For its third edition, the Finnish mini-market Finnish Film Affair (September 23-25), held parallel to the Helsinki International Film Festival Love & Anarchy (September 18-28) is going to use the presence of its 60+ international guests to platform new talents and help them receive international industry guidance.

For the first time, a Project Development Clinic for emerging directors will be held and ten projects will receive feedback from international experts on script development, co-production, marketing, packaging and sales. Sara Norberg, (pictured) managing director of the Helsinki International Film Festival (HIFF) said: “The Finnish Film Affair was launched not only to market Finnish films but also to provide tools for filmmakers to reach international audiences. We will focus on the critical factors during the development phase that impact the international sales and distribution potential of the film. The idea is not only to present the best Finland has to offer but also to nurture projects coming through the pipeline.” 

Veteran UK production expert Simon Perry who just started teaching at Aalto University’s production department, will moderate a panel on ‘How to Develop a Film that Travels’ on Thursday September 25.

Other top international guests in attendance are Marie-Pierre Valle (Wild Bunch), Heidei Zwicker (Sundance Film Festival), Alexander Bohr (ZDF/Arte, documentary sales expert Jan Rofekamp (Films Transit International), and Jan Roeloffs (Jupiter Communications) who will release on French cinemas Dome Karukoski’s Heart of a Lion on October 22.

A total of 36 new Finnish films, works in post-production, production or development will be introduced to the 300+ participants. Among the 19 films screening are the Toronto selections The Grump (number one at the current Finnish box office) and They Have Escaped, the comedy Raspberry Boat Refugee, Best Nordic Film in Haugesund and documentary The Voice of Sokurov that screened in Locarno.

Works in Progress to be pitched include The Fencer by the established Klaus Härö, Stupid Young Heart by Academy Award nominated Selma Vilhunen (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?), Mother’s Wish by Joonas Berghäll (Steam of Life) and Cross my Heart by Petri Kotwica (Black Ice).

The 27th Love & Anarchy Helsinki Film Festival has a rich programme of more than 100 screenings and numerous international guests supporting their films. Among them are Danish editor Niels Pagh Andersen who will discuss his collaboration with esteemed directors such as Joshua Oppenheimer and Pirjo Honkasalo, Swedish director Anna Odell (The Reunion) and her Icelandic counterpart Benedikt Erlingsson (Of Horses and Men). The successful Icelandic comedy drama is also screening as part of the Nordic Council Film Prize special presentation, along with Denmark’s Nymphomaniac Volume 1-Director’s Cut, Finland’s Concrete Night, Norway’s Blind and Sweden’s Force Majeure

For the full programme check: www.hiff.fi