Skeå: Creative Connect 2025 – The Rebirth of the Creative Industries in Skellefteå

The event kicked off at Café på Bit, where guests had the chance to playtest games from local developers and mingle over coffee and controllers. The evening also featured a talk by Frida Nerdal, Senior Compositor at Industrial Light & Magic, who shared her journey into VFX and offered a glimpse into her work and life in Canada, from early days in Skellefteå to contributing to major international productions.

The second day continued with a Grad Show at Campus Skellefteå, where students from Luleå University of Technology and Visual Magic showcased their talents. Industry guests were invited to explore student projects, meet the next generation of creators, and learn more about the region’s creative education programs.

On the final day of this year’s edition of Skeå: Creative Connect brought participants together at Sara Kulturhus for a full day of talks, panels, and networking, with a focus on long-term thinking, talent, and collaboration.

– It was an incredible experience! said Tim Leinert, Project Manager at Arctic Game in Skellefteå and initiator of the event. What stood out the most was the way so many people and partners were willing to jump in and support us, even at such short notice. Their curiosity, openness, and passion made the event special, it was inspiring to see everyone come together like that.

From game dev retrospectives to green strategies
Johan Pilestedt from Arrowhead Game Studios took the audience through the seven-year development of Helldivers 2 – a candid and insightful talk about creative risks, design philosophy, and building a studio around long-term vision.

Emma Ihre, Head of ESG & Nordic Public Affairs at Asmodee, spoke about how sustainability and business can go hand-in-hand, even for small teams. With concrete advice and sharp observations, she outlined what it actually means to “build for good” in the creative sector.

Other sessions included Tom Reed from Ghost VFX on how the right tools and pipelines unlock creative freedom, and Björn Flintberg (RISE) who opened the day with the question: “What does it take to build an industry?”

– It’s just amazing what creative power resides in Skellefteå. The Skeå Creative Connect conference was a reboot filled with energy, hope and vision and I’m happy to have been a tiny part of it. Every time I go to Skellefteå, I just want to move there. It’s a vibrant place with pulse, passion and drive, says Björn Flintberg at RISE.

Investing in the future — and in each other
One of the afternoon’s highlights was the panel “Investing for Good in the Creative Industry”, moderated by Gabriella Kalteneckar. The conversation spanned everything from early-stage funding and long-term growth to the importance of community-driven ecosystems. Panelists included voices from Arctic Business Collab, Gold Town Games, Arctic Game, and Arrowhead, among others.

At the same time, other parts of the venue hosted parallel sessions, including a fireside chat on “The Future of Storytelling”, moderated by Linn-Marie Edlund from Creative Crowd. Among the participants were Elias Våhlund (Red Mask Entertainment), Sylvain Runberg (Dark Riviera), and Frida Eriksson (Lunar Madness). The conversation sparked a lively discussion around the role of AI in creative work, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges that come with emerging technologies.

Attracting and growing talent
Another key conversation took place during the panel “Future Talent Development”, which brought together speakers from the games industry, film, and education to discuss how to attract, train, and retain the next generation of creatives. The discussion covered recruitment strategies, international collaboration, and how to strengthen local education pipelines, all with the aim of building a long-term talent base in the region.

Creative jam to wrap it up
The day ended with an open creative workshop hosted by Try New Things — a chance for participants to reflect, connect, and contribute ideas around talent development, cross-industry collaboration, and how to continue growing the creative community in Skellefteå.

Looking ahead, Tim Leinert sees potential for even more:
– I see a bright future. Skellefteå has a unique energy – a mix of talent, creativity, and collaboration that’s growing stronger every day. If we keep nurturing that, building a supportive community, and welcoming new partners, I believe Skellefteå can become a leading hub for the creative industry.