R&A Talks x Animalia: Hen

This free-of-charge event takes place in the cinema after the screening of Hen. Tickets to the film are sold separately on the film’s page.

Organised in collaboration with the animal rights organisation Animalia, this panel discussion explores the life of chickens from various perspectives. Experts Tiina Ollila, Laura Uotila, and Pinja Mustajoki will discuss what a chicken’s life is generally like and how people can influence it through their choices.

Tiina Ollila works as a senior specialist at Animalia. She is also a doctoral researcher and non-fiction writer with expertise in production animals and slaughter. Ollila has just published a book titled Broilerin tarina (The Story of the Broiler), which delves into the short life of Finland’s most common bird. She has lived with free-range chickens for a decade.

Laura Uotila is Animalia’s animal welfare expert, specializing particularly in animal-related legislation and animal policy. She has also studied to become an animal trainer and has lived for years with chickens rescued from factory farms.

Pinja Mustajoki has extensively researched the role of animals in front of the camera. Mustajoki is familiar with cinematic representations of power dynamics between humans and animals, both on the big screen and in covertly filmed animal rights videos.

The discussion will be moderated by Nadja Uusiperhe, who is studying directing at the Theatre Academy. Her work explores the relationships between humans and other species.