Mikael Håfström is a director and screenwriter. He studied film at the University of Stockholm and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York.

After gaining an Academy Award nomination for his 2003 film Evil, Håfström launched an international career. He has directed films such as Derailed, starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston, and the Stephen King adaptation 1408, starring John Cusack and Samuel L Jackson. Other works of his are The Rite, starring Anthony Hopkins, and Escape Plan, starring Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Håfström’s recent work includes the Scandinavian epic Stockholm Bloodbath, sold for distribution in the US, and the feature film Slingshot, starring Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne, as well as Season 2 of Veronika, starring Alexandra Rapaport for SkyShowtime Sweden.

Agent: Elin Sandström Lundh

selected works

Veronika Season 2 – series (director, executive producer) - 2025
Slingshot – feature (director, executive producer) - 2024
Stockholm Bloodbath – feature (director, executive producer) - 2023
Outside the Wire – feature (director) - 2023
The Perfect Patient / Quick – feature ( director, executive producer) - 2019
Dirigenten – series (director, episode writer, executive producer) - 2018
Bloodline – series (director) - 2016–2017
Escape Plan – feature (director) - 2012–2013
Ritualen / The Rite – feature (director) - 2011
Shanghai – feature (director) - 2010
1408 – feature (director) - 2007
Derailed – feature (director) - 2005
Drowning Ghost / Strandvaskaren – feature (co-writer & director) - 2004
Evil / Ondskan – feature (co-writer & director) - 2003
Kopps – feature (co-writer) - 2003
Days like this / Leva livet – feature (co-writer & director) - 2001

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

Stockholm Bloodbath
Guldbaggen – Nominated for Best Visual Effects - 2025

Ritualen
Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards – Nominated for Best Film - 2011

1408
Fair Film Festival International Competition – Winner, Best Film - 2008

Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards – Nominated for Best Movie - 2007

Fright Meter Award – Nominated for Best Director - 2007

Locarno International Film Festival – Nominated for the Audience Award - 2007

Strandvaskaren
Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival – Nominated for Best Feature Film - 2005

Scream Fest, Los Angeles – Winner, Best Direction - 2004

Evil / Ondskan
Danish Film Award – Winner, Best Non-American Film - 2005

Academy Awards – Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film - 2004

Miami Film Festival – Winner, Audience Award - 2004

Shanghai International Film Festival – Nominated for Best Film - 2004

Cinemanila International Film Festival – Nominated for Lino Brocka Award - 2004

Guldbaggen – Nominated for Best Direction - 2004