The Swedish Film Institute (SFI) was founded in 1963 at the initiative of film critic and businessman Harry Schein. Its purpose was to develop Swedish cinema and strengthen Sweden’s position internationally. Schein, who became SFI’s first CEO, introduced a reform that relieved cinemas from the entertainment tax. Instead, they were required to contribute 10% of their revenue to SFI, which redistributed the funds as grants. Part of the budget was allocated to archiving, documenting, and restoring films.

In the mid-1960s, SFI decided it was time for its own building. Schein tasked architect Peter Celsing with the project, giving him the brief: “No ordinary damn house!” He got exactly what he asked for — the brutalist design and its proposed location next to the Swedish Armed Forces headquarters made the project controversial from the outset. The original plan for windows facing the Armed Forces’ offices was rejected, and Celsing was forced to design a windowless side facade. As a playful dig at the neighbors, he included a large eye in the exterior.

In 2008, Filmhuset was modernized and today hosts several film-related organizations, including Cinemateket, the Swedish Arts Council, and various production companies. It also houses three cinemas: Bio Victor and Bio Mauritz (named after silent film legends Victor Sjöström and Mauritz Stiller), and Bio Julius (named after cinematographer and director Julius Jaenzon). The building also contains a library and one of the world’s largest film archives. A house moved in in 2020 with the mission of creating a vibrant hub for film and moving images.