Following the October parliamentary election that saw the defeat of the right-wing Law and Justice party and appointment of leader of the opposition party Donald Tusk as prime minister, Polish filmmakers are cautiously readying for change.
“So far, our cinema authorities have not changed. It remains to be seen whether they will change their approach to funding more topical or controversial projects. Recent years have been very difficult in this regard,” says acclaimed director Agnieszka Holland.
Holland’s latest film, refugee drama “Green Border,” had been attacked by the right-wing government last year. Her next film, “Franz,” about Franz Kafka, is a Czech-German-Polish co-production to be sold at EFM by Films Boutique.
“We know everything and nothing about Kafka. There are dozens of detailed biographies and the reasons for his growing importance remain a mystery. I am trying to put this film together like a scattered jigsaw puzzle,” she adds.
“So far, our cinema authorities have not changed. It remains to be seen whether they will change their approach to funding more topical or controversial projects. Recent years have been very difficult in this regard,” says acclaimed director Agnieszka Holland.
Holland’s latest film, refugee drama “Green Border,” had been attacked by the right-wing government last year. Her next film, “Franz,” about Franz Kafka, is a Czech-German-Polish co-production to be sold at EFM by Films Boutique.
“We know everything and nothing about Kafka. There are dozens of detailed biographies and the reasons for his growing importance remain a mystery. I am trying to put this film together like a scattered jigsaw puzzle,” she adds.
- 2/17/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Helsinki-based production company It’s Alive Films has boarded upcoming “Copernicus Secrets” as ca o-producer, joining Orka Studio’s Magdalena Zimecka (Poland) and 4film’s Anita Juka (Croatia.)
Recently, Orka co-produced Naomi Watts survival drama “Infinite Storm” by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, as well as Marta Minorowicz’s “Illusion.”
“We like to try new things and we have never been involved in this kind of co-production before. Copernicus was an intellectual giant, whose vision had a tremendous effect on modern science. In a way, this story has been relevant since the 15th century,” said Finland’s Jani Pösö.
Running It’s Alive Films alongside director and longtime collaborator Teemu Nikki, Pösö is also behind “Euthanizer,” Finland’s 2018 Oscar submission, Venice-winning “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic” or children’s film “Snot & Splash – The Mystery of Disappearing Holes,” starring Pekka Strang.
Currently, the duo is shopping their new feature “100 Liters of Gold.
Recently, Orka co-produced Naomi Watts survival drama “Infinite Storm” by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, as well as Marta Minorowicz’s “Illusion.”
“We like to try new things and we have never been involved in this kind of co-production before. Copernicus was an intellectual giant, whose vision had a tremendous effect on modern science. In a way, this story has been relevant since the 15th century,” said Finland’s Jani Pösö.
Running It’s Alive Films alongside director and longtime collaborator Teemu Nikki, Pösö is also behind “Euthanizer,” Finland’s 2018 Oscar submission, Venice-winning “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic” or children’s film “Snot & Splash – The Mystery of Disappearing Holes,” starring Pekka Strang.
Currently, the duo is shopping their new feature “100 Liters of Gold.
- 2/3/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Festival completes its 2023 programme.
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has unveiled the juries for its 27th edition, with jurors including Danish star Trine Dyrholm, and John Altman, who has worked on the music for Titanic, Life Of Brian and No Time To Die.
Jury head Dyrholm and English composer Altman are on the official selection competition jury, alongside filmmakers Xie Fei from China, Hilmar Oddson from Iceland, and Inna Sahakyan from Armenia.
The first feature competition jury consists of Mexican producer Nicolas Celis of Pimienta Films, who heads that jury, alongside Diana Ilijine, former Filmfest Munchen director; Chinese filmmaker Ran Huang...
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has unveiled the juries for its 27th edition, with jurors including Danish star Trine Dyrholm, and John Altman, who has worked on the music for Titanic, Life Of Brian and No Time To Die.
Jury head Dyrholm and English composer Altman are on the official selection competition jury, alongside filmmakers Xie Fei from China, Hilmar Oddson from Iceland, and Inna Sahakyan from Armenia.
The first feature competition jury consists of Mexican producer Nicolas Celis of Pimienta Films, who heads that jury, alongside Diana Ilijine, former Filmfest Munchen director; Chinese filmmaker Ran Huang...
- 10/27/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
In the lead up to its January theatrical release in Scandinavia and in Italy next Spring, Finnish adventure comedy “Snot & Splash: The Mystery of Disappearing Holes” (“Räkä ja Roiskis”) is sharing its trailer exclusively in Variety.
