Showtime in Helsinki, directed by Arthur Franck and produced by Oskar Forstén won the FFA Documentary Award September 21. The prize, sponsored by Avek, is valued at €3000 and goes towards the production of an international trailer.
The film concerns the 1975 ‘Helsinki Accords’ conference, designed to bring the Cold War to an end, but which ultimately led to “the demise of the Soviet Empire and totalitarian rule in Eastern Europe.”
The jury, consisting of Oleksandra Kravchenko, Producer at Moon Man; Mita Suri, Film Programmer Producer at Sheffield Doc/Fest, and Debra Zimmerman, Executive Director at Women Make Movies noted: “The project sheds light to an interesting and pivotal event in political history, and addresses alarming issues with genuine humour. The jurors were impressed by the commitment and passion of the team and how the artistic vision skilfully presents to a modern audience.”
Speaking to Business Doc Europe, producer Forstén described the project. ““[It] is a film that deconstructs the anatomy of an almost forgotten diplomatic process. In its essence it is Cold War history like never told before, about a conference that was considered meaningless, but that ultimately changed the world.”
At FFA, Forstén has been looking to find a sales agent, finance distribution outlets, potential co-producers and festival interest. The mainly archive project, currently in development, is earmarked for Winter 2024/25 delivery.
The 12th edition of Finnish Film Affair attracted its biggest attendee number to date with over 500 delegates attending on-site. Organisers point out that the event attracted international guests especially from the United Kingdom, United States as well as the Nordic countries; 39 guests travelled to the event from Sweden alone. Additionally the Nordic Flair training brought 30 Nordic actors to Helsinki.
“We are really happy to keep growing our audiences both internationally and in Finland, and to keep attracting new attendees too. A third of our attendees attended Finnish Film Affair for the first time this year!” commented Head of Finnish Film Affair & Nordic Flair Maria Pirkkalainen-Barber.
