10th Finnish Film Affair to present best of upcoming docs and projects from Finland

Finnish Film Affair celebrates its 10th anniversary in Helsinki and online 22-24 September 2021 with a showcase of nine Finnish docs either in development or in production, as well as nine completed docs. In total, 29% of the projects (across both documentary and fiction) are directorial feature debuts, and over 50% have been directed by women or non-binary people. 

 

Of the documentary projects, a strong musical theme can be seen (and heard) this year in projects about musicians: ALMA: WHO AM I? (dir Pamela Tola) and Michael Monroe (dir Pete Eklund and Jussi Lehtomäki), as well as in The Cello (dir Kira Jääskeläinen), a film which follows the story of an instrument. 

 

All the nine documentaries (see below) presented are available for international sales. The event will also present The Best Documentary Project Award, sponsored by  AVEK.

 

Documentaries in Progress and Development:

 

•        ALMA – WHO AM I?, dir Pamela Tola, Lucy Loves   Drama Oy
•        The Cello (Sello), dir Kira Jääskeläinen, Illume Ltd
•        Clout Chasers, dir Krista Moisio & Anna-Maija Heinonen, Polygraf
•        Homecoming (Máhccan), dir Suvi West, Vaski Filmi
•        The Lock-In, dir Chico Pereira, Making Movies Oy
•        Lynx Man (Ilveskuiskaaja), dir Juha Suonpää, Wacky Tie Films Oy, Alasti Kino Oü, Luzid Film GmbH
•        Michael Monroe – The Best kept secret in Rock´n Roll, dir Pete Eklund & Jussi Lehtomäki, Kaiho Republi
•        Nasrin’s Voice, dir Kaisa Rastimo, Image Club Oy
•        Power of The People (Kansanvalta), dir Mervi Enqvist (ent Inderjit Kaur Khalsa), Greenlit Productions

Lineup of completed docs: 

•        EATNAMEAMET – Our Silent Struggle , dir Suvi West, Vaski Filmi
•        Future Remains , dir Anna-Karin Gr√∂nroos, Parad Media
•        How to Kill a Cloud, dir Tuija Halttunen, Wacky Tie Films, Copenhagen Film Company
•        Maija Isola Master of Colour and Form (Maija Isola), dir Leena Kilpel√§inen, Greenlit Productions, New Docs
•        People We Come Across, dir Mia Halme, napafilms
•        The Red Ring (Punkkisota), dir Joonas Bergh√§ll, Oktober Oy
•        SCHOOL OF HOPE, dir Mohamed El Aboudi, Illume, Bellota Films, Vulcan, La Prod
•        Tale of the Sleeping Giants (Tunturin tarina), dir Marko R√∂hr, Matila R√∂hr Productions
•        Walk the Tideline (Meren tuomat), dir Anna Antsalo, Tuffi Films

Alas, the event’s Nordic Flair training initiative will be postponed to September 2022. “This difficult decision is based on the uncertainty and additional resources that the Regional State Administrative Agency’s current event restrictions demand from our organisation. The level of applicants was of such a high standard that there is a clear demand for a leadership course and we are confident we can offer it the way it deserves in 2022”, says Head of Finnish Film Affair & Nordic Flair Maria Pirkkalainen.

Organised as part of Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, Finnish Film Affair was founded in 2012 to provide Finnish films with more international visibility and sales. The event has presented over 200 Finnish projects to over 500 international guests and introduced last year it’s very first Nordic Selection. The hybrid event’s accreditation is open for film industry professionals until 15 September on Finnish Film Affair’s website.