Finn Filmnapok is soon here! FinnAgora has for 9 years brought the finest of Finnish films and this year is no exception and Toldi Cinema will once again be packed with eager audiences who appreciate great cinema.
One of the movies in this years selection is Aleksi Salmenperäs movie Void. Salmenperä is one of Finland’s brightest movie makers and his first film Lapsia ja aikuisia (2004) was Finland’s Oscar nomination for the year 2004. Void tells the story of a couple, one is an actress and the other one a writer. Ones career is just starting to sky rocket while the other one is struggling. The movie brings out the problems with communication and the challenges of relationships in a fun but serious way.
While Void tells a story of a couple who works, the movie Human Part tells the story of a man who doesn’t work at all and tries his best to hide his unemployment from everyone. Director Juha Lehtonen was also part of the script writing team for one of last years movies Happier Times, Grump. Like Happier Times, Grump his movie Human Part is a comedy of family relations. Lehtonen has worked in the field for years and his movie Human Part has been well received and features many legendary Finnish actors such as Asko Sarkola and Leena Uotila.
This year’s nomination for the Oscar-award from Finland was Stupid, young heart. The movie tells the story of 15-year old pregnant Kiira and how she and her boyfriend Lenni try to handle life in a working-class suburb where radical right-wing thinking has gotten hold. The director Selma Vilhunen has also directed Hobbyhorse Revolution which was shown last year and is a documentary about hobbyhorse riding and the popularity it has gained. Vilhunen has a unique touch in showing perspectives of the youth of today and sincerely portraying a modern finnish society in a realistic way.
The opening night of the festival we will show Aurora one of this years most successful Finnish movies. Aurora is directed by Miia Tervo and tells the story of Aurora who helps Iranian asylum seeker Darian to find a wife so that he can stay in Finland and give his daughter a chance to a safe life. Aurora is a modern comedic love story with an interesting female main character who is layered and complicated. The movie is shot in Northern Finland and shows the beauty of Finnish nature at the same time as it tells the story of modern Finnish people and the struggles that they face in an immigration system that is as harsh as the Finnish winters. Aurora has gotten raving reviews and is filled with promising Finnish actors like Mimosa Willamo who also plays the main role in another movie shown at the festival Elvis&Onerva.
Aurora was shown at Gothenburg Film Festival and was nominated for three awards. The director Miia Tervo says in an interview with Variety magazine that she wants to address young women’s substance abuse problems that has never before been addressed or shown in Finnish film.
This year FinnAgora wants to highlight equality and Finnish female talents. The directors Selma Vilhunen and Miia Tervo are one of the very few female directors in the Finnish film industry. Both have created movies that have been highly successful both critically and among audiences. There is a change happening in who makes movies and for whom but there is still a long way to go and FinnAgora is happy in showing off these very talented and successful directors who are pioneers in creating this shift. Also while highlighting equality at the festival Finlands-Swedish short films will be shown to showcase Finland’s second official language.
Finn Filmnapok is held at Toldi Mozi from the 5th of February to the 9th. Come and experience Finnish cinema, the cold north and the fresh winds of change that are blowing.
Here you can find the catalouge for the festival. [[{"fid":"624","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"link_text":"<br>","type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]
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