Focus on Finland

Transcription

1 Focus on Finland

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3 60 th Valladolid International Film Festival 2015 Focus on Finland 3

4 Dear Friends of Cinema, Finland has the joy and honor of being the Guest Country at the 60 th Valladolid Film Festival. The festival will showcase a wide and interesting selection of different Finnish films classic films from the past decades, documentaries, dramas and short films a total of 24 films in different sections. We hope our films will offer you a chance to glimpse at the landscape of this Northern nation s soul. We believe our films will touch you, make you laugh and evoke in you both thoughts and feelings. A warm thank you to Festival Director Javier Angulo and Denise O Keeffe for this wonderful opportunity and many congratulations on the Festival s 60 th anniversary! Jaana Puskala Head of international promotion The Finnish Film Foundation Estimados amigos del cinema, Finlandia tiene el placer y el honor de ser el país invitado en la sexagésima edición del Festival de Cine de Valladolid. Les ofrecemos una amplia e interesante muestra de la filmografía finlandesa -clásicos de las pasadas décadas, documentales, dramas y cortometrajes- en total 24 películas incluidas en diferentes series. Esperamos que esta selección de películas les sirva de ayuda para conocer el espíritu de este pueblo del norte de Europa. Estamos convencidos que nuestras películas les emocionarán, harán reír y despertarán tanto pensamientos, como emociones. Mi mas cordial agradecimiento tanto a Javier Angulo, Director del Festival, como a Denise O Keeffe por ofrecernos esta magnífica oportunidad y mi más sincera felicitación al festival en su 60 aniversario! Jaana Puskala Directora de Promoción Internacional Fundación Cinematográfica Finlandesa Front cover: The White Reindeer by Erik Blomberg Page 2: Restless Blood by Teuvo Tulio Back cover: Drifting Clouds by Aki Kaurismäki Editors: Jaana Puskala, Jenni Domingo, Maikki Rantala Photos: The Finnish Film Foundation, National Audiovisual Institute Lay-out: Maikki Rantala Printed by: Premedia Helsinki,

5 Official section Sección Oficial The Girl King 7 Meeting point Punto de Encuentro 2 Nights till Morning 8 Time of History Tiempo de Historia Marzia, My Friend 9 Official section, short films Sección Oficial, cortometrajes Merry Christmas 10 Meeting point, short films Punto de Encuentro, cortometrajes Reunion 11 Focus on Finland País Invitado: Finlandia Documentaries: The Iddle Ones 12 The 3 rooms of Melancholia 12 Steam of Life 13 The Punk Syndrome 13 Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart 14 Feature films: Drifting Clouds 14 Bad Family 15 The Good Son 15 Open Up To Me 16 Village People 16 The Disciple 17 They Have Escaped 17 The Grump 18 Classics: The White Reindeer 19 The Boys 19 The Earth is a Sinful Song 20 The Man Who Couldn t Say No 20 The Wedding Walz 21 The Collector 21 Directors and producers attending Valladolid INDEX

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7 The Girl King The Girl King is the story of Sweden s Queen Kristina, an enigmatic young woman who defied convention, challenged tradition and changed the course of history. Torn between reason and passion; between her female body and being raised as a prince; between the ancient and modern worlds and between the brilliance of her educated mind and the terror of the emotions she could not understand. ORIGINAL TITLE Tyttökuningas DIRECTOR Mika Kaurismäki SCREENWRITER Michel Marc Bouchard PRINCIPAL CAST Malin Buska, Sarah Gadon, Michael Nyqvist, Lucas Bryant, Laura Birn, Hippolyte Girardot, Francois Arnaud, Patrick Bauchau, Peter Lohmeyer, Martina Gedeck PRODUCED BY Marianna Films Oy/Mika Kaurismäki, Anna Stratton, Rainer Kölmel, Arnie Gelbart, Wasiliki Bleser, Martin Persson DURATION 106 min SALES The Yellow Affair Spanish distributor: Film Buro/Aquelarre Press screening: Thursday October 29 th at 12.00, Teatro Calderón, followed by press conference Official screening: Thursday October 29t th at 19.00, Teatro Calderón Repetition: Friday October 30 th at 16.30, Teatro Cervantes Mika Kaurismäki Mika Kaurismäki s first film Liar (1980) was an overnight sensation. It marked the beginning of a new era in Finnish cinema, in which the Kaurismäki brothers led the way. Since then Mika Kaurismäki has made a host of feature films and documentaries, including The Worthless, Rosso, Zombie and the Ghost Train, Helsinki Napoli, LA Without a Map, Mama Africa, Brasileirinho, Three Wise Men, The House of Branching Love and Road North, which was one of the most popular films in Finland in 2012 with almost admissions. Mika has completed two new films in 2015 The Girl King and Homecoming. The director will be present at Valladolid. Official Section Sección Oficial 7

