Föreningen Konstsamfundet and Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy begin their second year of fruitful collaboration by welcoming Swedish-Polish director and screenwriter Magnus von Horn as the lead of the Söderlångvik Masterclass, where he will mentor 12 Nordic filmmaking professionals on the art of character development. His latest feature, The Girl with the Needle (2024) earned nominations for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards and for Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language at the Golden Globe Awards. The film will be screened alongside a discussion with von Horn at HIFF’s Behind the Scenes screening on Thursday, 8th of May at 18:00, Bio Rex Lasipalatsi.
During the three-day focused retreat at Amos Anderson’s summer residence in Kimito Island, selected participants will explore the intricacies of creating characters that truly resonate with audiences. Magnus von Horn’s cinema is characterised by its deep exploration of the darkest aspects of human psychology, featuring morally complex and ambiguous characters that compel the viewer to engage in introspection. As such, the theme of Developing Main characters in Filmmaking is a natural fit for the weekend’s masterclass.
One of the most fundamental principles of the Söderlångvik Masterclass and a core focus of Helsinki International Film Festival’s industry initiatives is to foster collaboration among Nordic filmmaking professionals. This spring, the open call reached its widest audience to date, receiving applications from all Nordic countries. The selection process sought to identify diverse talent, focusing on applicants’ motivations and career paths, ultimately selecting six directors and six screenwriters from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. The combination of disciplines, the professional journeys of each participant, and the broad geographical representation promise a weekend full of exciting potential for future collaborations.
Selected participants for the masterclass are:
Directors
- Anna Blom (Sweden)
- Arman Zafari (Finland)
- Ingvild Dahlgren (Denmark)
- Miia Tervo (Finland)
- Pavel Andonov (Finland)
- Sakaris Stora (Faroe Islands)
Screenwriters
- Elísabet Hall (Iceland)
- Helmi Tolonen (Sweden)
- Marianne Lentz (Denmark)
- Nuutti Sihvonen (Finland)
- Theo Boguslaw (Swede)
- Venla Aakko (Finland)
For its third edition, the Söderlångvik Masterclass will kick off in Helsinki’s Bio Rex Lasipalatsi theatre with a special event open to the public on Thursday, 8th May. The Behind the Scenes screening will feature Magnus von Horn’s latest film, The Girl with the Needle. Set in 1018 Copenhagen, the film follows Karoline, a woman who resorts to the unthinkable in order to survive. The film was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards and received widespread acclaim across Europe. Following the screening, Behind the Scenes will offer the audience a unique opportunity to sit in on an intimate discussion between Magnus von Horn and Variety journalist Marta Balaga, where they will dive deeper into the themes of the film to discuss the visual elements and how they helped create the world as seen through von Horn’s lense.
The press and media can request brief interviews with Magnus von Horn or any of the masterclass participants. Interviews will be available on Thursday, May 8th, from 18 to 19:30. Group or individual interviews with participants during the weekend at Kimito Island can also be arranged upon request.
More information about the masterclass program can be found here. Tickets for Behind the Scenes can be bought here.
For more information:
Lydia Taylerson
Masterclass Producer
lydia@hiff.fi / +358 451349812
For interview requests:
Lois Armas
Masterclass Communications
lois@hiff.fi / +358 445250887