15/02/2013 - The performance of local films and the digitisation of Finnish screens are the main reasons for last year's 8.5 million admissions – the best result since 1983

Better films, better financing, better positioning of Finnish cinema contributed to selling 2.4 million tickets in2012, up 50% on 2011, and 0.3 million more than in the record year of 2010 – for local fare to control 28% of the market, according to Finnish Film Foundation Head of Distribution Harri Ahokas (photo).

Still dominated by US product with +60%, total admissions reached 8.5 million, the best result since 1983, according to statistics published by the Finnish Chamber of Films (Filmkamari), the Finnish Distributors and Exhibitors’ Association.

“There were more domestic premieres than ever – 26 feature, adding 10 documentaries – and they were better financed. More funding has also changed film’s position in society and media from marginal, in the end of the 1990s, to centre,” Ahokas added.

“The digitisation of the screens is also a strong influence: today 95% of all screens are digital, and local fare has always been a strong attraction at mid-size or small venues, which now open the films simultaneously with the big cities.”

2013 has had a flying start, due to the opening of Timo Koivusalo-Riku Suokas’ In the Year of ‘85: Rock Your Memories, which has passed 100,000 admissions and will surely become one of this year’s major hits, per Ahokas, depicting the Finnish manserock scene of Tampere.

The Top Ten list of 2012 releases are spearheaded by US fare, UK director Sam Mendes’ Skyfall [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile] closing in on 700,000 admissions, and US directors Steve Martino-Mike Thurmeier’s Ice Age 4 – Continental Drift on 400,000. First of three local titles on the Top Ten list, Ricky Rapper and Cool Wendy, took close to 310,000.

Top 5 Finnish Releases 2012 (local films):
1. Ricky Rapper and Cool Wendy - Mari Rantasila
Local distributor: FS Film – 309,942 admissions.
2. Road North [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. - Mika Kaurismäki
Local distributor: FS Film – 264,830 admissions
3. Purge [+see also:
trailer
film profile] - Antti Jokinen
Local distributor: Nordisk Film – 208,501 admissions
4. The Storage - Taru Mäkelä
Local distributor: Nordisk Film – 193,654 admissions
5. Iron Sky [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tero Kaukomaa
interview: Timo Vuorensola
interview: Timo Vuorensola
film profile] - Timo Vuorensola
Local distributors: Walt Disney Nordic – 182,420 admissions