The first Sunday of the festival gathered filmmakers and enthusiasts at Bio Rex Lasipalatsi. Director Zaida Bergroth and actor Krista Kosonen had a Masterclass discussion after the screening of Miami. The film was also presented at the festival in 2017 when the film originally came out and it had its opening in Toronto International Film Festival. The discussion was led by film journalist Marta Balaga, and the audience had a chance to ask questions at the end.
The Masterclass revealed that Miami was filmed in 25 days. According to director Bergroth, this meant constantly switching the filming location. The crew spent only one day filming in each location. The tight schedule was due to the limited budget of about 1,1 million euros. She was surprised by how much was done in such a short time frame. Although nowadays a busy filming schedule is more of a rule than an exception, Kosonen noted.
Bergroth was the first female director Kosonen worked with. She said Bergroth was demanding but at the same time trusted her actors. Kosonen told the audience that embracing the role of Angela was made easier with the help of the make-up artist and the costume designer. ”They did like 50% of the role for me,” Kosonen said. Angela had hair extensions, fake nails, a tan, and clothing that supported her story.
The audience got their turn at the end with numerous questions. The questions went from the emotions of the actors to the background of the characters, among other things. Questions kept coming, and there was not enough time to answer all of them. ”We are coming back in 10 years for the next anniversary,” Balaga assured those who did not have time to ask their question.
R&A Talks x Lux Audience Award
After the free screening of Sentimental Value, the audience stayed for a panel discussion focusing on equality and the status of women in the European film industry.
The discussion was moderated by R&A’s Executive Director Pauliina Ståhlberg. To start off, she encouraged the audience to do a quick stretch after the long movie. Once everyone had shaken off the stiffness, the floor was given to Hanna Bergholm, director of R&A’s Finnish Gala film Nightborn (Yön lapsi), Liisa Sauri, the Head of MEDIA Office, Creative Europe Desk / Finland; and Sirpa Pietikäinen, Member of the European Parliament (EPP, kok.)
The panelists highlighted that equality is a question of quality and a diversity of voices, but also an essential theme regarding the funding systems. Bergholm emphasized the role of funders: particularly crucial are funders who do not view film production merely as a business, but also as a way to create art and foster diversity. She compared the film funding of two relatively similar-sized nations: the funding granted by the Finnish Film Foundation is around 22 million annually, whereas in Denmark the corresponding funding is approximately 83 million. “If we want to make films, there must also be money to make them,” Bergholm noted.
Sauri, on her part, stated that according to statistical data, women stepping into decision-making roles in the film industry is vital, as it is the best way to increase the proportion of women filmmakers. According to Pietikäinen, policy measures can ensure that the industry pays attention to quotas and supports projects where women can take their first steps in film production. Pietikäinen also reminded that, just like men, women must have the opportunity and permission to fail.
R&A TALKS x Turun yliopisto: Árru
On Tuesday, Bio Rex Lasipalatsi hosted the screening of Elle Sofe Sara’s directorial debut, the Sámi film Árru, which tackled multilayered challenges accompanied by yoik. After the film, journalist Tuukka Tuomasjukka moderated a discussion where Sámi playwright and dramaturge Aarni Pieski and Daniela Alaattinoglu, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Turku, delved into the broad and partly difficult themes of Árru.
The film’s title means an obstacle or resistance in Northern Sámi. The discussion began by outlining the challenges faced by the Sámi community as depicted in the film. Alaattinoglu highlighted the biggest challenges as sexual violence, mining companies’ efforts to take over land inhabited by the Sámi people, and the silence surrounding the first challenge in order to overcome the second. Pieski, in turn, described trauma and living with it as the greatest challenge. The Sámi artist reminded the audience that the intrusion of mining companies into Sápmi also causes trauma, as the land does not actually belong to anyone.
Reindeer act as a recurring symbol throughout Árru, even though its full meaning might not be entirely apparent to a Finnish audience. Pieski said that the symbolism of the reindeer does not fully reveal itself to him either, as he is not a reindeer herder himself. However, the film depicted the everyday life and realities of a modern reindeer herder. For many, reindeer are a reason to live, meaning that if the reindeer are lost, everything else goes with them.
The discussion explored what a major taboo sexual violence is, not only among the Sámi but also in Nordic societies more broadly. “What if the Norwegians find out?” is a very telling line, according to Alaattinoglu. Even though the community wants to act as a strong opposing force against the mining company, at the center of its resistance is a man who should not hold power.
Film quizzing and comic sitcoms
Festivalgoers had a chance test their film knowledge at the Love & Anarchy film quiz on Tuesday night. The official festival bar Juova Hanahuone was packed with excited quiz-takers. The competition included topics from anxious characters to unifying themes in different films. The quiz also tested how well the participants had familiarized themselves with the festival programme: which war the Opening Gala film La Bola Negra handles? Or which Greek mythology creature makes an appearance in the name of the Closing Gala film?
The pencils moved fast as quiz-takers pondered the answers. The audience sank their teeth into all the Q´s with cooperation and humor. The competition was made even more exciting by the opportunity to double your points. By marking your answer with an “X”, a correct answer could earn you two or even three points, but a false answer could make you lose points.
If you missed the quiz on Tuesday, worry not! On Saturday 26th at 6 pm, the cinephiles can prove themselves at a challenging quiz at Juova Hanahuone. You can take part alone, with a friend, or as a team; no pre-registration needed.
At the same time, Finnish comic history was happening at Bio Rex Lasipalatsi when Belzebubz animation series got its premiere. The series is based on JP Ahonen’s comic by the same name. The lobby was filled with the excited fans of the comic, dressed appropriately in the heavy metal theme of Belzebubs.
The screening was opened by JP Ahonen, who told the audience that the series took over seven years to make. Belzebubs is a comic about family, and Ahonen wanted to thank his own family, who have supported the artist during the process. Finally, the whole crew got up on the stage accompanied by a big round of applause.
