At FinnAgora, the change of season from summer to fall also means the arrival of two new interns! Linn, who is doing a one-year internship with the support of Svenska Kulturfonden has already been living in Budapest since August, and last week Ilona, who is doing her internship through the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) has joined the team as well.
Hello Linn and Ilona! Tell us a bit about yourselves!
Ilona: My background is from social sciences, and I am currently doing my master’s degree (and slowly, but surely writing my thesis) in Global Development Studies at the University of Helsinki. My academic interests lie in global colonial structures, post-development thought and civic action. All are grand themes, I know. I had the opportunity to do a student exchange period in Stellenbosch, South Africa, and I hope the experience will help me to adjust to a new environment once again!
My previous related work experience is from different NGOs and a Finnish documentary film festival. The latter especially ignited a spark in me to learn more about films and cultural production. This is why I am thrilled to work with the Finn Filmnapok 2026 production during my internship!
I am passionate about history, politics and cinema, and Budapest offers splendid opportunities to explore all of those themes. I also love nature and hiking, and will most definitely get to know the best places to enjoy those around Hungary. Last but not least, I have a special place in my heart for all kinds of animals, and especially bats. I do not know how to explain this in another way but I advise you to Google search photos of “bat faces”.
Linn: I am a recently graduated Master of Social Sciences from the University of Helsinki, with political science as my major. I am originally from Turku (which is, in the Turku inhabitants’ opinion, the true capital of Finland), but have lived in Helsinki for the last six years, and also spent one semester on exchange in Hong Kong. Previously, I have worked in the field of communications and in politics.
I am a huge fan of trying different foods, traveling, meeting new people, and gaining a better understanding of the world around me. My free time is usually spent reading in a park, catching up with friends and finding new interesting spots around me. What a dream opportunity to be here in Budapest for a year!
Do you have any special areas of interest that you wish to explore during your internship?
Linn: As a political scientist, I am naturally drawn to the interplay between soft and hard power. In today’s climate of conflict, economic struggle, and democratic backsliding, I am concerned about cuts to the cultural field and the commonly expressed view that culture should be considered a “luxury”. In reality, a free and vibrant cultural scene is essential to a healthy democracy, helping us understand each other, while also strengthening a country’s reputational security and societal resilience. Further, the question of what stories we choose to tell about ourselves and others – and why – is becoming increasingly relevant in shaping our history and common narrative amidst the war going on in Europe. Hungary and Budapest provide an interesting setting to explore these dynamics.
During my internship, I look forward to learning about FinnAgora’s role in fostering relations between Finland and Hungary and gaining both practical and theoretical insight into the role of Finland’s cultural institutes abroad. I am also really eager to get to work with all the different productions FinnAgora has planned, develop new skills, and meet the local communities here!
Ilona: As Linn well expressed, Hungary has a particular political landscape which makes exploring the cultural field and society in general especially interesting. I look forward to cooperating and having conversations with local actors, who can give me insight on Hungarian everyday life, the nation's history and present and, of course, their passions and dreams.
Like many of us, I believe that art and creating are a core part of what it means to be human. Arts and culture are not only fields for human self-expression, but also offer extremely impactful platforms for driving change and advancing solidarity. Films, like other art forms, not only entertain but challenge our thoughts and emotions, and at times show us new perspectives and build bridges. This is why it is my dream to support and work with cultural projects, and I am excited to learn about film festival production in an international context at FinnAgora.
In addition, I have a goal of becoming better at communications; such as with social media and photography. I am certain that I will gain valuable experience on that while working here.
And, what parts about living in Budapest are you looking most forward to? And have there been any challenges so far?
Ilona: Apart from my work, I look forward to meeting new people, exploring the endless variety of cultural events, arthouse cinemas, cafes and hidden gems, and just simply walking around admiring the old architecture. I also really want to experience opera for the first time in my life! I proudly admit that I am excited to do all the touristy things, like going to the baths and castles.
In addition, I look forward to the time when I have adjusted further to the new environment. I hope to find my favourite spots in the city, and maybe even new hobbies.
When it comes to challenges so far; I lost my apartment keys on the first night of my stay. First night. Luckily through this minor challenge I learnt that I was immediately surrounded by extremely helpful and kind locals, which made me feel welcome (and the keys were later found from my local grocery store). The other challenge is the language. I noticed knowing a Finno-Ugric language does not help me to understand Hungarian! I am determined to learn at least some every-day words and basic sentences during my stay.
Linn: As Finland can sometimes feel a bit physically isolated from the rest of Europe, I really enjoy being at the heart of Central Europe and all the possibilities it brings, as well as taking in the atmosphere, feeling the pulse of the city and attending all sorts of events to gain a deeper understanding of the history of Hungary. I love the feeling of moving to a new country and getting the opportunity to reinvent my life and daily routines – getting to know the places and people, but also discovering myself in a whole new way.
The biggest challenge so far has definitely been finding routines to cooking and food shopping – but slowly, I am learning to shop for seasonable vegetables, finding the correct cheese in the store, and cracking the code to the layout in my local Aldi.
You can reach Linn and Ilona per e-mail