FilmSharks CEO Guido Rud, who picked up world sales rights to the children’s film at the Locarno Film Festival in August, said: “Finnish cinema is known for having a high level of creativity, but a fantasy/adventure film like this one with a super refreshing plot is bound to be well received in cinemas, platforms and festivals, some of which have already booked the film from summer to the fall.”
The family film from director Teemu Nikki is produced by It’s Alive Films, founded by Nikki and Jani Pösö, and displays the dark, witty humor of his previous films, including “The Player,” “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” “Nimby,...
FilmSharks CEO Guido Rud, who picked up world sales rights to the children’s film at the Locarno Film Festival in August, said: “Finnish cinema is known for having a high level of creativity, but a fantasy/adventure film like this one with a super refreshing plot is bound to be well received in cinemas, platforms and festivals, some of which have already booked the film from summer to the fall.”
The family film from director Teemu Nikki is produced by It’s Alive Films, founded by Nikki and Jani Pösö, and displays the dark, witty humor of his previous films, including “The Player,” “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” “Nimby,...
- 9/29/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
“Death Is a Problem for the Living,” now also in Italy.
The Finnish black comedy, directed by Teemu Nikki of “Euthanizer” fame, will premiere at the Rome Film Festival in October.
“I am so proud of everything we have made together, especially ‘Euthanizer’ and [Venice Horizons Extra winner] ‘The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,’ but this one is certainly the most consistent. And the most surprising, because you really don’t know what’s going to happen to these characters,” says Jani Pösö, who produces for Helsinki-based It’s Alive Films.
Co-produced by Andrea Romeo for Italy’s The Culture Business, and scored by Marco Biscarini, it will be distributed in Italy by I Wonder Pictures in the spring, with Scandinavian Film Distribution overseeing the Finnish release.
In the film – previously known as “The Player” – gambling addict Risto (Pekka Strang) and his kind neighbor Arto, who just found out he...
The Finnish black comedy, directed by Teemu Nikki of “Euthanizer” fame, will premiere at the Rome Film Festival in October.
“I am so proud of everything we have made together, especially ‘Euthanizer’ and [Venice Horizons Extra winner] ‘The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,’ but this one is certainly the most consistent. And the most surprising, because you really don’t know what’s going to happen to these characters,” says Jani Pösö, who produces for Helsinki-based It’s Alive Films.
Co-produced by Andrea Romeo for Italy’s The Culture Business, and scored by Marco Biscarini, it will be distributed in Italy by I Wonder Pictures in the spring, with Scandinavian Film Distribution overseeing the Finnish release.
In the film – previously known as “The Player” – gambling addict Risto (Pekka Strang) and his kind neighbor Arto, who just found out he...
- 9/22/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
FilmSharks has picked up world sales rights to Finnish children’s film “Snot & Splash: The Mystery of Disappearing Holes.”
“It was a bidding war. They got offers from everybody,” said FilmSharks CEO Guido Rud.
“Snot & Splash” (“Räkä ja Roiskis”) is produced by It’s Alive Films – founded by director Teemu Nikki and Jani Pösö – and set for distribution in its native Finland (Scanbox), Scandinavian sub distribution by Sweden (Folkets Bio) and Norway (Norsk Filmdistribusjon), and Italy in the spring (I Wonder Pictures).
Poland’s Orka and Post Control Helsinki are also on board.
“We are very proud to be working with one of the most creative of Finnish production companies. Most great scripts and ideas are coming from Finland right now. It’s one of the hottest creative hubs,” added Rud.
The deal was signed during the Locarno Film Festival, where the film premiered as part of Locarno Kids Screenings.
The...
“It was a bidding war. They got offers from everybody,” said FilmSharks CEO Guido Rud.
“Snot & Splash” (“Räkä ja Roiskis”) is produced by It’s Alive Films – founded by director Teemu Nikki and Jani Pösö – and set for distribution in its native Finland (Scanbox), Scandinavian sub distribution by Sweden (Folkets Bio) and Norway (Norsk Filmdistribusjon), and Italy in the spring (I Wonder Pictures).
Poland’s Orka and Post Control Helsinki are also on board.
“We are very proud to be working with one of the most creative of Finnish production companies. Most great scripts and ideas are coming from Finland right now. It’s one of the hottest creative hubs,” added Rud.
The deal was signed during the Locarno Film Festival, where the film premiered as part of Locarno Kids Screenings.
The...
- 8/7/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The industry event of Helsinki International Film Festival runs from September 20-22.
Finnish Film Affair, the industry event of Helsinki International Film Festival, is to open with the Teemu Nikki’s Death Is A Problem For The Living.
