Finnish Highlights at Festival de Cannes
Finland is well represented at the Festival de Cannes, the world's most prestigious film festival, held in France for the 75th time on May 17-28, 2022. The two-week festival includes many events that feature the industry's top performances, brightest stars, and rising talent, showcasing the most compelling films worldwide.
The festival also offers an excellent opportunity to connect with Finnish film industry professionals, Finnish Film Foundation representatives, Audiovisual Producers Finland (APFI) representatives, and several regional film commissions (see contact details at the end of this article).
Mark your calendars for the following networking events and Finnish highlights:
Networking events
Scandinavian House
Meet Finnish Film Foundation and Nordic Film Institutes at Scandinavian House, 11 Square Mérimée, just across the street from Palais des Festivals. Join us there for the daily Happy Hour 17:30-18:30!
May 18: Welcome to Scandinavian House!
May 19: Meet the International Sami Film Institute (ISFI)
May 20: Scandinavian Films goes UK
May 21: Meet Scandinavian Film Docs
May 22: Meet Nordisk Film & TV Fond
May 23: Meet the Nordic Film Festivals – Göteborg, Haugesund, CPH:DOX (TBC), Helsinki Love & Anarchy (TBC) & Reykjavik FF
Finnish reception in Cannes 2022 on Sunday, May 22
Finnish Film Foundation hosts the traditional Finnish reception in Cannes in cooperation with APFI and Film in Finland at Le Grand Hôtel Garden, 45 La Croisette, on May 22, 16:00-18:00. This event is by invitation only.
Come and Meet the Nordics on Monday, May 23, at 18:00-20:00
Nordic Film Commissions are organizing a "Come and meet the Nordics" networking event with Haugesund and Göteborg Film Festivals on May 23, at 18:00-20:00. This is an excellent opportunity to catch up with Nordic colleagues. The event is organized at Long Beach, within walking distance from the festival area. The event is almost fully booked; please contact info (at) businessfinland.fi if you wish to attend.
FINNISH FILMS AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Cannes main competition - Boy from Heaven by Tarik Saleh (SE/FR/FI)
Boy from Heaven is produced by Kristina Åberg and Fredrik Zander for the Swedish production company Atmo. The Finnish co-producers are Misha Jaari and Mark Lwoff from Bufo and Toni Valla from Post Control. The production received support from Finnish Film Foundation and Business Finland's audiovisual incentive. Read more about Boy from Heaven in Finnish Film Foundation's news and on IMDb.
61st Critics' Week (Semaine de la Critique) - The Woodcutter Story by Mikko Myllylahti
Finnish production The Woodcutter Story by Mikko Myllylahti (FI/DK/DE/NL) and produced by Aamu Film Company was selected to premiere in Cannes Critics' Week – an excellent achievement for a film that has already created a lot of buzz. The film is also competing for Caméra d'Or, the Best first feature film. Read more about The Woodcutter Story in Finnish Film Foundation's news and on IMDb.
Focus on Finland participates in the "Scandinavia Showcase" 21.5. at Cannes Docs
Organized in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival, Marche du Film, May 17-25, is the busiest film market in the world. Marche du Film includes Cannes Docs, where Focus on Finland will participate with the other Nordic countries in the Docs-in-Progress "Scandinavia Showcase", organized by Scandinavian Films. During the showcase, the producers present their documentary to representatives from international festivals and sales companies. The showcase features one production from each country. The Finnish documentary is Clout Chasers - Like, Follow and Love Me!, directed by Anna-Maija Heinonen and Krista Moisio, produced by Oskar Forstén, Polygraf.
After the event, you are warmly invited to join us in sipping "The Silent Finn" cocktails during the Happy Hour at Scandinavian House (see details above). The cocktails are based on tasty cooperation between Focus on Finland and Helsinki Distilling Company. Read more about Focus on Finland on APFI's website.
Short Film Corner: Producers' Room
Finnish producer Julia Elomäki from Tekele Productions is among the ten talented producers selected to participate in the workshop on Co-production in the short film field at Cannes. If you would like to chat with her, here's one opportunity: the ten producers will gather for a presentation & matchmaking session on Wednesday, May 25, at 2022 SFC | Rendez-vous Industry. Short Film Corner is co-organized by Finnish Film Foundation.
Short Film Corner: Finnish productions
• Allas by PV Lehtinen
• Rabobesto – Or How I Saved a Monster by Mari Mantela
• Tuulikki by Teemu Nikki
Cannes Docs: Docs-in-Progress
• Clout Chasers - Like, Follow and Love Me! by Oskar Forstén, Polygraf
Marché du Film screenings
The Grump: In Search of an Escort, by Mika Kaurismäki, Sales: The Yellow Affair
DOCUMENTARY: Karaoke Paradise by Einari Paakkanen, Sales: Rise and Shine World Sales
The Wait, directed by Aku Louhimies, International sales: Wide. Screening on May 20, 11 am, Online 1
Yellow Sulphur Sky by Claes Olsson, Sales: Feel Content
IN SEMAINE DE LA CRITIQUE: The Woodcutter Story by Mikko Myllylahti, Sales: Totem Films
More information:
Finnish Film Foundation Cannes catalogue, including contact details and films Cannes 2022 – Finnish Film Foundation (ses.fi)
Contact details for Finnish representatives in Cannes:
Finnish Film Commissioners Teija Raninen from West Finland Film Commission, Ilkka Rahkonen from Film Tampere, and Titte Törnroth from Åland Film Commission are happy to tell more about Finnish incentives and offerings as well as their regional highlights.
Finnish Film Foundation has the following staff at Cannes: CEO Lasse Saarinen, Matti Paunio (Head of Production), Kari Paljakka (Film Commissioner), Jaana Puskala (Head of International Dept.), Jenni Domingo (Coordinator / Feature Films), Arttu Manninen (International Promotion Advisor / Documentary Films), Otto Suuronen (International Promotion / Short Films). Their contact details are in the Cannes Catalogue (link above).
Audiovisual Producers Finland (APFI) representation at Cannes: Laura Kuulasmaa (Executive Director) and Vera Ruokonen (Project Manager). See APFI's contacts here.
Finnish production companies and representatives present at Cannes:
- Dionysos Films Oy / Riina Hyytiä, Nina Laurio
- Don Films / Aleksi Hyvärinen, Taneli Mustonen
- Citizen Jane Productions / Leila Lyytikäinen
- Elokuvayhtiö Aamu / Jussi Rantamäki, Emilia Haukka
- It’s Alive Films Oy / Jani Pösö, Anita Hyppönen
- Komeetta Oy / Daniel Kuitunen
- Matila Röhr Productions / Ilkka Matila
- Solar Films Oy / Markus Selin, Hanna Virolainen
- Tekele Productions Oy / Julia Elomäki, Marja Pihlaja
- Yellow Film & TV / Marko Talli, Pietari Vappula, Jackie Larkin
Information sources: Audiovisual Producers Finland, Finnish Film Foundation, Cannes Festival websites
