The 31st Espoo Ciné International Film Festival ended on Sunday the with the sold-out screening of the award-winning The Traitor.
In addition to the main venue Kino Tapiola Espoo Ciné had screenings in Finnkino Omena and Finnkino Sello alongside Cinema Orion and Kino Regina in Helsinki. ”Due to safety restrictions we had the capacity less than 50% in each theatre so adding extra venues was much needed”, the CEO of Espoo Ciné Mia Vainikainen says. ”The screenings in Helsinki were a success”, she adds.
The festival highlights include the opening ceremonies in Kino Tapiola with Christian Petzold’s Undine, the closing film The Traitor alongside other gala films. The Finnish film gala selection Aalto was presented by the director Virpi Suutari and the producer, voice over in film Martti Suosalo. Forest Giant and the Nordic Shorts screenings were also presented with film maker guests. Another highlight was the night screenings on weekend at Kino Tapiola.
Other festival hits included Andrey Tarkovsky. A Cinema Prayer documentary, Proxima starring Eva Green and Matt Dillon, Elia Suleiman’s It Must Be Heaven and the Oscar nominee from Poland, the edgy Corpus Christi.
The audience welcomed the festival with open hearts. ”The amount of positive feedback has been overwhelming”, Mia Vainikainen says. ”Special arrangements went smoothly, people obeyed the safety instructions and everything went very well. The biggest thank you seemed to be arranging an event during these challenging times. Our goal was to offer excellent films and joy to people, and that goal was absolutely achieved”, she continues.
The festival for the children and the youth Junior Ciné offered a selection of refreshing and thought provoking films that brought content to school days – and also much needed joy to children. ”The event was a success and everything went very well with the school groups”, Junior Ciné coordinator Maria Lehtonen says. The opening film Rocca changes the world had another screening at the Saturday’s family day in Kino Tapiola, and was highly praised by the audience.
Espoo Ciné returns next spring from the 3rd to 9th May, 2021. Junior Ciné will take place from the 3rd to 7th May, 2021.
Espoo Ciné thanks the wonderful audience, partners and the volunteers.