8 2 Nights till Morning A one-night stand between two strangers in a foreign country and without a mutual language takes an unexpected turn as a volcanic ash cloud prevents all flights from taking off. Meeting Point Punto de Encuentro ORIGINAL TITLE 2 yötä aamuun DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER Mikko Kuparinen PRINCIPAL CAST Marie-Joseé Croze, Mikko Nousiainen PRODUCED BY Elokuvatuotantoyhtiö Mjölk/Mikko Tenhunen DURATION 84 min SALES Wide Management 1st screening: Wednesday October 28 th at 11.30, Teatro Zorrilla Main screening and presentation: Thursday October 29 th at 22.00, Teatro Zorrilla Mikko Kuparinen Kuparinen s (b. 1979) first feature film was the romantic comedy Body Fat Index of Love, His short films have won main prizes at international film festivals; Sirocco won the H.C. Andersen Award, the Grand Prix at the Odense Film Festival in Denmark in Sirocco and Mikko were also chosen for the 10 Directors to Watch DVD published by four Nordic film magazines. The director will be present at Valladolid. 8

9 Marzia, My Friend Marzia, My Friend is the story of an Afghan woman in her twenties, who just like all young people dreams of love, freedom and an interesting job. But because she lives in Afghanistan, her dreams are revolutionary. Ultimately Marzia s story becomes a symbol of the wider struggle of Afghan women: it is about the right to make decisions about your own life. ORIGINAL TITLE Marzia, ystäväni DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER Kirsi Mattila PRODUCED BY Pohjola-filmi/Elina Pohjola, Piia Nokelainen DURATION 80 min, 2015 SALES Filmdelights 1st screening: Tuesday October 27 th at 11.45, Broadway Cinema 11 Main screening and presentation: Thursday October 29 th at 21.30, Broadway Cinema Kirsi Mattila Kirsi Mattila is a documentary director-screenwriter and a freelance journalist. Mattila has worked as a journalist since 1980 and she has written and directed a number of educational programs and documentaries for TV and film. Her selected filmography includes documentaries such as Niki and Niki s Brother (2008), 80 Years of Student Theatre (2006) and the Joy of Giving Birth (2004). The director will be present at Valladolid. Time of History Tiempo de Historia 9

10 Official SeCTION, SHORT FILMS SECCIÓN OFICIAL, CORTOMETRAJES Merry Christmas Merry Christmas is a Christmas story about Asko, a tram driver who finds an abandoned baby. Who does the boy child belong to? Who is missing him? Asko decides to find out. Merry Christmas is a comical interpretation of the traditional Christmas gospel set in a modern-day Helsinki. ORIGINAL TITLE Hyvää joulua DIRECTOR Matti Ijäs SCREENWRITER Juha Lehtola, Matti Ijäs PRINCIPAL CAST Pertti Sveholm, Aili PRODUCED BY Scenes Oy/Juha Lehtola DURATION 10 min, 2015 SALES Scenes Oy Press screening: Sunday October 25 th at 12.00, Teatro Calderón Official screening: Sunday October 25 th at 19.00, Teatro Calderón Repetition: Monday October 26 th at 16.30, Teatro Cervantes Matti Ijäs Matti Ijäs, born 1950, is known for his feature films Things We Do for Love (2013), Blue Corner (2002) and Blindfolded (1999). Ijäs has also enjoyed an extensive career in television; his directorial works include The Wrestler (1985) and The Inspection (1988). Matti Ijäs has been awarded the Prix Italia, the State Prize for Cinema and in 2002 he received the Order of the Lion of Finland Pro Finlandia Medal for his vast career in Finnish film. The director will be present at Valladolid. 10