The black comedy stars Pekka Strang and Jari Virman as the cheapest drivers in the hearse businessb who decide they need a fresh start.
Death Is A Problem For The Living is produced by Jani Pösö and Andrea Romero for It’s Alive Films. Nikki’s past films include The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic and Euthanizer.
Finnish Film Affair,...
Finnish Film Affair, the industry event of Helsinki International Film Festival, is to open with the Teemu Nikki’s Death Is A Problem For The Living.
The black comedy stars Pekka Strang and Jari Virman as the cheapest drivers in the hearse businessb who decide they need a fresh start.
Death Is A Problem For The Living is produced by Jani Pösö and Andrea Romero for It’s Alive Films. Nikki’s past films include The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic and Euthanizer.
Finnish Film Affair,...
- 8/7/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: The Audiovisual Producers Finland (Apfi) today announced the slate of new series its members are bringing to Berlin (scroll down for the full list) alongside a new industry event titled Focus on Finland to be held during the festival.
Focus on Finland will be an official part of the Berlinale Series Market schedule and will feature an industry panel titled ‘Why So Series?’ which will focus on Nordic scripted comedy and drama series.
The panel will take place at CinemaxX Theatre on Potsdamer Platz on February 20 and will feature writer Brendan Foley (The Man Who Died), producer Jackie Larkin (Strike), commissioner Arttu Nurmi (Modern Men), and distribution executive Jean-Michel Ciszewski (Bnei Aruba). The panel will be moderated by Marike Muselaers, Chief Content & Partnerships Officer, Lumiere Group.
“This year we’re focusing on expanding the industry and audience perceptions of what makes Nordic Noir,” said Laura Kuulasmaa, Executive Director of Apfi.
Focus on Finland will be an official part of the Berlinale Series Market schedule and will feature an industry panel titled ‘Why So Series?’ which will focus on Nordic scripted comedy and drama series.
The panel will take place at CinemaxX Theatre on Potsdamer Platz on February 20 and will feature writer Brendan Foley (The Man Who Died), producer Jackie Larkin (Strike), commissioner Arttu Nurmi (Modern Men), and distribution executive Jean-Michel Ciszewski (Bnei Aruba). The panel will be moderated by Marike Muselaers, Chief Content & Partnerships Officer, Lumiere Group.
“This year we’re focusing on expanding the industry and audience perceptions of what makes Nordic Noir,” said Laura Kuulasmaa, Executive Director of Apfi.
- 2/8/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Titles include magical-realist ensemble tragedy ’8 Views Of Lake Biwa’.
New projects from leading Estonian production firms Tallifornia and Allfilm are among the 20 titles selected for Tallinn Black Nights’ Works in Progress strand.
The 20 projects are split across three strands: eight in the Baltic Event section for titles from the region; six in the International section; and six in the Just Film strand, for emerging filmmakers.
Scroll down for the full list
Tallifornia has two productions in the Baltic Event section: Free Money, written, directed and produced by Rain Rannu; and Miguel Llanso’s Infinite Summer. Both titles are produced by Tonu Hiielaid for Tallifornia,...
New projects from leading Estonian production firms Tallifornia and Allfilm are among the 20 titles selected for Tallinn Black Nights’ Works in Progress strand.
The 20 projects are split across three strands: eight in the Baltic Event section for titles from the region; six in the International section; and six in the Just Film strand, for emerging filmmakers.
Scroll down for the full list
Tallifornia has two productions in the Baltic Event section: Free Money, written, directed and produced by Rain Rannu; and Miguel Llanso’s Infinite Summer. Both titles are produced by Tonu Hiielaid for Tallifornia,...
- 11/1/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Italy’s I Wonder Pictures has boarded Finnish comedy “The Player” as a co-producer ahead of its bow at Haugesund’s industry sidebar New Nordic Films.
The company will also handle local distribution. The project is directed by Teemu Nikki and produced by It’s Alive Films’ Jani Pösö.
“I consider Teemu Nikki as one of the best European directors. He is brilliant, prolific and always surprising,” Andrea Romeo, I Wonder Pictures’ general manager and head of acquisitions, told Variety.
“I think that his cinema will be increasingly appreciated in the world, as well as in Italy. His movies always talk about important issues, keeping a perfect balance between black comedy and auteur cinema. It’s also a great pleasure for us to work with a producer like Jani and a company as prestigious as It’s Alive Films.”
The Finnish duo has just been nominated for the Nordic Council Film...
The company will also handle local distribution. The project is directed by Teemu Nikki and produced by It’s Alive Films’ Jani Pösö.
