Ernest Florman

Ernest Florman (September 20, 1863 – September 15, 1952) was a Swedish director, film photographer and royal photographer.

His father Gösta Florman established a photography firm in Kristinehamn, Värmland. In 1867 he moved to Karlstad and in 1871 to Stockholm where he had his studio at Regeringsgatan 28 A. In 1900 the company changed its name to Ateljé Florman and control passed to Ernest.

Biography
Florman's short film Konungens af Siam landstigning vid Logårdstrappan is often referred to as the first completely Swedish film. It documents the arrival of King Chulalongkorn of Siam at the Logårdstrappan at Stockholm Castle, where he was received by King Oscar II. The film was shown by Florman on July 13, 1897 and again on July 19, 1897 at the General Art and Industrial Exposition of Stockholm (1897). The recording equipment had been brought there by the French film photographer Alexandre Promio, as he was in Sweden doing work for the Lumière Brothers to present his new medium. Promio took on Florman as his apprentice in this new artistic medium.

During the 1897 Exhibition two Swedish feature films were made. One was Slagsmål i Gamla Stockholm  and was filmed by Promio with Florman as an assistant. The film had its premiere on 3 July 1897. At the same time Florman filmed and directed the film Byrakstugan which had its premiere on 14 August 1897.

Between 1901 and 1936 Florman was the chairman of Svenska Fotografers Förbund.

Films

 * 1897 - Byrakstugan
 * 1897 - Akrobat med otur
 * 1897 - Konungens af Siam landstigning vid Logårdstrappan
 * 1903 - Sköna Helena