Jörn Donner was born on February 5, 1933, in Helsinki, Finland.
He is an Academy Award -winning film producer, a director, actor, writer, poet, novelist and a politician. He is a nobleman, and a prominent figure in Finnish cinema, best known for such films as "A Sunday in September" (1963), and "Fanny and Alexander" (1984 / producer).
Jörn Donner began his writing career in his teens. While in school, he wrote film criticism for local newspapers. By age 18 - in 1951 - he published a collection of short stories, his first novel. Since then, Donner has written several novels.
Though Donner had directed several short films during 1950s, he was most renowned for his essays on film, his poetry, journalism, and fiction.
Donner attended the University of Helsinki, majoring in political science and Swedish literature. He graduated in 1959, with a Master of Arts degree in literature. He then served as a civilian hospital orderly from 1959 to 1960, instead of attending Finland's compulsory military service, as he was a conscientious objector.
In 1960, Jörn Donner formed his own production company, Jörn Donner Productions, which he still currently owns and operates. After publishing reports on Germany and central Europe, Donner moved to Sweden in 1961, when the major daily newspaper "Dagens Nyheter" hired him as a film critic.
During his stay in Sweden, Donner directed his first feature film, "A Sunday in September", in 1963. The film won a special prize at the Venice Film Festival, for "Best Work by a First Time Director".
After his directorial debut in 1963, Donner continued to work in film, mainly as a producer. Donner returned to his home country, Finland, in 1967. In 1970s, Donner temporarily returned to Sweden, to head the Swedish Film Institute. Again - after a while -, Donner returned to Finland.
Jörn Donner is a versatile director, who has made films in almost every major genre, including documentaries. Most of Donner's dramas were made in Sweden, while his comedies were made at home in Finland.
Nevertheless, Donner is best known for his work as an author. He was awarded the Finlandia Prize in Literature in 1985 for "Father and Son". During the years, Donner has also written many columns for large newspapers in Finland.
In addition to a fruitful career as a director and writer, Donner has also served as a member of the Finnish parliament, a member of the European parliament and a Consul General for Finland in Los Angeles.
In 1984, a film produced by Jörn Donner - Fanny and Alexander - won four Academy Awards, including the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, collected in Hollywood by Donner. In addition, the film won 18 other international awards and 7 nominations.
Ingmar Bergman was nominated for Academy Award for his part - as a director and writer - in the making of the film. He did not win, however.
Jörn Donner has served as a member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1979, and at the Venice Film Festival in 1986.
Trivia
Jörn Donner dated actress
Harriet Andersson in the 1960s. The two lived together for a few years. Since 1995, Donner has been married to Bitte Westerlund - his third marriage, since 1954.
Donner has represented three political parties in Finland - the Swedish People's Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic League for the Finnish People.
Jörn Donner's son, Johan Donner, is a also a writer and a film director.
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