Lone Scherfig isn’t the type to settle into a predictable career arc. She started in Denmark, flirted with Dogme 95, conquered the international festival circuit, and then swung between indie charm and mainstream prestige. Whether you’re watching the intimate chaos of Italian for Beginners or the polished literary adaptation of An Education, you’re seeing a director who knows how to tell a story without drowning in pretension.
From Copenhagen to the World: Scherfig’s Early Years
Born in Copenhagen on May 2, 1959, Scherfig grew up in a country that values artistic ambition. If you look at her career, it’s clear she took that seriously. She studied at the National Film School of Denmark, graduating in 1984, and like many before her, started out in television and smaller-scale projects. But even then, her work stood out.
Her early TV projects and Danish films were observational, emotionally intelligent, never showy for the sake of it. That subtlety set her apart from louder directors who mistake chaos for depth. But she was warming up for something bigger.
Breaking Through with Dogme 95: Italian for Beginners
Scherfig’s turning point came in 2000 with Italian for Beginners, an unpolished, naturalistic comedy that became a huge audience hit. As the fifth official Dogme 95 film, it followed the rules—handheld cameras, natural lighting, no artificial effects. But unlike some of her Dogme peers, Scherfig didn’t treat the movement as a rigid manifesto. Instead, she used it as a storytelling tool.
The result? The film won the Silver Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, made waves in the US and Japan, and proved that Scherfig could make art-house cinema that was actually enjoyable. If Dogme 95 had a “people’s director,” it was her.
2009: An Education and International Recognition
By 2009, Scherfig was no longer just a Danish film director. She was playing in the big leagues. With An Education, she directed Nick Hornby’s screenplay adaptation of Lynn Barber’s memoir, crafting a story about a teenage girl falling for an older man in 1960s London.
The film was a festival darling, premiering at Sundance, screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, and earning three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Carey Mulligan, propelled into stardom by the role, was nominated for Best Actress.
What made An Education work? Scherfig’s direction. She balanced the nostalgia of post-war Britain with sharp social commentary—romantic but never naive. This was a director in full command of her craft.
One Foot in Hollywood, One in Indie Film
Post-An Education, Scherfig had options. She could have gone full Hollywood, but she did what she always does—kept it unpredictable.
- 2011: One Day – A literary adaptation starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, with a story spanning 20 years. The film was divisive, but visually, it was classic Scherfig—intimate, warm, unforced.
- 2014: The Riot Club – A brutal takedown of British class privilege, based on Laura Wade’s play Posh. Less accessible than An Education, but a film that proved she wasn’t afraid to get cynical.
- 2016: Their Finest – A feminist war-time comedy about a female screenwriter crafting propaganda films in the 1940s. Light, sharp, and deeply self-aware.
Each film showed a different side of Scherfig: romantic, cutting, playful, serious.
Not Just Feature Films: TV, Festivals, and Awards
Scherfig isn’t just about feature films. She’s spent plenty of time in Danish television, directing episodes of Taxa and Better Times, proving that her talent isn’t limited to the big screen. She also worked on the TV series Astronaut Wives Club, a move that put her in the orbit of American prestige TV.
Her films have landed her awards across the globe:
- Grand Prix at the Montreal Film Festival for Når mor kommer hjem in 1998
- Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for Italian for Beginners
- Multiple festival screenings, including Valladolid, Toronto, and Berlin
And yet, despite all this acclaim, she’s never become predictable.
Conclusion and FAQs About Lone Scherfig
Conclusion
Even after a career spanning decades, Scherfig isn’t slowing down. In 2022, she released The Shift, a Danish TV drama. In 2023, she directed The Movie Teller, starring Bérénice Bejo. Her next production is still under wraps, but given her history, it’s safe to say it won’t be dull.
Scherfig has made a career out of refusing to be boxed in. Danish cinema, Hollywood, television, prestige awards, indie film festivals—she’s done it all. She’s proof that you don’t have to pick between artistic credibility and broad appeal. You can do both.
Summary
- Early career: Scherfig studied film in Copenhagen and began directing Danish television in the 1980s, developing a subtle, character-driven style.
