Five days, ten indie-pearls within everyone’s reach in the nationwide online event and almost 40 Covid-19 safe Happy Bubble private screenings in Helsinki’s cinemas. The 9th Season Film Festival brings festival magic back 5.–9.5. 

On each day of this year’s Season Film Festival, two films from the programme are released on Festival Scope at 11 am. Each film is available to watch for five days. The festival opens with Josephine Decker’s two artist stories MADELINE’S MADELINE and SHIRLEY, which become available to screen on Wednesday 5.5. On Thursday, we experience documentary bliss with portraits of the punk-queen POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÈ and legendary choreographer Alvin Ailey in AILEY. On Friday, we focus on men: Agnieszka Holland’s captivating biopic CHARLATAN tells the story of a Czechoslovakian miracle healer targeted by the country’s communist government. SLALOM is a chilling portrait of a problematic relationship between a young athlete and her coach. On Saturday, we get to enjoy two Latin American dramas: THE SLEEPWALKERS and THE PINK CLOUD. The festival’s last day is dedicated to the lovable docu-spectacle GUNDA and Peruvian motherhood drama SONG WITHOUT A NAME.

In addition to the stellar online programme, Season Film Festival brings movie magic safely back to Helsinki’s cinemas with nearly 40 Happy Bubble private screenings. Fresh Oscar winners such as MINARI and PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN as well as Chloé Zhao’s (Nomadland, Love & Anarchy 2020) breakthrough THE RIDER light up the Happy Bubble programme. Superstars Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan shine in AMMONITE while Patty Jenkins’ blockbuster-sequel WONDER WOMAN 1984 finally gets its Finnish cinematic premiere. French drama TWO OF US tells the heart-warming love story of two older women. The screenings are topped off with WONDER MOMS, a collection of short films celebrating mothers in a special Mother’s Day screening on Sunday 9.5.

“The Happy Bubble screenings have really inspired people to return to cinemas” programme coordinator Outi Rehn rejoices. “And the online screenings deliver the festival atmosphere to homes all across Finland – and comfort people longing to get back to the live experience” she continues.

The Covid-19 safe, private Happy Bubble screenings were sold in advance for groups of six people. Tickets for the online screenings are on sale until 9 pm on Sunday 9.5.