11 Reunion Young Anja accompanies the dead of her hometown to the afterlife. When she joins her brother on the couch moments before his heart attack, things are different. Can they make up and dance their way to the next world together? ORIGINAL TITLE Tuolla puolen DIRECTORS/SCREENWRITERS Iddo Soskolne, Janne Reinikainen PRINCIPAL CAST Selma af Schultén, Janne Reinikainen, Riitta Havukainen PRODUCED BY Bufo/ Misha Jaari, Mark Lwoff DURATION 15 min, 2015 SALES Bufo 1st screening: Wednesday October 28 th at 11.30, Teatro Zorrilla Main screening and presentation: Thursday October 29 th at 22.00, Teatro Zorrilla Iddo Soskolne Iddo Soskolne (b in Jerusalem) graduated with honours as a cinematographer and screenwriter from the Sam Spiegel Film & TV School in Israel in His graduation films travelled to numerous festivals including Cannes Cinéfondation, Berlin and Clermont-Ferrand. Reunion is his first film as a director. The director will be present at Valladolid. Janne Reinikainen Janne Reinikainen (b. 1969) is a Finnish theatre director, actor, and screenwriter. His latest TV project is the series Napamiehet, in which he worked as a screenwriter, director, and actor. Reunion is Janne Reinikainen s first film as a director. MEETING POINT, SHORT FILMS ENCUENTRO, CORTOMETRAJES 11

12 Documentaries Focus on Finland País invitado: Finlandia The Idles Ones The Idle Ones is a description of the state of affairs somewhere on the edge of Europe where the lack of a regular job is becoming a way of life for some of the younger generation. Original title: Joutilaat Director: Susanna Helke, Virpi Suutari Script: Susanna Helke, Virpi Suutari Cinematography: Harri Räty Production company: Kinotar Oy, Sales: Kinotar Sat :45 Sala Broadway 1 The 3 Rooms of Melancholia The Chechen war. The inability of adults to resolve the war gives rise to a generation upon whom hatred has been visited with vengeance. Children have taken the burden of hatred which they believe springs from within. There is no need to seek its causes. The transposed hatred casts a pall over the depths of their minds: they are accompanied throughout their lives by inexplicable melancholia and sudden outbursts of rage. Original title: Melancholian 3 huonetta Director: Pirjo Honkasalo Script: Pirjo Honkasalo Cinematography: Pirjo Honkasalo Production company: Oy Millennium Film Ltd., Sales: Deckert Distribution Spanish distributor: Parallel 40 Sat :30 Sala Broadway 1 12

13 Documentaries Steam of Life Naked Finnish Men in saunas speak straight from the heart and, with the warmth of rusty stoves, cleanse themselves both physically and mentally as the film moves towards its deeply emotional and unforgettable finale. Original title: Miesten vuoro Director: Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen Script: Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen Cinematography: Heikki Färm, Jani Kumpulainen Music: Jonas Bohlin Production company: Oktober Oy, Sales: Films Transit International Wed :00 Sala Broadway 10 The Punk Syndrome The Punk Syndrome is a film about the Finnish punk rock band Pertti Kurikan nimipäivät, which later was the Finnish representative in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. The film follows the band s four mentally challenged members journey from the rehearsal room to festival stages and ultimately, into the limelight. Original title: Kovasikajuttu Director: Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi Script: Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi Cinematography: J-P Passi Music: Pertti Kurikan nimipäivät Production company: Mouka Filmi, Sales: Autlook Filmsales Sun :45 Sala Broadway 1 13

