11/09/2025 - The Helsinki International Film Festival’s industry strand continues to champion Finnish and Nordic cinema while expanding its international reach

The 14th edition of the Finnish Film Affair (FFA), taking place from 24-26 September in Helsinki, is set to offer an expanded programme of projects, panels and networking opportunities, reinforcing its position as a hub for emerging talent from Finland, the Nordic region and beyond.

This year’s schedule spans three days across the Gilda cinema at Kulttuurikasarmi and the Bio Rex Lasipalatsi, combining showcases, panels and receptions. Wednesday opens with TV premieres hosted by Elisa Viihde, including Saara Saarela’s All the Best Girls, a coming-of-age story with a dark twist, and Pete Riski’s Icebreaker, set aboard a stranded vessel during a winter storm. Thursday’s Showcase Day presents a curated selection of fiction, documentary, series and F-Weird projects with international potential, giving filmmakers a platform to connect directly with industry guests (see the news).

The panel programme highlights key developments in the European and Nordic audiovisual landscape. The “European Media Industry Outlook & AgoraEU” session presented by Liisa Sauri, head of Media Desk at the Finnish Film Foundation, will explore the proposed successor to Creative Europe and offer insights into trends in European media consumption. In “Chasing the Red Carpet: Dismantling Festival Strategy”, industry insiders Jim Kolmar (SXSW), Jaana Puskala (Finnish Film Foundation) and Magdalena Banasik (M-Appeal) discuss visibility, programming and sales practices. “Beyond the Application: Navigating Europe’s Public Funds” brings together representatives from the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Eurimages, the CNC and the BFI Global Screen Fund to provide practical advice on funding and co-productions.

Other sessions explore funding, distribution and industry strategy. The “EIT Culture & Creativity” event highlights support for the European cultural and creative sectors, focusing on audiovisual media, gaming, architecture, fashion and cultural heritage. In “New Routes to Revenue: Rethinking Distribution”, moderator Marta Bałaga leads a discussion with Victoria Fäh (IPR.VC Lab), Sarah Mosses (Together Films) and Tracie Mitchell (Cyon Media) on how hybrid models and multi-platform storytelling are reshaping audience engagement. “Flying High: Takeaways from Eagles of the Republic [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tarik Saleh
film profile]” features producer Linda Mutawi (of Apparaten) sharing lessons from the rapid Nordic co-production of Tarik Saleh’s Cannes competition film, reflecting on long-term partnerships and cross-cultural collaboration. Finally, the “XYZ Masterclass”, moderated by Aram Tertzakian (XYZ) with panellists Erna Aalto, Emmanuel Eckert and Claire Willats, will explore strategies for emerging filmmakers negotiating a post-pandemic, AI-driven industry and the challenges of competing in an increasingly crowded international marketplace.

Beyond the schedule, FFA’s new awards aim to foster both creative and professional development. The MIDPOINT Consulting Award offers a tailored online script consultancy to a project selected from Fiction in Development. The Connecting Cottbus (coco) Producers Exchange provides a producer from Showcase Day the opportunity to join cocoLAB, a dedicated networking platform for Eastern European cinema. One fiction feature will also receive full market accreditations for the Göteborg Film Festival, granting access to screenings, panels and industry networking.

These new accolades complement FFA’s already-established prizes. The Best Fiction Project, sponsored by the Finnish Film Foundation, awards €3,000 for the international marketing of a project in the Fiction in Progress series. The Best Documentary Project, supported by the City of Helsinki, provides €3,000 to promote a documentary from the selection. The Best Nordic Project, sponsored by Konstsamfundet, grants €3,000 for the international promotion of a project from the Nordic Selection. Finally, the Best F-Weird Project, supported by Post Control Helsinki and Angel Films, combines €2,500 worth of colour grading and €2,500 in production services, offering technical and logistical support to boost international visibility.