07/10/2005

Headed by Outi Rousu, Periferia Productions is the producer of Valo, the only Finnish film from 2005 targeting specifically the children audience (8-12), which is being released today by Fs Films with over 30 prints (a big release for Finland).

The 1.9m€ film produced by Periferia in Finland with Giraff Film in Sweden and Speranza Film in Norway, is the first feature length project scripted by Markku Flink (head of POEM, the only Finnish regional film fund). The story freely interprets the childhood diaries of Finnish artist and philosopher Aleksanteri Ahola-Valo, written over a hundred years ago. The main character in the film, Valo, is a 9-year old boy who wants to establish a secret school for children with his friends, in a small village in the early 1900s. Not only do they succeed, in spite of strong resistance from the adults, but they bring homeless children hope for a better future at a time when children’s rights were not even considered.
The film starring Terjo Eloranta, Rea Mauranan and Olka Hoila, is directed by Kaija Juurikkala whose first feature film Takin’ Moses For a Ride won a State Quality Award in 2002. Broadcasters YLE TV2 in Finland and NRK in Norway have also co-financed the film, and theatrical releases in Sweden (Sonet Film ) and Norway (Oro Film) are scheduled for Spring 2006.

For Outi Rousu, making Valo as a Nordic co-production was the only way to get the film made as financing for films in Finland is just too tight. "Every year, we get a little extra from the Finnish Ministry of Culture and Education, thanks to the success –both domestically and internationally- of many of our films," she told Cineuropa. "But we would need 20M€ (more than the double currently available for feature film production through the Finnish Film Foundation) to feel really comfortable. Thanks to the EU, we get more experience and more courage to go abroad to look for international partners."
Periferia for instance is for the second time the Finnish co-producer of UK based Anne Beresford (MJW Production) whose new project Gal Planet will be directed by Margaret Williams and shot in Finland in 2006. According to Outi, a Swedish co-producer will also be attached to the project.