28/08/2025 - The Helsinki-based event celebrates its 14th edition with an expanded showcase, a strong international outlook and the return of the daring F-Weird pitching series

The 14^th edition of the Finnish Film Affair (FFA) will unspool in Helsinki from 24-26 September, presenting a record 45 projects from Finland, the Nordic region and further afield. At the heart of the event is the Showcase Day on 25 September, which will be divided into six categories spanning fiction, documentary, TV and the festival’s boldest strand, F-Weird.

This year’s selection was curated by newly appointed head of Industry Lydia Taylerson together with international experts Angeliki Petrou (Thessaloniki International Film Festival) and Oli Harbottle (Dogwoof) for documentaries, and Claire Willats (Two Magpies Entertainment) and Mathias Noschis (Alphapanda) for fiction in development and in progress. Taylerson underlined the surge in interest for the event: “Our Fiction in Development and Documentary open calls both received almost twice as many submissions as they did last year, which goes to show the desirability and necessity of an industry event such as ours.”

In the Fiction in Progress showcase, six new films by renowned Finnish directors will be highlighted, including works by Antti J Jokinen, Alli Haapasalo, Aleksi Salmenperä, Dome Karukoski, Selma Vilhunen and Aku Louhimies. Meanwhile, the Fiction in Development section will present nine early-stage Finnish projects, many already structured as international co-productions. Among them are a new feature by Lauri-Matti Parppei, following his Cannes ACID entry A Light That Never Goes Out, as well as projects by Anna Blom, AJ Annila, Anssi Kömi, Ninni Saajola and Mara Tamkovich. Returning FFA alumni include Suvi West (Homecoming [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Niklas Lindgren (Bad Women), Aino Suni (Heartbeast [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Khadar Ahmed (The Gravedigger’s Wife [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]).

The documentary selection will introduce nine Finnish projects in development and production, tackling diverse themes ranging from Sápmi rap music and an animated exploration of the brain to intimate family stories and collective resistance. The Nordic Selection shines a light on emerging voices from across the region. Highlights include Mads Mengel’s Danish drama on family dynamics, a Swedish sci-fi-comedy hybrid by Lars Vega, an Icelandic theatre-set drama by Graeme Maley and a Norwegian documentary about unresolved childhood memories by Jakob H Svensen. Finland is represented by Pekka Ollula, pitching a rural romantic zombie horror-comedy currently in production. Television projects are also in focus, with six Finnish series in development showcased under the Focus on Finland banner, in collaboration with Audiovisual Producers Finland - APFI, The Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle, the Finnish Film Foundation and the AVEK Audiovisual Centre. They range from thrillers and crime-dramas to teen series and animation.

Returning after its popular debut, the F-Weird strand will once again push the boundaries of format and genre. Ten projects from Finland, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Germany, Greece and the USA will be presented, spanning topics from a child-eating giant and an animated documentary about breasts to a carpenter-cum-hitman, a sauna-dwelling ghost and a politician who turns into an extinct dodo. Presenting talents include Ali Charmi, Vilja Autiokyrö, Juha Ilmari Laine, Toni Kurkimäki, Minos Nikolakakis, Margo Nowicka, Milla Puolakanaho, Samra Šabanović, Olli Salmi and Guillermo Vejar.

Three juries will decide on the best projects across the categories. The jury for best Nordic and fiction projects includes Aleksandra Zakharchenko (Marché du Film), Jim Kolmar (SXSW) and Marike Muselaers (Nordisk Film Production). The jury for the best documentary project features Katre Kajamäe-Gupta (Eurimages), Jason Ryle (Toronto International Film Festival) and Natalie Campbell-Reid (Together Films). Finally, the jury for the best F-Weird project features Claire Willats, Javier Puerto Garcia (Tallinn Black Nights) and filmmaker Maria Sol.

Here are the selected projects for the 2025 Finnish Film Affair:

Fiction in Development

Thundering Smoke – Khadar Ahmed (France/Finland/Belgium)
Producers: Sébastien Onomo (Special Touch Studios), Minna Haapkylä (Rabbit Films), Adrien Chef (Paul Thiltges Distributions)

The Wolf's Bride – AJ Annila (Finland/Estonia)
Producers: Roosa Toivonen, Petri Kemppinen (Good Hand Productions)

Ragnar's Escape – Anna Blom (Finland)
Producers: Mia Palmgren, Anna Blom (Jamedia Production)

The Offspring – Niklas Lindgren (Finland)
Producer: Miia Haavisto (Tekele Productions Oy)

Alone With the Moon – Lauri-Matti Parppei (Finland)
Producer: Ilona Tolmunen

Find Me – Ninni Saajola (Finland/Spain)
Producers: Jonna Enroth (Aster Films), David Troncoso, Kevin Frazier (Studio 60)

Abyss – Aino Suni (Finland)
Producers: Emilia Haukka, Jussi Rantamäki (Aamu Film Company)

Northern Lights – Mara Tamkovich (Finland/Poland)
Producers: Merja Ritola (Greenlit Productions), Magdalena Zimecka (ORKA)

