Finnish Film Affair Offers Its ‘Biggest and Brightest’ Showcase for Nordic Talents

variety.com:

Christopher Vourlias As the Finnish Film Affair embarks on the start of its second decade, the organizers of the annual industry event, which runs parallel to the Helsinki International Film Festival — Love & Anarchy, can both reflect on 10 years of success and look ahead for ways to continue to serve both the Finnish and the Nordic film industries. “Finnish Film Affair started in 2012 with 240 participants.

This year, for our 11th edition, we have nearly 500 delegates attending from over 20 countries, with a third of them being international guests and buyers,” Finnish Film Affair director Maria Pirkkalainen told Variety on the eve of the event, which runs from Sept.

21 – 23. It’s a return to form for a Nordic showcase that, like other industry events around the world, has faced a range of disruptions since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. “The past years haven’t been the easiest for the Nordic film industry, and festivals and market events have had their share of challenges as well,” said Pirkkalainen. “With the help and support of both old and new partners and collaborators, we are absolutely delighted to bring everyone our biggest and brightest event yet this year.” Along with a showcase of nearly 50 Finnish films in its program, the Finnish Film Affair includes a host of discussions on topics including the prospects for theatrical distribution in the Nordics to the challenges and dreams of an emerging generation of filmmakers in their twenties.

Part of the event’s success has been its ability to evolve, as Pirkkalainen — now in her fourth year at the helm — and the organizing team continue to look for ways to respond to the industry’s needs. “As both the Finnish film industry and the event continue