- Breakthrough moment: Italian for Beginners (2000), part of the Dogme 95 movement, won the Silver Bear at Berlin and brought her international attention.
- Major success: An Education (2009) earned three Oscar nominations and introduced Carey Mulligan to a global audience.
- Later film work: She continued directing both indie and mainstream films, including One Day, The Riot Club, and Their Finest.
- Festival recognition: Her films have been featured at major festivals like Berlin, Montreal, Toronto, and Sundance.
- Work in television: Scherfig has directed Danish series as well as American TV projects like The Astronaut Wives Club.
- Recent projects: She released The Shift in 2022 and The Movie Teller in 2023, and she’s still developing new projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Lone Scherfig, and what is she known for?
Lone Scherfig is a Danish film director and screenwriter celebrated for her character-driven narratives and ability to blend humor with drama. She gained international recognition for “Italian for Beginners” (2000) and “An Education” (2009)—the latter earning three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Her filmography spans indie gems, literary adaptations, and English-language films.
2. What was Lone Scherfig’s first feature film, and how did she start her career?
Scherfig made her directorial debut with “Kaj’s fødselsdag” (The Birthday Trip) in 1990. She studied at the National Film School of Denmark, and her early career involved directing Danish TV series like “Taxa” and “Quiet Waters” before transitioning to feature films.
How did Scherfig contribute to the Dogme 95 movement?
Scherfig directed “Italian for Beginners”, a Dogma 95 film that embraced the movement’s minimalist approach. Unlike some Dogme films, hers struck a huge audience hit and won the Silver Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2001.
3. Has she been nominated for an Oscar?
Yes. An Education was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
4. What’s her most successful film?
An Education brought her the most international recognition, but Italian for Beginners remains a huge audience hit and a breakthrough in her career.
5. Is Lone Scherfig part of Dogme 95?
Yes, but loosely. Italian for Beginners followed Dogme 95 rules but didn’t treat them as gospel.
6. What kind of films does she direct?
She moves between comedy, drama, and romance, often focusing on class dynamics, relationships, and social structures.
7. Has she worked outside Denmark?
Yes. She’s directed films set in the UK, US, and beyond, including One Day, The Riot Club, and The Kindness of Strangers.
8. What are Scherfig’s most awarded films?
- “Italian for Beginners” won the Silver Bear, a FIPRESCI Prize, and numerous other awards from film critics.
- “Når mor kommer hjem” won the Grand Prix at the Montreal Film Festival (1998) and the Cinekid Film Award in Amsterdam.
- “An Education” was nominated for three Academy Awards, won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, and received critical acclaim.
9. What are some notable English-language films Scherfig has directed?
Her first English-language film was “Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself” (2002), a dark comedy-drama. She later directed:
- “An Education” (2009): Oscar-nominated coming-of-age drama.
- “One Day” (2011): A romantic film starring Anne Hathaway, released in the US and Japan.
- “The Riot Club” (2014): A biting critique of British elitism.
- “Their Finest” (2016): A feminist World War II-era film about propaganda filmmaking.
10. Has Scherfig worked in television?
Yes. In addition to her Danish TV work, she directed episodes of “The Astronaut Wives Club” (2015) and created the Danish drama “The Shift” (2022).
11. Which actors and writers has Scherfig collaborated with?
- Nick Hornby wrote the screenplay for “An Education”, which she directed.
- Daniel Brühl starred in her 2015 film “The Colony (Colonia)”.
- Bérénice Bejo starred in her 2023 film “The Movie Teller”, which she also conceptualised.
12. What is “Just Like Home” and when was it released?
“Just Like Home” (2007) is a Danish comedy-drama that Scherfig wrote and directed, marking her return to Danish cinema after her international successes.
13. Has Scherfig won any major festival awards?
Yes, she has been recognized by international film critics and major festivals:
- Berlin International Film Festival – Silver Bear Award (Italian for Beginners).
- Montreal Film Festival – Grand Prix (Når mor kommer hjem).
- Rouen Nordic Film Festival – Grand Jury Prize (Kaj’s fødselsdag).
14. What’s her next film?
Scherfig’s next production hasn’t been officially announced, but she continues to balance Danish cinema and international projects.