14 Documentaries Feature films Focus on Finland País invitado: Finlandia Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart The journey of a father and son becomes a musical, delving into the emotional memory and history of Finnish migration to Sweden, an exploration of shame, guilt, crime, alcoholism and family secrets. Original title: Laulu koti-ikävästä Director: Mika Ronkainen Script: Mika Ronkainen Cinematography: Vesa Taipaleenmäki Music: Anna Järvinen, Darya Pakarinen, Love Antell, Markus Fagervall and several other artists Production company: Klaffi Productions, Sales: Klaffi Productions Spanish distributor: Parallel 40 Sat :00 Sala Broadway 11 Drifting Clouds This film has a story, which is not very hard to understand, especially if you have seen the film. The main characters (altogether two) form a family. In the beginning they are happy. Then the trouble comes. By the end they are happy again. Almost the same can be said about the supporting characters, although they are never in cinema as important as the main characters, except for Wolter Brennon. A.K. Original title: Kauas pilvet karkaavat Director: Aki Kaurismäki Script: Aki Kaurismäki Cinematography: Timo Salminen Cast: Kati Outinen, Kari Väänänen, Elina Salo, Sakari Kuosmanen, Markku Peltola Production company: Sputnik Oy, Fri :30 Sala Broadway 9 Sat :15 Sala Broadway 10 14

15 Feature films Bad Family After going through an ugly divorce, a father must raise his son on his own while the mother has custody of the daughter. Sixteen years later, the mother passes away, and the brother and sister meet once again. The father thinks his son has a crush on his sister. The son rebels against his father, who copes poorly with the situation. The father ends up alone with his own demented father. Original title: Paha perhe Director: Aleksi Salmenperä Script: Aleksi Salmenperä Cinematography: Tuomo Hutri Music: Ville A. Tanttu Cast: Ville Virtanen, Pihla Viitala, Lauri Tilkanen Production company: Sputnik Oy, Sales: The Match Factory Sun :00 Sala Broadway 1 Mon :45 Sala Broadway 1 The Good Son After a scandalous premiere, actress Leila escapes to the old family summerhouse with her two sons. The explosive and arrogant Ilmari, her older son, is Leila s protector and confidant. The peaceful vacation is disrupted when Leila invites her artist friends over for a rowdy weekend. After the party Leila invites one of the guests, Aimo, a writer, to stay. Ilmari is immediately hostile towards the intruder. As Leila begins to fall in love, Ilmari begins to suspect that Aimo might be dangerous. Original title: Hyvä poika Director: Zaida Bergroth Script: Jan Forsström, Zaida Bergroth Cinematography: Anu Keränen Music: Mi and Láu Cast: Elina Knihtilä, Samuli Niittymäki, Eero Aho, Anna Paavilainen, Eetu Julin Production company: Oy Bufo Ab, Sales: Level K Tue :00 Sala Broadway 9 Wed :45 Sala Broadway 9 15

16 Feature films Focus on Finland País invitado: Finlandia Open up to Me Open up to Me is an intense psychological drama about sexual identity. In modern relationships nothing can be taken for granted anymore. There is no ready-made model for love. We have to create our own morals. We have to draw lines and sometimes, when our hearts tell us to, cross them. Original title: Kerron sinulle kaiken Director: Simo Halinen Script: Simo Halinen Cinematography: Hena Blomberg Music: Jarmo Saari Cast: Leea Klemola, Peter Franzén, Ria Kataja, Emmi Nivala, Alex Anton Production company: Edith Film, Sales: The Yellow Affair Thu :00 Sala Broadway 9 Fri :45 Sala Broadway 9 Village People Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, the long-time president of the Republic of Finland, is scheduled to visit Alli s Bar on his way to northern Finland. He is blindly worshiped and the nearer the visit draws, the more envy, competition and dirty tricks we see in a small town. No one is spared from the brutality! Original title: Kekkonen tulee! Director: Marja Pyykkö Script: Elias Koskimies (based on the short story Alli s Bar in the novel Urho Kekkonen Straße by Pia Pesonen) Cinematography: Konsta Sohlberg Music: Antti Lehtinen Cast: Wilma Rosenqvist, Merja Larivaara, Marjaana Maijala, Konsta Mäkelä, Miina Turunen Production company: Solar Films Inc., Sales: Solar Films Inc. Wed :00 Sala Broadway 9 Thu :45 Sala Broadway 9 16

