Earth Song, The Kidnapping of a President and Nox to premiere at IFF Rotterdam
Several Finnish short films are also in the programme.
Updated on Jan 12, 2026: A paragraph added on Nox which has received development support.
Image: Earth Song / Sons of Lumière
Three feature films supported by the Finnish Film Foundation have been selected to the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Earth Song, a drama directed by Erol Mintaş, is in the Harbour section. The film follows Rojîn, a Finnish-Kurdish doctor, whose dedicated work in conflict zones has left her estranged from her family. She faces an unexpected visit from her father that forces a confrontation of her complex and painful past. The film is written by Mintaş and Mikko Viljanen and produced by Sons of Lumière.
Nox, a fiction film directed by Matti Harju, has also been selected to the Harbour section. The buddy comedy turning into an existential revenge thriller is produced by Testifilmi.
The Kidnapping of a President, image: Stanislav Honzik / TACK Films
The Kidnapping of a President, selected to the Limelight section, is a black comedy directed by Samuli Valkama. Set in 1930 and based on a true story, the film follows a group of officers who decide to kidnap the first president of Finland, now retired, K. J. Ståhlberg. Valkama wrote the film with John Lundsten. The production company is TACK Films.
Seven other Finnish productions are in the Rotterdam programme, including I am a River by Heidi Piiroinen, which is in the Tiger Short Competition.
Feature films
- Harbour: Earth Song, dir. Erol Mintaş, production: Sons of Lumière
- Limelight: The Kidnapping of a President, dir. Samuli Valkama, production: TACK Films
- Harbour: Nox, dir. Matti Harju, production: Testifilmi
Short films
- Tiger Short Competition: I am a River, dir. Heidi Piiroinen, production: Palo Art Productions
- Short & Mid-length: Feeling Defensive (Part 1), dir. Pilvi Takala
- Short & Mid-length: A Letter from Elli, dir. Elina Saloranta
- Short & Mid-length: VITA, dir. Mox Mäkelä
- Focus: The Future Is NOW: Dancers Only, dir. Siiri Selin, production: Aalto University
- Cinema Regained: Out of Order, dir. Antti Tuomikoski
IFF Rotterdam takes place January 29 – February 8, 2026.