https://www.ffsuomi.com/film-festival.html
Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter presents an eclectic, three-day Festival of Finnish films. Throughout the first weekend of February 2023, the Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter will be presenting a showcase of films from Finland. Screened at the Firehouse Arts and Events Center in beautiful Fairhaven, this will be a weekend with something for everyone: from hard-to-find remastered classics, new takes on beloved characters, to current perspectives in present-day Finland.
The festival kicks off on Friday evening with a showing of the classic 2002 film, The Man Without a Past (original title Mies vailla menneisyyttä), by acclaimed director Aki Kaurismäki. Attendees are also invited to a talk by University of Washington Scandinavian Studies professor Andy Nestingen (details coming soon).
On Saturday we focus on a series of documentaries including the 2016 Tale of a Lake (Järven tarina) which takes a spellbinding journey through the seasons into the life of lakes and their connections with Finnish mythology. Later in the day, learn of the Sami people’s present-day struggle to maintain their indigenous culture and way of life with 2021’s Our Silent Struggle (Eatnameamet). Make sure you stick around for Any Day Now (Ensilumi), the 2020 exploration of an Iranian refugee family awaiting asylum in present-day Finland. Wrapping it up on Saturday evening is Aki Kaurismäki’s 1985 near-cult film Calamari Union, a hilariously absurd tale centered on fourteen Finnish men all named Frank.
Sunday brings us the beloved Moomins, a series of animated adventures that speak to the child in us all, followed by a special short film from our local Sister Cities chapter. We are presenting these two features free of charge. We follow with 2020’s Tove which brings to the big screen the creative life of Tove Jansson, the artist behind the internationally acclaimed Moomins. Experience the flavor of Finland’s southern neighbor Estonia with the inspiring 2015 film, The Fencer (Miekkailija), and step back into the past with The White Reindeer (Valkoinen peura), the 1952 fantasy/horror film and only Finnish film to win a Golden Globe.
You can find us on the web on Facebook and at https://www.ffsuomi.com/ where you can read more about the Film Festival and how to purchase tickets. All films will be in English or English subtitles.
The Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter was founded in 2010 in Bellingham, WA. The national Finlandia Foundation’s mission is to promote Finnish-American culture in the United States and ancestral ties with Finland.
The Firehouse Arts and Events Center is located at 1314 Harris Ave, Bellingham, WA. life
