Welcome to enjoy European cinema and the festival atmosphere, because this week we celebrate the Espoo Ciné film festival from Monday, August 29, until Sunday, September 4!
Today, on the opening day of Espoo Ciné, the opening of the children's and youth film festival Junior Ciné, the workshop of the Sinun Ciné idea competition culminating in the selection of the winning idea, and the opening of Crip Ciné and Espoo Ciné with award ceremony have been held – what a celebration!
The Winner of Your Ciné idea competition: Pinja Eskola
At the opening of Espoo Ciné, diverse cinema was celebrated by giving out two awards: the Your Ciné Award was given for the first time and the Espoo Ciné Award for the second time.
The Your Ciné idea competition is Espoo Ciné's initiative towards a more diverse film industry as the competition is aimed at underrepresented minorities, helping their ideas develop into films. The competition was implemented in cooperation with the Writers' Guild and the Finnish Film Directors Association SELO ry.
In today's workshop, the 10 best ideas of the competition were commented on by the mentors and worked on together. The workshop was perceived as motivating and encouraging, opening the doors of the film industry. Janina Korkia-Aho received a special mention for a fascinating idea, while Miska Tuononen received special mention for developing the idea during the day. Pinja Eskola received the first ever Your Ciné award, worth 2,500 euros, with her idea. According to the jury of mentors, Pinja's idea has a wonderful topic worth implementing, which was shared with personal passion. The pitching of the topic was professional, touched the heart of the jury and made them excited for the characters in the film. The purpose of the award is to support the further development of the idea. The award has been supported by Yle, Nordisk Film and the Finnish Film Foundation.
The winner of Espoo Ciné Award: Anna Eriksson
The second Espoo Ciné award ever went to Anna Eriksson! The festival's award is annually given to a person or entity that promotes Finnish film culture towards diverse Europeanness. The jury consists of Espoo Ciné's board members. The award was given by Paula Vesala, who received the first Espoo Ciné award last year. This year's award consisted of a gift card to Valofirma, worth of 3 000 euros.
According to the jury, Anna Eriksson has stubbornly taken over the film after her long music career in a way and style that deliberately sets itself outside the usual scale of Finnish films. Eriksson has not been afraid to give out of herself as a European filmmaker in her directorial works so far, in M (2018), which gave another perspective to the Marilyn myth, and in W (2022), which opened at the Locarno Film Festival and proceed more with the power of startling imagery and its atmosphere than with straightforward storytelling.
The jury says that Anna is brave, because while at the top, she changed direction and became an internationally significant contemporary artist on her new career path. She is exceptionally multitalented and fearless in criticizing the field of arts and culture, in addition to which she has challenged the Finnish perception of art with her art works and statements.
Espoo Ciné arranges a Gala Screening in honor of the award and Anna Eriksson at Kino Tapiola, October 22, at 2:00 pm. There will be shown a European film important to Anna Eriksson, Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Gospel According to Matthew (1964) and Eriksson's own film W. She will be there to introduce both films. Tickets on sale in October.
