The Finnish Film Foundation supports 26 projects
- The funding, which totals over €4.5 million, will serve to support the upcoming projects by Mika Kaurismäki, J-P Valkeapää and Ilmar Raag, among others
As announced by the Finnish Film Foundation, 26 projects received support from the organisation during the latest session, held in May. The sum, which totals €4,523,200, was distributed among four feature films, two international minority co-productions, nine documentaries, four TV series and seven short films.
Starting with the Finnish feature films, Mika Kaurismäki’s upcoming drama Master Cheng has received €710,000. Scripted by Hannu Oravisto, the story follows Cheng, a professional Chinese chef who travels with his son to a remote Finnish village. Master Cheng is a Finnish-Chinese production by Kaurismäki’s Marianna Films and last month also received support to the tune of NOK 1,800,000 (€190,000) from the Nordisk Film & TV Fond. The shoot is planned for the summer and early autumn.
The long-awaited upcoming film Dogs Don't Wear Pants [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: J-P Valkeapää
film profile] (working title: Mona) by J-P Valkeapää (They Have Escaped [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: J-P Valkeapää
film profile], The Visitor [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) has received €700,000, with principal photography slated to begin in summer. The film has been co-written by the director and Juhana Lumme and is being produced by Aleksi Bardy for Helsinki-filmi. The other supported features are two children’s films: Vinski and the Invisibility Powder, directed and produced by Juha Wuolijoki (Snapper Films), and Jill, Joy and the Sleeping Clock by Saara Cantell, produced by Sari Lempiäinen (Zodiak Finland); they have received €710,000 and €655,000, respectively.
As for international co-productions, Estonia’s Ilmar Raag (Love Is Blind [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], The Class [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) received support of €150,000 for his Eric Stoneheart, staged by Estonia’s Riina Sildos (Amrion); the Finnish producer is Aleksi Bardy (Helsinki-filmi). The same amount was also awarded to Jonas Selberg Augustsén’s (The Garbage Helicopter [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) sophomore film, The Longest Day [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which is being produced by Sweden’s Bob Film; the Finnish partners are Annalisa Schmuckli and Saana Räntilä from Empire Pictures.
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