17 Feature films The Disciple An isolated island in the Baltic Sea in the summer of Thirteen-yearold Karl comes to the island to work as lighthouse master Hasselbond s assistant. Master Hasselbond turns Karl down because of his young age. Karl struggles desperately to stay on. Karl and Hasselbond s oppressed son, Gustaf, become friends, but their friendship turns into rivalry and hate when Hasselbond starts to favor Karl over his own son. Original title: Lärjungen Director: Ulrika Bengts Script: Roland Fauser, Jimmy Carlson Cinematography: Robert Nordström Music: Peter Hägerstrand Cast: Erik Lönngren, Patrik Kumpulainen, Niklas Groundstroem, Amanda Ooms, Ping Mon Wallén Production company: Långfilm Productions Finland Oy, Sales: Långfilm Productions They Have Escaped When a boy and girl meet at a detention center for troubled youths, they steal a car and flee together. Thus begins a journey with endless escapes. They Have Escaped is a film about fragile love, childhood dreams and the violence of reality. Original title: He ovat paenneet Director: J-P Valkeapää Script: J-P Valkeapää, Pilvi Peltola Cinematography: Pietari Peltola Music: Helge Slicker Cast: Roosa Söderholm, Teppo Manner, Pelle Heikkilä, Petteri Pennilä Production company: Helsinki-filmi Oy, Sales: The Yellow Affair Sat :00 Sala Broadway 9 Sun :45 Sala Broadway 9 Mon :00 Sala Broadway 9 Tue :45 Sala Broadway 9 17

18 Feature films Classics Focus on Finland País invitado: Finlandia The Grump The Grump is a story about a die-hard man in his eighties who is outspoken and stubborn. He thinks everything was much better in the old days. The story unfolds as the Grump falls down his basement steps and hurts his ankle. His citydwelling son finds him, and according to doctor s orders, the Grump must attend physiotherapy in the city, which means he must stay with his son and daughterin-law. Now the Grump must face a changing world. Original title: Mielensäpahoittaja Director: Dome Karukoski Script: Tuomas Kyrö, Dome Karukoski Cinematography: Pini Hellstedt Music: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson Cast: Antti Litja, Petra Frey, Mari Peronkoski, Ilkka Forss Production company: Solar Films Inc., Sales: The Yellow Affair Spanish distributor: Film Buro/Aquelarre Fri :00 Sala Broadway 9 Sat :45 Sala Broadway 9 Restless Blood A drama directed by Teuvo Tulio, the father of Finnish melodrama. Two sisters fall in love with the same man, creating a love triangle with ill-fated consequences. Sylvi, the main character who becomes blind, is played by Regina Linnanheimo, one of the biggest stars from the early years of Finnish cinema. Original title: Levoton veri Director: Teuvo Tulio Script: Teuvo Tulio, Regina Linnanheimo Cinematography: Pentti Lintonen Music: Tauno Marttinen Cast: Regina Linnanheimo, Eino Katajavuori, Toini Vartiainen Production company: Teuvo Tulio Thu :30 Sala Broadway 1 Fri :45 Sala Broadway 1 18

