa|date=16 March 2022|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Jan|last=Lumholdt}}</ref> It received a €150,000 production grant from the Finnish Film Foundation in March 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ses.fi/en/story/new-films-from-klaus-haro-jenni-toivoniemi-and-virpi-suutari-receive-production-support/|title=New films from Klaus Härö, Jenni Toivoniemi and Virpi Suutari receive production support|work=Finnish Film Foundation|date=22 March 2023|accessdate=15 December 2025}}</ref> In July 2023, Eurimages awarded the project a €350,000 production grant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/eurimages/co-production-funding-in-2023|title=Co-production funding in 2023|work=Council of Europe|date=14 December 2023|accessdate=15 December 2025}}</ref> In August 2024, it took part at the New Nordic Films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/new-nordic-films-trustnordisk-reinvent-levelk-1236101292/|title=Haugesund's New Nordic Films Unveils Program with Slew of New Talents, Kids & Youth Fare, Chillers and Dramas|work=Variety|date=9 August 2024|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Annika|last=Pham}}</ref>
Principal photography took place in August 2023 in Norrköping.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.corren.se/kultur/norrkoping/artikel/har-skapas-det-en-ny-film-fran-lanet-folj-med-pa-inspelningen/jopydx1r|title=Här skapas en ny långfilm från Norrköping|work=Corren|date=27 August 2023|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Liv|last=Hellström|lang=sv}}</ref> A casting call for the film was issued in September 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.varmland.bio/ungdomar-sokes-till-langfilm/|title=Ungdomar sökes till Långfilm|lang=sv|work=Värmlands Biografnätverk|date=8 September 2021|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Robert P.|last=Olsson}}</ref>
==Release== ''Kevlar Soul'' had its world premiere at the 2025 Gothenburg Film Festival on 29 January at the Nordic Competition section.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2025-goteborg-film-festival-line-up-the-brutalist-queer-the-girl-with-the-needle-1236096983/|title=Goteborg Film Festival Lineup Features 'The Brutalist,' 'Queer,' 'The Girl With the Needle'|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=7 January 2025|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Scott|last=Roxborough}}</ref> It was theatrically released in Sweden on 22 August 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nordiskfilmogtvfond.com/news/trailer/kevlar-sould|title=Kevlar Soul|date=22 August 2025|accessdate=15 December 2025|work=Nordisk Film & TV Fond}}</ref>
==Accolades== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! Award ! Date ! Category ! Recipient ! Result ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row" | Gothenburg Film Festival | 1 February 2025 | Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film | Maria Eriksson-Hecht | {{nom}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/goteborg-film-festival-runar-runarsson-when-the-light-breaks-best-nordic-film-1236275219/|title=Göteborg Film Festival: Rúnar Rúnarsson's 'When The Light Breaks' Wins Best Nordic Film|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=1 February 2025|accessdate=15 December 2025|first=Zac|last=Ntim}}</ref> |- !scope="row" rowspan="7"|Guldbagge Awards | rowspan="7"|19 January 2026 | Best Film | Ronny Fritsche and Lizette Jonjic | {{pending}} | align="center" rowspan="7"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.svt.se/kultur/de-kan-fa-guldbaggar-2026-har-ar-alla-nominerade|title=De kan få Guldbaggen 2026 – här är alla nominerade|work=Sveriges Television|date=11 December 2025|accessdate=15 December 2025|lang=sv}}</ref> |- | Best Director | Maria Eriksson-Hecht | {{pending}} |- | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Josef Kersh | {{pending}} |- | rowspan="2"|Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Torkel Petersson | {{pending}} |- | Jonay Pineda Skallak | {{pending}} |- | Best Screenplay | Pelle Rådström | {{pending}} |- | Best Editing | Mervi Junkkonen and Robert Krantz | {{pending}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|tt28301231}}
Category:2025 directorial debut films Category:2025 Swedish-language films Category:Swedish coming-of-age drama films Category:Norwegian drama films Category:Finnish teen films Category:Finnish drama films Category:Films about alcoholism Category:Swedish-language films from Finland