"Frozen Land" to facilitate promotion of Finnish film exports
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The Finnish film Paha maa (Frozen Land), directed by Aku Louhimies and produced by Solar Films, won the first prize - the Nordic Award 2005 - and three other official prizes at the Gothenburg Film Festival on Sunday. The main award came with a cash prize of over EUR 11,000. The other three prizes were the Fipresci Award, the Church of Sweden Film Award, and the Kodak Nordic Vision Award, which was given for cinematography.
Director Aku Louhimies said that he was surprised at the approval by both the audience and professionals from all over the world, as last December Paha maa did not appeal to the organisers of the Berlin International Film Festival. However, the representative of the Cannes Film Festival, which will take place in May, has already welcomed Louhimies to bring his film to the Riviera.
Buena Vista International Finland, a part of the Disney Company, has been the international distributor of all Solar Film releases so far - for over six years. Therefore, Disney's Nordic subsidiaries have the first option to distribute the films of Solar Film.
Producer Markus Selin says that the export of Paha maa will be launched at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The film will also be the flagship film of the Central Organization of Finnish Film Producers (SEK), and a trial event entitled the Finnish Film Market will be organized in connection with the Tampere Film Festival in March.
Raija Nurmio of SEK says that their biggest dream is to create a similar export association to Musex Finland, which represents the entire Finnish music industry abroad. Its name would be Favex, and it would initiate and facilitate the marketing, promotion, and sales of Finnish films abroad.
Director Aku Louhimies said that he was surprised at the approval by both the audience and professionals from all over the world, as last December Paha maa did not appeal to the organisers of the Berlin International Film Festival. However, the representative of the Cannes Film Festival, which will take place in May, has already welcomed Louhimies to bring his film to the Riviera.
Buena Vista International Finland, a part of the Disney Company, has been the international distributor of all Solar Film releases so far - for over six years. Therefore, Disney's Nordic subsidiaries have the first option to distribute the films of Solar Film.
Producer Markus Selin says that the export of Paha maa will be launched at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The film will also be the flagship film of the Central Organization of Finnish Film Producers (SEK), and a trial event entitled the Finnish Film Market will be organized in connection with the Tampere Film Festival in March.
Raija Nurmio of SEK says that their biggest dream is to create a similar export association to Musex Finland, which represents the entire Finnish music industry abroad. Its name would be Favex, and it would initiate and facilitate the marketing, promotion, and sales of Finnish films abroad.
Helsingin Sanomat