When Johan Johanaš Disappeared to the Mountains – Suvi West, Anssi Kömi (Finland/Norway/Sweden)
Producers: Julia Elomäki (Tekele Productions), Sara Beate Eira (Screaming Fox Productions), Eva Åkergren (Nordisk Film Sweden)

Fiction in Progress

Tell Everyone – Alli Haapasalo (Finland)
Producer: Teea Hyytiä (Helsinki-filmi)

Son of Revenge - The Story of Kalevala – Antti J Jokinen (Finland/Lithuania)
Producers: Johanna Enäsuo, Marko Röhr, Antti J Jokinen (ReelMedia Oy, Storm Inc)

Hippo Love – Dome Karukoski (Finland/Greece)
Producer: Marko Talli (Yellow Film & TV)

Lapland War – Aku Louhimies (Finland)
Producers: Andrei Alén, Aku Louhimies (Backmann & Hoderoff)

Father's Day – Aleksi Salmenperä (Finland)
Producer: Miia Haavisto (Tekele Productions Oy)

Happy Sassy Beautiful – Selma Vilhunen (Finland)
Producer: Rimbo Salomaa (Solar Films)

Nordic Selection

Polyorama – Graeme Maley (Iceland)
Producer: Arnar Benjamín Kristjánsson (Sagafilm, Fenrir Films)

The Guest – Mads Mengel (Denmark)
Producer: Victor Cunha (Monolit Film)

Pigtown – Pekka Ollula (Finland/Sweden/Greece)
Producers: Pekka Ollula (Oohlala Pictures), Daniel Lägersten (GötaFilm)

The Bearer of Chaos – Jakob H Svensen (Norway)
Producer: Graham Film AS

Arne Goes to Space – Lars Vega (Sweden)
Producer: Anette Brantin (Nexiko)

Documentaries

Secret Reading Club of Kabul – Shakiba Adil, Elina Hirvonen (Finland/Norway)
Producers: Marko Talli (Yellow Film & TV), Ten Thousand Images

Rapland – Miina Alajärvi (Finland)
Producer: Oona Saari (Illume)

Jamila's Children – Arezo Ariapoor (Finland)
Producer: Iiris Härmä (Guerilla Films)

Second Acts – Anu Kuivalainen (Finland)
Producer: Markku Tuurna (Filmimaa Oy)

The Runaway Brain – Sanna Liinamaa (Finland)
Producer: Jorma Kaulanen (Kajo Productions Ltd)

In a Box – Liinu Grönlund, Okku Nuutilainen (Finland)
Producer: Juha Löppönen (Mouka Filmi)

The Recovery – Jukka Metsäaho, Jyri Paajamaa (Finland)
Producers: Van Padhaal, Jyri Paajamaa (Pablo Films)

The Sense and Sensibility – Hanna Nordenswan (Finland)
Producer: Hannu-Pekka Vitikainen (Zone2 Pictures Oy)

Creaturama – Epic of the Animals – Juha Suonpää (Finland/Estonia)
Producers: Juha Suonpää (Swamphead Oy), Liis Nimik (Klara Films Oü)

F-Weird

Weight Dropping – Vilja Autiokyrö (Finland)

The Feeder – Ali Charmi (Finland/USA)
Producers: Hannu Aukia, Mike Macari, Simon Lewis (No-Office Films, Koji Productions)

The Carpenter – Toni Kurkimäki (Finland)
Producers: Tuukka Haapamäki, Toni Kurkimäki (Blankface Oy)

Red – Minos Nikolakakis (Greece)
Producers: Vassilis Economou, Minos Nikolakakis (Asphalt)

Can you hear me please? – Margo Nowicka (Finland)

Boobs – Milla Puolakanaho, Juha Ilmari Laine (Finland)
Producer: Tero Suomela (Animagency Oy)

A Dreamed Path – Samra Šabanović (Finland/Bosnia and Herzegovina)

An Amateur – Olli Salmi (Finland)
Producer: Tuomas Kohtamäki (Cinerain Oy)

Everything Melts – Guillermo Vejar (Mexico/Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Producers: Michelle Silva Saucedo, Ishak Jalimam (Gatuno Films)

Before & After Sauna Ghost (Finland/Sweden/Germany)
Producer: Laura Laaksonen (Riimu Films)

Focus on Finland

Transporter – Jussi Hiltunen (Finland/Iceland)
Producers: Antti Kaarlela, Jukka Vidgren, Andri Omarsson (Whatevergroup, Glassriver)

Epic Family – Ami Lindholm (Finland)
Producer: Tero Suomela (Animagency)

Arrowhead – Timo Vuorensola, Marko Mäkilaakso (Finland)
Producers: Essi Suomela, Johanna Enäsuo (ReelMedia Oy)

Octopus (Finland)
Producers: Johan-Sebastian Rintala, Ilona Tolmunen (Fragile Ego Films Ab, Elokuvatuotantoyhtiö Made)

The Truth Seeker (Finland)
Producers: Sasu Norhomaa, Johanna Tarvainen (Just Republic)

The Blueprint of a Crime (Finland/Norway/Singapore/South Korea)
Producers: Mari Kinnunen, Conor Zorn, Cathrine Simonsen (Moskito Television, Beach House Pictures, Monster)