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The Finnish Film Affair is to host its third edition during the Helsinki International Film Festival (Sept 23-25).

The showcase for new Finnish films will include 17 projects being pitched and the screening of 19 completed films. A Project Development Clinic has been added for first and second-time directors.

The 17 new projects will be pitched to 60 guests including sales agents, festival programmers, distributors and TV buyers, including Fortissimo Films, Wild Bunch, Memento Films International, Films Transit, Sundance Film Festival, Koch Media and ZDF/Arte.

The pitches include The Fencer by Klaus Härö, whose previous film Letters to Father Jacob sold worldwide; and Stupid Young Heart from Oscar-nominated Selma Vilhunen (Do I Have To Take Care Of Everything?).

Other titles include Tsamo by Markku Lehmuskallio, documentary Mother’s Wish by Joonas Berghäll (Steam Of Life), and Cross Your Heart by Petri Kotwica, whose Black Ice competed at Berlin in 2007.

Several Finnish films are premiering at major festivals this year and completed features set to be screened at the FFA include documentary The Voice Of Sokurov (Locarno), J-P Valkeapää’s teenage road movie They Have Escaped (Venice Days, TIFF), and Dome Karukoski’s The Grump (TIFF).

Comedy Raspberry Boat Refugee by Leif Lindblom recently won the Best Nordic Film Award at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund.

Emerging talent

There will also be a focus on developing emerging talent at this year’s FFA.

Ten projects by first or second-time directors selected for the Project Development Clinic will get feedback from international industry experts on script development, co-production funding, marketing, packaging, and sales. The goal is to provide them with an international perspective for their projects.

Industry consultant Simon Perry will moderate the panel How to Develop a Film That Travels, presenting case studies of internationally successful filmmakers’ careers.

HIFF managing director Sara Norberg said: “The idea is not only to present the best Finland has to offer, but also to nurture projects coming through the pipeline.”

Finnish Film Affair

FINISHED FILMS

Becoming Me (Matka minuksi), Mina Laamo, Avanton Productions

Between Rings (Estherin kehä), Salla Sorri & Jessie Chisi, Helmi Films

Boy Upside Down (Aikuisten poika), Juha Lehtola, Edith Film & Firstfloor Productions

Changes (Muutoksii), Sami Laitinen, Inland Film Company

Ella and Friends 2 (Ella ja kaverit 2 – Paterock), Marko Mäkilaakso, Snapper Films

Emergency Call - A Murder Mystery (Ulvilan murhamysteeri), Pekka Lehto, First Floor Productions

Garden Lovers (Eedenistä pohjoiseen), Virpi Suutari, MADE, Autlook Filmsales

The Grump (Mielensäpahoittaja), Dome Karukoski, Solar Films, The Yellow Affair

Jill & Joy (Onneli ja Anneli), Saara Cantell, Zodiak Finland, TrustNordisk

Korso (Korso), Aleksi Tuomivaara, Bufo & Tuffi Films

Love & Engineering (Love & Engineering – Rakkauden insinöörit), Tonislav Hristov, Making Movies, Films Transit International

Monsterman (Monsterimies), Antti Haase, Illume

No Thank You (Ei kiitos), Samuli Valkama, Kinotar, Media Luna

Raspberry Boat Refugee (Vadelmavenepakolainen), Leif Lindblom, MRP Matila Röhr Productions

Ricky Rapper and Slick Leonard (Risto Räppääjä ja liukas Lennart), Timo Koivusalo, Artista Filmi

Summertime (Kesäkaverit), Inari Niemi, Solar Films

They Have Escaped (He ovat paenneet), JP Valkeapää, Helsinki-filmi, The Yellow Affair

Tolonen (Tolonen), Lasse Keso, Gateway Films

The Voice of Sokurov (Sokurovin ääni), Leena Kilpeläinen, Illume

WORKS IN PROGRESS

In production:

Adventure in Greece (Lomasankarit), Taavi Vartia, Yellow Film & TV

Armi Alive! (Armi elää!), Jörn Donner, Bufo

Bodom (Bodom),Taneli Mustonen, Don Films

Cross Your Heart (Henkesi edestä), Petri Kotwica, Vertigo Production

The Fencer (Miekkailija), Klaus Härö, Making Movies

Headfirst (Päin seinää), Antti Heikki Pesonen, Helsinki-filmi

Here and Now (Tässä ja nyt), Samuli Valkama, Sons of Lumière

Hobbyhorse Chicks (Kepparit), Selma Vilhunen, Tuffi Films

Mother’s Wish (Äidin Toive), Joonas Berghäll, Oktober

Tsamo (Tsamo), Markku Lehmuskallio & Anastasia Lapsui, Making Movies

In development:

Catherine (Catherine), Laura Kazbaraite & Maria Lappalainen, Empire Pictures

Layla (Layla), Mohamed el Aboudi, Vertigo Production

MindFuck (Vimma), Kasimir Lehto, First Floor Productions

Old Is Not Dead! (Humppaa tai kuole), Jaakko Kilpiäinen, Indie Films

Prayer (Rukous), AJ Annila, Mangaani Motion Pictures 

Stupid Young Heart (Hölmö nuori sydän), Selma Vilhunen, Tuffi Films

WAR/PEACE (WAR/PEACE), Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, Greenlit Productions

DEVELOPMENT CLINIC PROJECTS

The Astronaut (Astronautti), Pete Riski, Greenlit Productions

Autumn Prince (Syysprinssi), Alli Haapasalo, Kinotar

Below Helsinki (Helsingin alla), Anna Maria Hutri, FremantleMedia Finland

Charm of Tango (Mustalaistango), Maria Lappalainen, Sons of Lumière

Coincidence, Nemesis, Chaos (Rastlantı, kader ve kaos), Sevgi Eker, Oddity

The Collection (Collection), Heidi Lindén, Avenue A Productions

The Great Bear (Suuri karhu), Jan Forsström, Tast Films

The Lesson (Oppitunti), Marja Pyykkö, Pohjola-filmi

Thick Lashes of Lauri Mäntyvaara (Lauri Mäntyvaaran tuuheet ripset), Hannaleena Hauru, Aamu Film Company

Tower of Silence (Hiljaisuuden torni), Hamy Ramezan, Aamu Film Company