19 Classics The White Reindeer The White Reindeer is a real gem among Finnish classics, a film we love to screen abroad. The film is set in fabled, mythical and wild Lapland. A woman is transformed into a reindeer, and with the intensity rising, we get to watch this strange woman, who is thought to be a witch, journey towards destruction. The White Reindeer can also be considered a successful art film where exquisite camerawork and poetic music support female lead Mirjami Kuosmanen s fantastic performance. The film was awarded at the Cannes Film Festival in Original title: Valkoinen peura Director: Erik Blomberg Script: Erik Blomberg, Mirjami Kuosmanen Cinematography: Erik Blomberg Music: Einar Englund Cast: Mirjami Kuosmanen, Åke Lindman, Kalervo Nissilä Production company: Junior-Filmi Oy Mon :00 Sala Broadway 1 Tue :45 Sala Broadway 1 The Boys Mikko Niskanen is a director who has succeeded exceptionally well in portraying the Finnish lifestyle from an individual perspective in, for example, Eight Deadly Shots. His film The Boys is set in post-world War II Lapland as German troops are pulling out. We see the war and its destruction from the perspective of boys on the verge of adulthood. The life of the main character Jake is turned upside down, and he is faced with a big change. Original title: Pojat Director: Mikko Niskanen Script: Mikko Niskanen, after Paavo Rintala s novel (1958) Cinematography: Olavi Tuomi Music: Einar Englund Cast: Vesa-Matti Loiri, Uti Saurio, Hannu Vironmäki, Liisa Nevalainen, Kauko Helovirta Production company: Oy Suomen Filmiteollisuus Sun :00 Sala Broadway 1 Mon :00 Sala Broadway 1 19

20 Classics Focus on Finland País invitado: Finlandia The Earth Is a Sinful Song The Earth Is a Sinful Song is one of the Finnish films you can t forget easily. The portrayal of the people of Lapland and their harsh living conditions can be described as gritty; that as well as the depiction of their everyday life will stay with you a long time. As we watch a young woman grow into an adult, we also get a good picture of what the different seasons in Finland look like, thanks to the masterful camerawork by Kari Sohlberg. Original title: Maa on syntinen laulu Director: Rauni Mollberg Script: Rauni Mollberg, Pirjo Honkasalo, Panu Rajala, based on Timo K. Mukka s novel (1964) Cinematography: Kari Sohlberg Music: Hannu Sinnemäki Cast: Maritta Viitamäki, Pauli Jauhojärvi, Aimo Saukko, Milja Hiltunen, Niiles-Jouni Aikio Production company: RM-Filmi Ky Sat :30 Sala Broadway 1 Sun :00 Sala Broadway 1 The Man Who Couldn t Say No Risto Jarva s The Man Who Couldn t Say No is a fine portrait of the culture and attitudes of the free and radical 70s. The film, shot in a beautiful old wooden house in the idyllic neighborhood of Vallila, Helsinki, is a comedy, which is not that common in Finnish film where most are dramas. The main character is played by Antti Litja, who also plays the lead in Dome Karukoski s The Grump (2014); another example of a long-time favorite actor of Finns. Original title: Mies, joka ei osannut sanoa ei Director: Risto Jarva Script: Jussi Kylätasku, Risto Jarva Cinematography: Antti Peippo Music: Markku Kopisto Cast: Antti Litja, Kirsti Wallasvaara, Matti Ruohola, Vivi-Ann Sjögren Production company: Filminor Oy Wed :30 Sala Broadway 1 Thu :45 Sala Broadway 1 20

21 Classics The Inspection / The Wedding Waltz The Inspection is a film made for TV and an example of excellent ensemble work by the filmmakers and actors. This film, spiced with dark humor, enjoys a cult status, especially among Finnish men. People can recite lines from it, and it s typically watched on a Friday night with beer and friends, which is natural, as the central theme of the film is friendship between men. Director Matti Ijäs has made a long and fine career; all in all he has directed 36 films. Original title: Katsastus Director: Matti Ijäs Script: Joni Skiftesvik, Matti Ijäs, Timo Torikka, based on several short stories by Joni Skiftesvik Cinematography: Pauli Sipiläinen Music: Antti Hytti Cast: Vesa Vierikko, Sulevi Peltola, Markku Maalismaa, Kaija Pakarinen Production company: Yleisradio TV 1 Fri :00 Sala Broadway 11 Sat :00 Sala Broadway 11 The Collector The debut film of director Auli Mantila is an exceptionally striking masterpiece from the female director, now also a producer, known for her original style. The main character of the film is Eevi, a young woman who definitely doesn t have her life together. She s someone we wouldn t even want to get to know, but the director takes us on a journey into her broken mind. Holding our breaths, we get to watch her actions and their consequences. Leea Klemola gives an excellent performance as Eevi. She also stars in Simo Halinen s film Open Up to Me. Original title: Neitoperho Director: Auli Mantila Script: Auli Mantila Cinematography: Heikki Färm Cast: Leea Klemola, Elina Hurme, Rea Mauranen Production company: GNUfilms Oy Tue :30 Sala Broadway 1 Wed :45 Sala Broadway 1 21