“I consider Teemu Nikki as one of the best European directors. He is brilliant, prolific and always surprising,” Andrea Romeo, I Wonder Pictures’ general manager and head of acquisitions, told Variety.
“I think that his cinema will be increasingly appreciated in the world, as well as in Italy. His movies always talk about important issues, keeping a perfect balance between black comedy and auteur cinema. It’s also a great pleasure for us to work with a producer like Jani and a company as prestigious as It’s Alive Films.”
The Finnish duo has just been nominated for the Nordic Council Film...
- 8/24/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Five Nordic features are nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize. The prestigious recognition, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, was first awarded to Aki Kaurismäki’s “The Man Without a Past.”
Hlynur Pálmason’s “Godland,” Teemu Nikki’s “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” “Lamb” by Valdimar Jóhannson, Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated “The Worst Person in the World” and “Clara Sola,” directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, will all vie for the award.
It is billed as a prize that celebrates “a unique filmmaking vision, deeply rooted in Nordic culture” and comes with a sum of Dkk 300,000, shared equally between the director, screenwriter and producer.
Trier, fresh off his win at Saturday’sAmanda Awards, already won the prize in 2016 for “Louder Than Bombs.” It’s also not the first nomination for Finland’s Nikki, previously noticed for darkly comedic “Euthanizer.” His new film, featuring Petri Poikolainen who suffers from Ms,...
Hlynur Pálmason’s “Godland,” Teemu Nikki’s “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” “Lamb” by Valdimar Jóhannson, Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated “The Worst Person in the World” and “Clara Sola,” directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, will all vie for the award.
It is billed as a prize that celebrates “a unique filmmaking vision, deeply rooted in Nordic culture” and comes with a sum of Dkk 300,000, shared equally between the director, screenwriter and producer.
Trier, fresh off his win at Saturday’sAmanda Awards, already won the prize in 2016 for “Louder Than Bombs.” It’s also not the first nomination for Finland’s Nikki, previously noticed for darkly comedic “Euthanizer.” His new film, featuring Petri Poikolainen who suffers from Ms,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Canneseries Awards: ‘The Allegation’ And ‘Mister 8’ Take Home Prizes
German drama The Allegation and Finnish offering Mister 8 won big at last night’s Canneseries Awards, each winning two of the most coveted gongs. Ferdinand von Shirach’s legal thriller The Allegation took home the Dior Grand Prize for Rtl Group and Von Shirach won Best Screenplay, while Teemu Nikki/Jani Pösö’s Mister 8 for Viaplay won Best Series and Best Performance for lead Pekka Strang. Elsewhere, the Audience Award went to Serbian crime drama Awake, while Norwegian entrants won awards in the Best Short Form Series category for Liv Mari Ulla Mortensen’s About Saturday and Izer Aliu/Anne Bjørnstad’s Countrymen in the High School Prize For Best Series. The awards rounded out the five-day festival, which has been taking place at the same time as Mipcom.
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German drama The Allegation and Finnish offering Mister 8 won big at last night’s Canneseries Awards, each winning two of the most coveted gongs. Ferdinand von Shirach’s legal thriller The Allegation took home the Dior Grand Prize for Rtl Group and Von Shirach won Best Screenplay, while Teemu Nikki/Jani Pösö’s Mister 8 for Viaplay won Best Series and Best Performance for lead Pekka Strang. Elsewhere, the Audience Award went to Serbian crime drama Awake, while Norwegian entrants won awards in the Best Short Form Series category for Liv Mari Ulla Mortensen’s About Saturday and Izer Aliu/Anne Bjørnstad’s Countrymen in the High School Prize For Best Series. The awards rounded out the five-day festival, which has been taking place at the same time as Mipcom.
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- 10/14/2021
- by Max Goldbart and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Two half-hour gems, Finland’s “Mister 8” and Germany’s “The Allegation,” took top-honors on Wednesday night at this year’s Canneseries, now fully consolidated as one of Europe’s major TV festivals.
The prizes are obvious recognition for the two series creators, Finland’s Teemu Nikki and Jani Pösö and Germany’s Ferdinand von Schirach, and underscore the spirit of innovation at major TV companies across Europe.
“Mister 8” is backed by Finnish SVOD operator Elisa Viihde, “The Allegation” by Germany’s Rtl Group, which is currently in the throes of a high-end scripted drama revolution as it preps its lineup for its relaunched SVOD service, now called Rtl Plus, which goes live on Nov. 4.
