29/09/2008

The 21st Helsinki International Film Festival - Love & Anarchy closed last night with the screening of Laurent Cantet’s The Class [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carole Scotta
interview: Laurent Cantet
film profile] and the announcement of the Finnkino Prize winner: Jordan’s entry for this year’s Oscars, Captain Abu Raed [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Aman Matalqa.

The film about a reclusive airport janitor, who dreams of seeing the world but has to make do with books and brief encounters with passengers, was one of ten titles competing for the newly created Finnkino Prize, attached to a nationwide distribution contract. Captain Aby Raed will now be released in Finland through Finnkino, Finland’s largest distribution company, on December 19. Fortissimo handles world sales.

A record number of international feature films (120) screened at the HIFF, to feed Helsinki audiences’ growing taste for more adventurous film experiences. Top international guests who attended the event include French writer Frederic Beigbeder (write of 99 F [+see also:
trailer
film profile]); Estonian filmmakers Veiko Õunpuu Autumn Ball [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Ilmar Raag (The Class [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Rene Vilbre (I Was Here [+see also:
film review
film profile]); Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas (Silent Night [+see also:
trailer
film profile]); and the two nominees for the Nordic Council Film Prize: Stian Kristiansen from Norway (The Man Who Loved Yngve [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Danish filmmaker Jakob Thuesen (Erik Nietzsche Part 1).

During the Finnish gala evening last Thursday, experienced documentary filmmaker Kiti Luostarinen was named Director of the Year by the Association of Finnish Film Directors, and Kaarle Aho and Kai Norderg (Black Ice [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kai Nordberg
interview: Petri Kotwica
film profile]) Producers of the Year by the Central Organization of Finnish Film Producers.