22 directors and producers attending valladolid Directors Mika Kaurismäki Mikko Kuparinen Kirsi Mattila Matti Ijäs Iddo Soskolne Zaida Bergroth Zaida Bergroth (b. 1977) has directed the awarded short films Glass Jaw (2004) and Heavy Metal 2006). Her first feature was Last Cowboy Standing (2009), which won the Flash Forward -award at Pusan FF 2009, as well as the Finnish Jussi awards for best screenplay and best sound design. At Chicago IFF it won Golden Hugo in New Directors Competition. The film was also Finland s nominee for Nordic Council s Film Prize. Simo Halinen Born in 1963, Simon Halinen is a writer/ director, working for film and television. His TV works include the TV film Minerva (1997), the mini-series The Girl with a Pig Tale (2004) and three-part black comedy Golden Retriever (2007) His first feature film was Cyclomania (2001). Open Up to Me is his second feature. Halinen has also written two novels: Idänsydänsimpukka (2004) and Lemmenomenia (2008). Marja Pyykkö One of the most promising Finnish new generation movie directors Marja Pyykkö (b. 1975) has graduated from UIAH. Her first feature film Run, Sister, Run is a milestone in the way it portrays the rebellion of the Finnish youth. Village People is Pyykkö s second feature; a tongue-in-cheek comedy about people longing for a miracle, something or someone to change their lives for good. The story is set way up in Finnish Lapland where everything is twisted but nothing is as it seems. Pyykkö has directed numerous short films and commercials. As a second-generation movie professional, she has lived and breathed film since early ages as an actress, assistant director, casting director and property master before her career launched her to the director s chair. Producers Liisa Penttilä-Asikainen Liisa Penttilä-Asikainen is the CEO and Executive Producer of production company Kaiho Republic. Since 2001 Penttilä-Asikainen has produced awarded short films, TV series, and feature films. Some recent examples include Aku Louhimies s film Naked Harbour (2012) and Simo Halinen s film Open Up To Me Zaida Bergroth Simo Halinen Marja Pyykkö

23 (2013). She has also co-produced e.g. Lars Von Trier s Dogville (2003) and Peter Greenaway s Eisenstein in Guanajuato (2015). Penttilä-Asikainen is a member of ACE and Board member of the Finnish Film Foundation. Mark Lwoff Producer Mark Lwoff (b. 1976) is one of the founding associates of the production company Bufo in His productions have included feature films Zaida Bergroth s The Good Son, Pirjo Honkasalo s Concrete Night, Akseli Tuomivaara s Korso and Jörn Donner s film Armi Alive!. He s currently developing White Point, an action film to be directed by Akseli Tuomivaara in The Finnish Film Foundation Jaana Puskala Jaana Puskala has worked in the International Promotion department of the Finnish Film Foundation since She was the acting Head of International Promotion during and was appointed the Head of Feature Film Promotion in As the Head of Feature Film Promotion she is responsible for promoting Finnish feature films abroad as well as building and reinforcing contacts between the Finnish film industry and international festivals, sales companies and distributors around the world. Mrs. Puskala is Finland s representative in European Film Promotion (EFP), an umbrella organization of promotional institutes of different European countries, and has been a member of the board of EFP since She is also Finland s representative in the Festival Group of Scandinavian Films. jaana.puskala@ses.fi, Tel Jenni Domingo Jenni Domingo works as a Coordinator of Feature Film Promotion at The Finnish Film Foundation. She has a background of TV documentary production, as well as working in the film festival organization. Good films in every genre are her inspirer, organizing things and solving matters her aspiration. jenni.domingo@ses.fi, Tel Jaana Puskala Liisa Penttilä-Asikainen Mark Lwoff Jenni Domingo 23

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