Documentaries
Hassisen Kone 40 vuotta myöhemmin
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Mika Kaurismäki
- Screenwriters
- Mika Kaurismäki, Antti Kuivalainen
- Producers
- Mika Kaurismäki, Maria Kaurismäki
- Premiere
- 17.3.2023
- SES grant
- 55 000 €
- Budget
- 143 000 €
- Production companies
- Marianna Films Oy
Lock-In
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Chico Pereira
- Screenwriters
- Chico Pereira
- Producers
- Kaarle Aho
- Release year
- in production
- SES grant
- 100 000 €
- Budget
- 367 000 €
- Production companies
- Making Movies Oy
In 1984, 11 miners locked-down inside the mercury mines of Almadén (Southern Spain) to claim for better working conditions. Inside the oldest and most productive mercury mines in world’s history, the miners endured the dark and contaminated galleries for 11 days and nights until their claims were addressed.
35 years later, an emigrated local filmmaker comes back to post-industrial Almadén with the idea of making a film about the mining strike. The premise of the film is to find young locals willing to live inside the now-closed mines for 11 whole days to homage the old miners and recreate the experience of 1984. What starts as a local reenactment of a past mining strike, will soon turn into a social movement throughout the whole shire to demand a better future for this post-industrial area.
The 11 young people locked-down in the galleries attract media attention throughout Spain, with national broadcasters coming to the mines and reporting their days underground. People from the surface sustains the new “strikers” by sending food, messages and support. The new strikers start demanding political solutions to this area. Politicians worry that this film project is turning into a social conflict. Everyday life starts closely resembling the events of 1984. There is confusion as to whether people on the surface are following a script, or showing their genuine desire for a better future. Tensions arise between participants, the mine management and the creatives of the project. Participants threaten with no leaving the mine after the 11th day. And that day is fast approaching.
Do No Harm
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Satu Majava, Joel Tainio
- Screenwriters
- Satu Majava
- Producers
- Satu Majava
- Release year
- in production
- SES grant
- 137 500 €
- Budget
- 285 000 €
- Production companies
- Kolmas Näytös Oy
Do No Harm is a story about a will to help, fear and togetherness. Oksana, 29-year-old Ukrainian doctor is living in Finland when the war breaks out. Oksana decides to do something. She jumps into a bus on its way to the border of Ukraine and Poland. These “rescue operations” are organized in order to bring Ukrainians to Finland. Oksana tries to help Ukrainians settle down in Finland but one trip turns into another. The trips are chaotic and some of them very unsuccessful.
On one of the trips, Oksana finds a new friend Jetta, 36, from the operation bus and they decide to organize a trip of their own – and this time they aim to cross the border. Oksana is hesitant – she might not be able to return because Ukrainian government is putting limitations on doctors leaving the country.
Do No Harm is a film from the sidelines of war – and we witness how war always spreads over a country’s borders. It is a personal story on the struggle to help – and how far you are ready to go, if your whole life is really at stake.
Spy from a Distance
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Ari Matikainen
- Screenwriters
- Ari Matikainen
- Producers
- Ari Matikainen, Ida Karoskoski
- Release year
- in production
- SES grant
- 140 000 €
- Budget
- 325 000 €
- Production companies
- Kinocompany Oy
The significance of the WWII intelligence officer’s secret past begins to be revealed as his grandson begins to investigate his family’s history and his grandfather’s international espionage networks. As the mystery unfolds, it becomes clear to us that Grandfather had to work under the constant threat of the Soviet Union, delivering his findings first to Germany with its allies and after the war to NATO. The film also paints us a startling picture of Finland’s role as a playing field for international espionage, while the protagonist’s observations of the secrets that have been passed down through generations make us all reflect on our own safety today. Have we learned anything in this changed world?
The Beard
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Kristiina Karsten, Otso Reunanen, Silja Salmi
- Screenwriters
- Otso Reunanen, Silja Salmi, Kristiina Karsten
- Producers
- Silja Salmi, Otso Reunanen
- Release year
- in production
- SES grant
- 15 000 €
- Budget
- 40 000 €
- Production companies
- Tuotantoyhtiö Opetuselokuvat Oy
Hyvää yötä dinosaurukset
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Susanna Kaulanen
- Screenwriters
- Eivar Kaulanen, Jorma Kaulanen
- Producers
- Jorma Kaulanen
- Release year
- in production
- SES grant
- 56 000 €
- Budget
- 160 000 €
- Production companies
- Spell Factory Productions Oy
The Making of a Japanese
- International co-production US-JP-FI-FR
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Ema Ryan Yamazaki
- Screenwriters
- Ema Ryan Yamazaki
- Producers
- Eric Nyari, Outi Rousu, Luc Martin-Goussat
- Release year
- in production
- SES grant
- 23 000 €
- Budget
- 504 000 €
- Production companies
- Pystymetsä Oy
Tsukado, located in one of Tokyo’s sprawling suburbs, is one of the largest public elementary schools in Japan with nearly 1,000 students. In the nation’s unique educational system, children are tasked to run their own school in order to teach communal values and how to play one’s role in the group. Intimately capturing the 2021–22 school year from the perspective of 1st and 6th graders, The Making of a Japanese has the magic of childhood with precious moments of joy, tears, and discovery — as they learn the traits necessary to become part of Japanese society
How to Please
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Elina Talvensaari
- Screenwriters
- Elina Talvensaari
- Producers
- Jussi Rantamäki, Emilia Haukka
- Release year
- in production
- SES grant
- 40 000 €
- Budget
- 78 000 €
- Production companies
- Elokuvayhtiö Aamu
Wed has fled the war in Iran after he was pressured to recruit by the local militias. Life here begins well: he gets a job and starts to integrate to the society. Negative decisions handed by the Finnish Migration Service become the biggest obstacles. He is first prohibited to work. Then to study and receive healthcare. Wed cannot be sent back to Irak, because Irak refuses receive refugees. His only option is to stay put as if he doesn’t even exist. What will come out of this?
Magnifica
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Ville Koskinen
- Screenwriters
- Ville Koskinen
- Producers
- Sandra Enkvist
- Release year
- in production
- SES grant
- 70 000 €
- Budget
- 142 000 €
- Production companies
- Polygraf Oy
Magnifica is a short scifi-documentary film about the encounters between Finnish cottagers and an alien species called Pectinatella Magnifica. The film observes the people facing the new alien phenomena and their attempts to get rid of the passive intruder.
Jope ite
- Category
- Documentaries
- Directors
- Marko Talli
- Screenwriters
- Mika Räinä, Nikke Bagge
- Producers
- Marko Talli
- Premiere
- 10.2.2023
- Production companies
- Yellow Film & TV
- Distribution companies
- SF Studios Oy