Jonas Åkerlund to make ABBAWORLD intro movie

Touring Exhibitions brings in highly acclaimed film director Jonas Åkerlund to create the introductory movie greeting the visitors of the upcoming ABBAWORLD exhibition.

Jonas Åkerlund, one of the world's most distinguished contemporary music video makers and perhaps most well known for his collaborations with Madonna, has also worked with other renowned artists such as Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Metallica and Roxette. Åkerlund has received several Grammy Awards and MTV Awards for his works. ‘‘I will be using a lot of the old footage and working with these masterpiece videos now, in 2009, makes me realize that ABBA's music has stood the test of time,’’ says Åkerlund. ‘‘Their music is as relevant and strong today as ever and that is what I want to communicate with the montage for the exhibition.’’ Jonas Åkerlund follows in the footsteps of fellow Swede, the famous film director Lasse Hallström, one of the pioneers in music video making. Hallström made ABBA – The Movie in 1977 and also shot and directed 25 of ABBA's music videos, long before music videos became a phenomenon through MTV. Magnus Danielsson, President of Touring Exhibitions, the company behind ABBAWORLD, is enthusiastic. ‘‘Jonas Åkerlund's merits speak for themselves and we are also very proud of the fact that we can continue to work in a Swedish tradition,’’ says Danielsson. ‘‘We met earlier this year and it was immediately apparent that we had the basis of a great working relationship. We are absolutely thrilled to have Jonas Åkerlund onboard for this project.’’ ABBAWORLD is an interactive experience featuring the latest technology in sound, visuals, multimedia and communications. The introductory movie is a short, but very important, piece of the whole exhibition. ‘‘If anybody will be able to capture the essence of ABBA today, it is Jonas,’’ says Ingmarie Halling, Producer at Touring Exhibitions. ‘‘It will be an extraordinary audiovisual experience that will put the visitors of ABBAWORLD in the perfect mood for the exhibit.’’ ----- About ABBAWORLD ABBAWORLD is a unique touring exhibition filled with music, original costumes, history, images, instruments and never-before-displayed memorabilia from the ABBA´s recording and performing heyday. ABBAWORLD is an interactive experience featuring the latest technology in sound, visuals, multimedia and communications. It is the only exhibition of its kind, with memorabilia approved by ABBA. Most of the items have been supplied exclusively by the quartet: Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Agnetha Fältskog. For more information, please visit: www.abbaworld.com or www.touringX.com ------ About Jonas Åkerlund Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund began his career as the drummer for the legendary speed metal band Bathory. Since then, Jonas has become an internationally awarded director of music videos, commercials, documentaries, stage shows and feature films. Jonas has directed music videos for the likes of Madonna, U2, Rolling Stones, Metallica, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Robbie Williams, Christina Aguilera, Smashing Pumpkins, Lenny Kravitz and Maroon 5 to name a few. His music video work has earned him Grammy Awards, MTV Awards (including Best Director) and the prestigious MVPA Hall of Fame Award. For more info, please visit: www.raf.se

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