Sold by France’s Federation Entertainment and co-written by director Nikki and producer Pösö, Canneseries best series winner “Mister 8” was described to Variety by Nikki as “a thriller with a comedy plot.”
Shot in black and white,...
The prizes are obvious recognition for the two series creators, Finland’s Teemu Nikki and Jani Pösö and Germany’s Ferdinand von Schirach, and underscore the spirit of innovation at major TV companies across Europe.
“Mister 8” is backed by Finnish SVOD operator Elisa Viihde, “The Allegation” by Germany’s Rtl Group, which is currently in the throes of a high-end scripted drama revolution as it preps its lineup for its relaunched SVOD service, now called Rtl Plus, which goes live on Nov. 4.
Sold by France’s Federation Entertainment and co-written by director Nikki and producer Pösö, Canneseries best series winner “Mister 8” was described to Variety by Nikki as “a thriller with a comedy plot.”
Shot in black and white,...
- 10/13/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
“Mister8,” a Finnish comedy series produced by It’s Alive Films, is set to make its international debut at Canneseries. In this meet cute turned meet-your-competition, Juho (Pekka Strang) pits himself against his love interest Maria’s (Krista Kosonen) seven other partners – one for each day of the week. Maria, a wealthy and powerful CEO, has each man comfortably under her control, until Juho uses his wits to weaponize jealousy in the ranks, and hilarity ensues.
Shot in black and white, “Mister8” takes a stylized approach to its comedy, eschewing jokes for situational and absurdist visual humor. Teemu Nikki directs, having successfully partnered with producer Jani Pösö before – Nikki directed “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” which in September won the Armani Beauty Audience Award in the new Horizons Extra section of the Venice Film Festival. They also made the 2017 film “Euthanizer,” which was selected as the...
Shot in black and white, “Mister8” takes a stylized approach to its comedy, eschewing jokes for situational and absurdist visual humor. Teemu Nikki directs, having successfully partnered with producer Jani Pösö before – Nikki directed “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” which in September won the Armani Beauty Audience Award in the new Horizons Extra section of the Venice Film Festival. They also made the 2017 film “Euthanizer,” which was selected as the...
- 10/13/2021
- by JD Linville
- Variety Film + TV
Finnish series “Mister8,” produced by It’s Alive Films and sold internationally by Federation Entertainment, will celebrate its international premiere at Canneseries. The series festival will take place on Oct. 8-13 in Cannes, alongside the 37th edition of the MipTV market.
Starring Krista Kosonen (spotted in “Blade Runner 2049”) and Pekka Strang, reuniting after their 2019 rom-com “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants,” it will see a successful woman, Maria, who shares her life with seven men – one for each day of the week. But when another one comes along, someone needs to go: a young poet, a restaurant owner that likes to party, a former soldier living on the outskirts of the society, or maybe a single dad of two kids.
“It’s a pitch-black comedy about modern relationships,” says producer Jani Pösö. “Maria has come to the conclusion that guys tend to have only one redeeming feature – everything else is total shit.
Starring Krista Kosonen (spotted in “Blade Runner 2049”) and Pekka Strang, reuniting after their 2019 rom-com “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants,” it will see a successful woman, Maria, who shares her life with seven men – one for each day of the week. But when another one comes along, someone needs to go: a young poet, a restaurant owner that likes to party, a former soldier living on the outskirts of the society, or maybe a single dad of two kids.
“It’s a pitch-black comedy about modern relationships,” says producer Jani Pösö. “Maria has come to the conclusion that guys tend to have only one redeeming feature – everything else is total shit.
- 9/21/2021
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
More than 300 global Zoom meetings organised for works in progress, co-production market.
The $58,000 Eurimages Lab Project Award at Haugesund’s New Nordic Films has been presented to A Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic from Finnish director Teemu Nikki and producer Jani Pösö from Helsiniki-based It’s Alive Films.
The film is about Jaakko, a wheelchair-bound blind man who wants to make a challenging journey to see his girlfriend.
The jury praised Blind Man’s “bold artistic approach, that the director and producer propose, takes us deep into the universe of a blind man who has to confront...
The $58,000 Eurimages Lab Project Award at Haugesund’s New Nordic Films has been presented to A Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic from Finnish director Teemu Nikki and producer Jani Pösö from Helsiniki-based It’s Alive Films.
The film is about Jaakko, a wheelchair-bound blind man who wants to make a challenging journey to see his girlfriend.
The jury praised Blind Man’s “bold artistic approach, that the director and producer propose, takes us deep into the universe of a blind man who has to confront...
- 8/21/2020
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦39¦
- ScreenDaily
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