Velvet Films: The Swedish Torpedo

"The Swedish Torpedo is not a sports movie about a swimmer; it’s a feminist film about a woman who broke the norms of her time," says Sebastian Schelenz, founder and managing director of Velvet Films.

Brussels-based Velvet Films focuses on developing and producing international feature films while also supporting emerging Belgian filmmakers. Their goal is to create diverse films – without being confined to a single genre – all while delivering a strong social message and ensuring broad accessibility.

THE SWEDISH TORPEDO

One of their latest co-productions is The Swedish Torpedo, a 2024 biopic about Sally Bauer, the first European female to swim across the English Channel. The film portrays how Bauer defied the gender norms of 1930s Swedish society, breaking new ground as a single mother. “She did it just before WWII, so her feat was somehow washed away by history…” he explains.

To fund The Swedish Torpedo, Velvet Films secured an EU-guaranteed loan from Triodos Bank, backed by the EIF. “Film financing,” Sebastian explains, “requires a strong, long-term relationship with banks. While film isn’t a risky investment per se, banks do need experts who understand the complexities of film financing," he notes.

A TRULY EUROPEAN PROJECT

Despite financial challenges and the rise of streaming services producing their own content, Sebastian remains optimistic about the future of independent cinema. "More and more people are going to the movies, and I truly believe audiences want these kinds of entertaining yet thought-provoking stories that many independent producers create." That’s precisely the kind of impact The Swedish Torpedo aims to achieve. "Film has a downstream effect on society," Sebastian says with a smile. "It has the power to shape the culture of today and tomorrow."

A distinctly European project, the film was shot in Estonia and the UK, directed by a Swede, and brought to life through Finnish and Belgian production and post-production teams. "Filmmaking in Europe is highly collaborative," Sebastian reflects. "It’s about trusting each part of the process, even when working across different languages and cultures."

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Financial Intermediary: Triodos Bank

SME: Velvet Films

Sector: audiovisual

Number of employees: 4

Financing purpose: cashflow

EU financing: InvestEU