Näreranta joins HIFF after a successful project at Helsinki Music Centre
Kaisa Näreranta, who is known for her versatile work in the field of arts and culture, has been appointed Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy organization’s new executive director. Näreranta leaves her previous position as Helsinki Music Centre Foundation’s project manager and operative to start working at HIFF on the first of April. During her career at the Helsinki Music Centre Foundation Näreranta has been responsible for the foundation’s successful organ project. Näreranta has also produced the documentary film The Echoes of the Universe – The Music of Kaija Saariaho, which premiered last year.
“Even though I’ll join the HIFF organization from a different field within the arts and culture industry, the principles, financial matters, and audiences are quite similar. I have had the opportunity to do a long and diverse career in music, so taking on a new and different challenge seems quite interesting.” Näreranta states.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a hard time for the arts and culture sector. The largest movie festival in Finland was no exception and also suffered from the pandemic restrictions. “I want to continue the great work the HIFF organization has done so far. Despite the obvious challenges, the organization survived the pandemic and its aftereffects extremely well and has continuously aimed to strengthen its presence throughout the year.” Näreranta says.
Even though the HIFF – Love & Anarchy festival is the organization’s most well-known and visible event, the executive director’s work doesn’t end there by any means. In addition to the HIFF – Love & Anarchy festival and the Finnish Film Affair, which is an event aimed at professionals in the film industry, the organization is now preparing to host smaller events throughout the year and the Love & Anarchy Spring Break festival, which is held now for the second time in March.
Anna Möttölä, who has been the organization’s executive director since 2017, ends her term on the 31st of March. “I officially start as an executive director on the first of April, but thankfully I will be able to observe the Spring Break festival’s preparations alongside Anna this March.” Näreranta says happily. “Love and Anarchy, Spring Break, and FFA are all very high-quality artistic multicultural festival concepts, which all bring together the audience, the media, as well as the professionals in the field. These festivals have a crucial role in supporting the Finnish film industry internationally. I think that there’s great potential in cultivating and further developing this aspect of HIFF“, she continues.
HIFF is also not an organization that’d be afraid to be controversial. Näreranta views culture and the arts as a very valuable part of our society. “In these uncertain times, we need the hope and the feeling of safety which art provides. Movies bring different languages, cultures, and stories close to us, which in turn brings us closer to each other. Of course, there is also research that shows that consuming art and culture has positive health benefits, but primarily, art is a fundamental value that must be protected. It is an important part of our national culture and legacy, which should also be taken into account when we discuss funding for the arts.” Näreranta summarises.