29/08/2008

Two promising young Finnish filmmakers Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää and Miika Soini will make their first steps on a red carpet respectively in Venice and in San Sebastian, while the established Mika Kaurismäki and second time filmmaker AJ Annila will present their latest works in Toronto.

Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää‘s feature debut The Visitor [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] which has been developed as part of Cannes Residence du Festival in 2005, will be unveiled on Sunday to Venice Days crowds. The atmospheric thriller seen through the eyes of a young boy, was produced by Aleksi Bardy (Helsinki Filmi), in co-production with BlueLight (UK), Propeller Film (Germany) and Exit Film (Estonia). Wild Bunch handles world sales.

Another Finnish feature debut, Thomas by Miika Soini is making its world premiere at the prestigious Zabaltegi section in San Sebastian (September 18-27). The drama focuses on an elderly man, Thomas (played by legendary Finnish actor Lasse Pöysti) who lives a quiet and solitary life, until a fortuitous encounter forces him to re-examine choices made thirty years ago. The film was produced by Silva Mysterium.

Toronto’s Contemporary World Cinema will introduce Mika Kaurismäki’s Three Wise Men, about three anti-heroes who escape their family woes for a karaoke bar on Christmas Eve. The film produced by Kaurismäki’s Marianne Films, is sold internationally by Paris-based Wide Management. The Vanguard section of North America’s biggest autumn film window, will screen Sauna, a horror movie by AJ Annila (Jade Warrior), produced by Jesse Fryckman and Tero Kaukomaa for Bronson Club.