12-04-2012

Finland Grants 50/50 Support to Four Films

By FNE Staff

    In the second round of a new funding initiative, the Finnish Film Foundation (www.ses.fi) selected four feature films, including two children/youth films, to receive grants of up to 50%.

    Eligible films must have at least 50% of their funding in place. The new 50/50 production support was undertaken to "accelerate the decision-making process for productions that have already raised their financing," according to the Foundation. In 2011 and 2012, 5 million euros has been earmarked for the new fund.

    The following films were awarded funding:

    Feature-length fiction:


    A PATRIOTIC MAN

    Toivo has a rare blood type: his hemoglobin levels are exceptionally high and the Type O Negative blood is compatible with everyone. Toivo, as a result, becomes the secret weapon for the Finnish national ski team´s biggest hope for success, Aino, who is regularly fueled with Toivo´s blood prior to championship-level races. Toivo enters an ethical Jacob-Wrestling-with-the-Angel situation as to the justification of doping, while becoming increasingly involved with the hypocritical success culture sustained by the skiing community and the wider society. The incredible narrative is based on true events. The events have been dramatized, however, so the film is primarily a fictional one that deals with this important theme through dramatic comedy.

    Director: Arto Halonen
    Script: Arto Halonen, Jouni Kemppainen
    Producer: Arto Halonen, Igor A. Nola
    Shooting schedule: 08/2012-02/2013
    Premiere: December 2013
    Distribution in Finland: Future Film (www.futurefilm.fi)
    Financing TV company: YLE (www.yle.fi), Canal Plus
    Budget: 1,731,925 €
    Total support of the Finnish Film Foundation: 740,000 €
    Production company: Art Films production Oy (www.artfilmsproduction.com)
    Co-production companies: MP Film Production
    LION HEART

    Teppo is a neo-nazi skinhead in his early forties. He falls madly in love with Sari. The two move in quickly and Sari introduces Teppo to her ten-year-old son Roope - who is mulatto. Teppo must face and win his own prejudices and those of the boy. Roope tries to get rid of his new stepfather by any imaginable means. When Sari falls ill and must stay at the hospital, the two are left alone. Teppo will need all the bravery in his lion heart to win the trust of Roope. He also needs to choose his side and pay the price for that choice.

    Director: Dome Karukoski
    Script: Aleksi Bardy
    Shooting schedule: 08-09/2012
    Premiere: Autumn 2013
    Distribution in Finland: Scanbox
    Financing TV company: YLE (www.yle.fi)
    Budget: 1.5 million €
    Total support of the Finnish Film Foundation: 750,000 €
    Production company: Helsinki-filmi Oy (www.helsinkifilmi.fi)
    International sales: The Yellow Affair (www.yellowaffair.com)

    Feature-length fiction, children's films:


    ROLLI AND THE GOLDEN KEY

    Rolli Village has been left deserted as the folk have moved into Rolli City, a city built around a big circus run by the Ringmaster. Rolli´s foolish youth mistake has resulted in the village now being closed behind a locked gate. Without foreseeing the consequences he has revealed the secret of the Rolli Village to the Ringmaster, and the village is now in grave danger.

    "Rolli and the Golden Key" takes the spectators into an exhilarating musical adventure. The musical force of the story lies behind the best classic Rolli songs written by Allu Tuppurainen and this time arranged for a big orchestra. Also for the first time we get to see Rolli as a child and watch him grow up. The other main character of the story is a small, fantastical girl called Juniper. In the film, an aged and grey-haired Rolli tells the girl his touching tale.

    Rolli and Juniper become friends, and together they jump into a wild adventure. "Rolli and the Golden Key" is a fun, exciting and touching story about the great power of friendship.

    Director: Taavi Vartia
    Script: Taavi Vartia
    Music: Allu Tuppurainen
    Producer: Marko Röhr
    Shooting schedule: 08-09/2012
    Premiere: 1.2.2013
    Distribution in Finland: Oy Nordisk Film Ab (www.nordiskfilm.fi)

    Financing TV company: YLE (www.yle.fi)
    Budget: 2,135,328 €
    Total support of the Finnish Film Foundation: 700,000 €
    Production company: Matila Röhr Nordisk Oy (www.nordiskfilmtv.fi)
    Co-production companies: Film & Music Entertainment Ltd (UK), Contact Media Group (Russia)

    Feature-length fiction, youth films:


    NO LAND IN SIGHT

    Newlywed Peppi (age 21) is about to embark on a honeymoon cruise with her husband and closest friends. The journey starts off in good spirits but then Peppi runs into some old friends who bring back unpleasant memories from her past. Suddenly strange things start to happen on the ship. Members of Peppi´s group begin to disappear. Peppi starts to realize that the disappearances are payback from her past; a drug related death she was a part of. The situation gets gradually worse and even Peppi´s closest friends seem to have motives to hurt her. Who can you trust when you can´t trust anyone?

    Director: Marko Äijö
    Script: Tiina Tanskanen, Teemu Salonen
    Producer: Marko Äijö, Eerika Vermilä
    Shooting schedule: 06/2012
    Premiere: 14.12.2012
    Distribution in Finland: FS FILM OY (www.fs-film.fi)
    Financing TV company: MTV OY (www.mtvmedia.fi)
    Budget: 459,529 €
    Total support of the Finnish Film Foundation: 200,000 €
    Production company: FremantleMedia Finland Oy