Elisabeth O. Sjaastad

Elisabeth O. Sjaastad (born in Oslo, Norway 1977) studied directing at the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama (1998-2000). While studying, she directed and co-produced a theatre production of Bertolt Brecht’s “The Good Woman of Setzuan” in Beijing. From 2000 – 2002 Elisabeth worked as Promotion Manager at Virgin Records/EMI being responsible for the promotion of some of Norway’s most successful artists such as Sondre Lerche, Anja Garbarek, Madrugada, Kings of Convenience and Røyksopp, and international artists such as Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, The Smashing Pumpkins, Daft Punk, Air, Placebo, Mick Jagger. In 2002 she directed and produced the Amanda-nominated (Norway’s national film award) feature documentary Shiny Stars, Rusty Red (China) which was invited to film festivals worldwide, including Full Frame Documentary Festival, USA, and Pusan International Film Festival, Korea. Through her production company Screen Stories she has also produced films from South Africa (also as director), Peru and the United Arab Emirates. Elisabeth has been Vice President of the Norwegian Film Makers’ Association and a FERA delegate since 2005. She has served on several juries and boards. In 2006 she was appointed by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture as member of the Einarsson-committee, which produced a report on Norway’s audiovisual policy and made recommendations to restructure the Norwegian Film Institute and redefining the goals and ambitions of Norwegian film. In her spare time Elisabeth is developing a docudrama TV-serial on James Joyce and Henrik Ibsen, writing a feature film script, and producing a documentary film on art looting in Iraq as co-owner of the production company Directors at Work.