Finnish cinema takes the stage in the Netherlands

The IFFR will be held for the 48th time from 23 January to 3 February and feature a host of Finnish films and art installations.

The Stroker by Pilvi Takala and Fruits of the Loom by Jaakko Pallasvuo, Antti Jussila and Jari Kallio will make their world premieres in the category dedicated to young and emerging film talent.

The Stroker documents Takala’s eccentric intervention at an East London co-working space, where she offers touching services as a wellness professional from the company Personnel Touch.

Rotterdam will also host Finnish art in the festival’s Perspective and Say No More programmes. The contents of the latter programme go beyond verbal expression to “stimulate a reappraisal of hushed, quiet attention to film”.

In the category, Patrik Söderlund’s Realms short film travels through human evolution into the post-Anthropocene future. In addition, Mika Taanila’s Works on Paper and Film Reader exhibitions will be on display throughout the festival.

AV-arkki, the Centre for Finnish Media Art, will partake in the festival by screening Marja Helander’s Sami-themed Eatnanvuloš Lottit (Maan sisällä linnut), which is also competing at the Sundance Film Festival.