Stellan Skarsgård on the Magic of Cinema—Reflections That Resonated at JHiFF 2025
Cinema’s power to bring people together was on full display at the 2025 Jackson Hole International Film Festival, where audiences had the opportunity to experience Sentimental Value, a film anchored by a standout supporting performance from Stellan Skarsgård.
Earlier this year, Skarsgård received the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for his role in Sentimental Value. During his Golden Globe acceptance speech, he shared a reflection that quickly reverberated throughout the global film community:
“In a cinema, where the lights go down, and eventually you share the pulse with other people, that is magic. Cinema should be seen in cinemas.”
Sentimental Value at JHiFF 2025
The screening of Sentimental Value at JHiFF 2025 brought this sentiment to life. Watching the film in a shared space allowed audiences to fully engage with its emotional depth and nuanced performances. Skarsgård’s role demonstrates how a supporting performance can ground a story, adding layers of humanity that linger long after the final scene.
Why This Moment Matters
Skarsgård’s Golden Globe speech served as a timely reminder of what makes cinema unique. In a moment when audiences have countless ways to watch films, his words emphasized the irreplaceable experience of gathering in a theater, where stories unfold collectively, and emotions are shared in real time.
That idea sits at the core of the Jackson Hole International Film Festival. JHiFF exists to create space for films to be seen as they were meant to be seen, and for audiences and filmmakers to connect through the magic of the big screen.
Celebrating Cinema, Together
As festivalgoers gathered to watch Sentimental Value at JHiFF 2025, Skarsgård’s words felt especially resonant. The lights dimmed, the room grew quiet, and for a brief time, everyone shared the same pulse—reminded why cinema, at its best, is a collective experience.
That’s the magic of film.
And that’s why we gather at JHiFF.