Director’s first Swedish film in 25 years selected for Oscar consideration by the Swedish Film Institute.

The Swedish Film Institute has selected Lasse Hallström’s The Hypnotist [pictured] as their official entry to be considered for nomination in the Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film category.

Based on Lars Kepler’s crime novel of the same name, The Hypnotist is a brutal story about a son who survives a murderous attack on his entire family, hunting the killer before he gets to his last sister. Cast includes Mikael Persbrandt, Lena Olin and Tobias Zilliacus.

The film was funded by the Swedish Film Institute under commissioner Lars G Lindström and produced by Peter Possne, Börje Hansson and Bertil Ohlsson from Sonet and SF, SF also organize international sales.

The Hypnotist is in the main competition at the upcoming San Sebastian International Film Festival, with the theatrical release in Sweden set for Sept 28.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the five nominees for foreign film in the middle of January 2013. Hallström has been Oscar-nominated previously, for My Life As A Dog and The Cider House Rules.