Finland making history at Sundance Film Festival
There is plenty of great development bubbling under the surface in the Finnish audiovisual industry. Having three Finnish films competing at one of the most respected film festivals, along with one excellent shot-in-Finland American showcase, is solid proof that the strategy is working. Finland is looking forward to using the momentum in the US, as well as in the global film market.
Hanna Vuorinen, Head of Audiovisual Productions for Business Finland, the administering authority for Finnish production incentive, says:
“Finland has new and unique stories to tell for global audiences. Finnish producers are partnering with international stakeholders and the entire Finnish film and TV industry is growing fast. Our society, from education to infrastructure, is able to support the growth and that makes us a trustworthy partner. Partners like XYZ Films have seen this. We are proud to be a key part of the amazing stories like Dual.”
Dual is one of the Sundance highlights
Dual is a film directed by Riley Stearns (The Art of Self Defence, Faults) and the main character is played by international star Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, Jumanji). Other stars in the cast include Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) and Beulah Koaley (The Last Saint). Dual is participating the U.S. Dramatic Competition Series and premiering on the first festival weekend at the largest theatre at Sundance.
Dual was filmed in Tampere, Finland, during the first year of the COVID pandemic. It is the first Hollywood production filmed wholly in Finland, and potentially a door opener for other foreign major productions. Dual was produced by XYZ Films, and its co-founder Aram Tertzakian speaks fondly about Finland as a filming location - and he is happy to promote the skills of the Finnish crews and advantages of bringing the productions to Finland. Read an interview with Tertzakian here. Their movie received funding from the Finnish audiovisual production incentive. Finnish production service was done by Film Service Finland.
All three Finnish films at Sundance directed by women
All three Finnish films premiering at Sundance have a female director, reflecting the exciting rising of a new generation of directors - regardless of gender - in Finnish filmmaking.
Jaana Puskala, Head of the International Department at the Finnish Film Foundation says:
“We are really happy that Finnish long feature films have been spotlighted at the Sundance Festival for the first time in history. It seems like international interest in Finnish filmmaking is clearly on the rise. Getting to compete at Sundance is a great honor. It's Finland’s turn to show what we are made of!”
Hanna Vuorinen concludes: “Finland has the capacity to drive innovation. We are fast adapters in an ever-changing market - partly because of lessons learned from our world-leading start-up and gaming scene. The positive reputation is spreading and we see the growing interest towards Finnish content and Finland as a filming location - not to mention our VFX companies, that are setting the bar high for competitors.”
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FINNISH FILMS AT SUNDANCE
Competing in World Cinema Dramatic Competition:
Girl Picture (Original title: Tytöt tytöt tytöt)
Mimmi and Rönkkö are best friends, supporting each other through good and bad. They don’t know yet what the future will bring, but the world is open. Emma is a figure skater aiming for an international career. When the three meet at a party, nothing will remain the same.
DIRECTOR: Alli Haapasalo
SCREENWRITERS: Daniela Hakulinen, Ilona Ahti
PRODUCERS: Elina Pohjola, Leila Lyytikäinen
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Citizen Jane Productions
Midnight section:
Hatching (original title: Pahanhautoja)
Hatching is a horror drama about a young gymnast girl named Tinja, who tries desperately to please her mother, a woman obsessed with presenting the image of a perfect family life to the whole world through her popular blog. Then, one night, Tinja finds a strange egg. She hides it, she keeps it warm. And when it hatches, what emerges is beyond belief.
DIRECTOR: Hanna Bergholm
SCREENWRITER: Ilja Rautsi
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jarkko T. Laine F.S.C.
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Päivi Kettunen
COSTUME DESIGNERr: Ulrika Sjölin
MAKE-UP DESIGNER: Marina Ritvall
CREATURE FX SUPERVISOR: Gustav Hoegen
SPECIAL MAKE-UP DESIGNER: Conor O’Sullivan
STUNT COORDINATOR: Oula Kitti
CAST: Siiri Solalinna, Sophia Heikkilä, Jani Volanen, Oiva Ollila, Reino Nordin, Saija Lentonen, Ida Määttänen
PRODUCERS: Mika Ritalahti, Niko Ritalahti
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Silva Mysterium
SALES: Wild Bunch
World Cinema Documentary Competition:
The Mission
Four American teenagers have received a mission from God that takes them from the safety of their remote religion-filled bubbles to the other side of the planet. In the frozen forested lands of Finland, these impassioned, wide-eyed teens confront local Finns, Europe’s most non-religious and private people, and attempt to convert them to their faith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
As they struggle with missing their families, aching feet, and daily rejection, these young “Saints” are pushed beyond their limits, falling deeper into their faith. While most return home as triumphant survivors and heroes, for some the mission is too heavy a load to bear.
DIRECTOR: Tania Anderson
SCRIPT: Tania Anderson
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Antti Savolainen
EDITING: Suvi Solja
SOUND DESIGN: Janis Grossmann-Alhambra
CO-PRODUCER: Dirk Manthey / Dirk Manthey Film Ug
PRODUCERS: Isabella Karhu, Juho-Pekka Tanskanen
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Danish Bear Productions
SALES: Autlook Filmsales
Filmed in Finland
U.S. Dramatic Competition:
DUAL
Recently diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease, Sarah is unsure how to process the news. To help ease her friends’ and family’s impending loss, she is encouraged to participate in a simple futuristic cloning procedure called “Replacement,” after which Sarah’s last days will be spent teaching the clone how to live on as Sarah once she’s gone. But while it takes only an hour for a clone to be made, things become significantly more challenging when that double is no longer wanted.
DIRECTOR: Riley Stearns
SCRIPT: Riley Stearns
PRODUCERS: Nate Bolotin, Aram Tertzakian, Lee Kim, Riley Stearns, Nick Spicer, Maxime Cottray
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Tyler Gould, Phil Hunt, Tom Harberd, Compton Ross
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Sanjeev M
LINE PRODUCER: Timo Vierimaa
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Michael Ragen
EDITING: Sarah Beth Shapiro
COMPOSER: Emma Ruth Rundle
PROCUTION DESIGNER: Sattva-Hanna Toiviainen
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Anna Rottke
VFX SUPERVISOR: Sophia Lee
PRINCIPAL CAST: Karen Gillan, Aaron Paul, Beulah Koale
COMPANY: XYZ Films
FILMING LOCATION: Tampere, Finland