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Sweden: Edward af Sillén, scriptwriter of Eurovision 2024, inducted into the Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame!

After the success of Eurovision in 2013 and 2016, Edward af Sillén is preparing to once again hold the helm of the contest – as scriptwriters and also as director.

In Saturday‘s competition from Växjö, the director, screenwriter and commentator Edward af Sillén is awarded the Hall of Fame award.

From now on, he is also a member of this well-known group of artists, hits and creators who have all been of great importance to Melodifestivalen over the years. Christer Björkman, chairman of the Hall of Fame committee says:

“Passion, talent and love permeate everything he has done for and in our program. The Eurovision Song Contest is really a part of Edwards’ DNA.”

The motivation reads: When Petra Mede became one of the most popular presenters of all time in 2009, it was with Edward af Sillén‘s direction and script behind her.

After this, Edward has over the years in script and direction combined the love for Mello with a wonderful humor with edge and sharpness.

He has directed unforgettable performances and created magical interludes, such as Danny‘s ”Karl för sin kostym”, Perrelli‘s ”Här står jag” and Sarah Dawn Finer‘s “Lynda Woodruff“. That Edward belongs in the Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame is to quote his classic parody with Christine Meltzer as Malena Ernman: – “Inget konstigt alls” (Nothing strange at all).

An emotional Edward af Sillén expresses:

“I’m actually a bit speechless and very humbled by this honor. The fact that the work that I and my talented colleagues did for Melodifestivalen and Eurovision is still mentioned and referred to is flattering enough. This award is a key increase I was not prepared for. Thank you.”

Hall of Fame in brief

The Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame was established in 2020 to celebrate and highlight special achievements and unforgettable Mello memories in the program’s long history. Since the start of Melodifestivalen in 1958, lots of colorful artists and melodies have made an impression on Swedish music and the soul of the people.

In December each year, viewers can nominate their Hall of Fame proposals in the Melodifestivalen app. Based on these proposals, the Hall of Fame Committee will then select five award winners to receive the award in 2024. The inductees receive a statuette, the Gold Star – shaped like part of a star’s ray. The idea behind it is that the combined efforts form a whole.

Source: SVT
Photo: Jan Danielsson/SVT

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Eurovision 2024: Edward af Sillén is back in Eurovision for the third time!

After the success of Eurovision in 2013 and 2016, David Rehn and Edward af Sillén are preparing to once again hold the helm of the contest – as scriptwriters and af Sillén also as director. Now they’re looking for the right tone and theme. Edward comments:

“It’s a programme that is seen and loved by so many people, so it’s important to do it right and with passion.”

Af Sillén feels some performance anxiety, but he’s used to it:

“That’s my starting position. The low self-esteem is a kind of fuel and it makes me work extra hard. It works even if it’s costly mentally.”

Above all, however, it is with pleasure that Edward af Sillén takes on the assignment – which he calls “a boyhood dream, once again”. In 2023, he commentated on the final for the twelfth time and it has become the script for three Eurovision contests in Norway and Sweden. But after 2016, he thought it wouldn’t happen again. Edward comments:

“Then Loreen went and won again, which is an almost unimaginable feat.”

He and Rehn wondered if they could make a follow-up as popular as the 2016 broadcast – which even the BBC praised.

“It’s an incredible compliment, this assignment was too much fun to refuse.”

says Edward af Sillén.

He now hopes to be able to give the audience more of what characterized the show in 2016 – humor. Admittedly, he thinks it is a delicate task to get so many different countries to laugh at the same things. But if you love something, it’s worth joking around, he believes and adds:

“There’s so much love in that humour. We will certainly want to continue along this track.”

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is organized in collaboration with the city of Malmö and will be broadcast from Malmö Arena on Tuesday 7 May (semi-final 1), Thursday 9 May (semi-final 2) and Saturday 11 May (final) after Loreen won for a second time in Liverpool with the song “Tattoo“.

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: Aftonbladet

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