ON GOING PROJECT
SYNOPSIS
CLIENT
Passion Project / Own Project
IT WOOL HAPPEN tells the story of how Swedish wool can save Swedish culture. Through the journey of Rebecca and William, who work to reopen Sweden’s first large-scale spinnery in decades, we witness the revival of a forgotten craft and community. Alongside them, spinner James wrestles with his longing for home and the burden of preserving rare knowledge. Interwoven with stories of farmers, apprentices, and herders, the film reveals how one natural fiber holds the power to restore connection, purpose, and pride, proving that saving culture begins thread by thread.
TEAM
Production Team: TERRAN
Director & DoP: Hanna-Maria Rydberg
StoryLead & Editor: Louise Marmolin
Concept Development: Hanna-Maria Rydberg, Louise Marmolin, Hugo Carlsund
Producer: Julianne Honea
Field Producer & 2nd Cam: Johan Eriksson
CREATIVE PROCESS
At the heart of It Wool Happen is Rebecca Josefsson: a 28-year-old textile engineer, whose bold vision is to open Sweden’s first large-scale spinning mill for Swedish wool in decades. The film follows Rebecca, her partner William, and James, a master spinner torn between tradition and personal longing, as they navigate the challenges of rebuilding a fractured national wool value chain.
The creative process involved mapping their parallel journeys: Rebecca’s outward drive to connect with farmers, investors, and innovators, and James’s introspective reckoning with heritage, responsibility, and personal desire.
Through their eyes, we explore Sweden’s wool culture, from the workshops of Wålstedts to sheep farms, grading sessions, and weaving mills, capturing both the technical craft and the human stories behind it.
By intertwining main and supporting narratives, we highlight how personal choices have a ripple effect across communities and generations. The filmmaking process emphasizes observational storytelling, intimate character moments, and the tactile beauty of wool, showing how passion, persistence, and courage can transform a material into a symbol of national identity and cultural revival.
HANNAH-MARIA RYDBERG
DIRECTOR
We began December 2023 when Rebecca shared her spinning mill dream with us. People were already changing the wool industry and it felt like we jumped on a train that was already running. Rebecca, William, and James’ stories drew us in. All of them want to preserve Swedish wool, but in different ways. It’s an honor to work with them, and with everything going on in the world, this project reassures me that good people are doing good work, and that gives me hope.
