The Love & Anarchy Film Festival is chugging along like a steam train! Tickets are selling fast, and film lovers are streaming from one theatre to another in the dark September evenings. Additional screenings have now been announced for the final weekend, and there are still many opportunities to enjoy the treats you may have missed!
Adam Elliot, the director who charmed audiences with Mary and Max, returns with his powerful new film Memoir of a Snail, a visually stunning stop-motion animation and Oscar nominee that tackles difficult themes with empathy and warmth. Another popular animated gem is the bold queer musical Lesbian Space Princess, from Australian directors visiting the festival, in which a lesbian princess sets out to rescue her ex from the clutches of straight white maliens.
Little Trouble Girls is a beautiful coming-of-age story reminiscent of Sofia Coppola and Céline Sciamma. Teenager Lucia’s world is shaken at a choir camp in an Italian convent, when a fellow singer awakens forbidden feelings. From the Free Palestine selection, audience favorite All That’s Left of You is an epic drama exploring decades of Palestinian history through the story of a single family.
By popular demand, two of the Nordic Council Film Prize nominees are also returning. Finland’s nominee, The Helsinki Effect, directed by Arthur Franck, is an archival documentary about the 50-year-old CSCE summit that brings history to life with clever connections, fresh illuminating interpretations, and humour. Dag Johan Haugerud, who won last year’s Nordic Council Film Prize with Sex, is nominated again with Dreams (Sex Love), a sensual and thought-provoking drama where a high school girl falls passionately for her teacher, also to be screened again.
R&A favourite Kelly Reichardt’s ironically titled crime comedy The Mastermind set in the 1970s stars Josh O’Connor as the world’s worst art thief. A gently affecting dystopian coming-of-age story Happyend is set in the near future. There a group of high schoolers rise up against their school’s chilling surveillance system.
As a last-minute addition, the Finnish Surprise Gala will fill Bio Rex with juicy action on Saturday evening ! Making its Finnish premiere, this explosive mystery extravaganza is the latest work from one of festival founder Pekka Lanerva’s favourite directors. The other last-minute programme addition Splitsville is a feel-good screwball comedy starring Dakota Johnson, blending fast-paced antics, zany mishaps, and just the right touch of light romance.
Film euphoria doesn’t end with the festival itself — on Friday night October 3, Korjaamo Kino will host the 50th anniversary of the trailblazing The Rocky Horror Picture Show! So fasten your girdle, pack your rice and toilet paper rolls, and surrender to the outrageous pull of this cult classic!
The Love & Anarchy Festival continues in Helsinki until Sunday, September 28. Extra screenings will be held on Saturday, September 27, and Sunday, September 28. Tickets for all screenings are now on sale.
LOVE & ANARCHY RE-RUN SCREENINGS
TORSTAI / THURSDAY 25.9.
BIO REX LASIPALATSI
20.30 Splitsville
LAUANTAI / SATURDAY 27.9.
KORJAAMO KINO
12.15 Lesbian Space Princess
BIO REX LASIPALATSI
15.50 All That’s Left of You
18.30 Finnish Surprise Gala, the director is present!
KINO REGINA
18.45 Splitsville
CINEMA ORION
21.00 The Mastermind
SUNNUNTAI / SUNDAY 28.9.
BIO REX LASIPALATSI
15.45 Happyend
KINO ENGEL 1
18.30 Little Trouble Girls
20.30 Memoir of a Snail
KINO ENGEL 2
17.30 Dreams (Sex Love)
20.00 The Helsinki Effect
CINEMA ORION
20.30 Splitsville