Aureliano Amadei

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

One of the most important films in the Orizzonti Italiani series is Aureliano Amadei’s debut feature 20 CIGARETTES (20 Sigarette). The Italian film has been awarded both at the David di Donatello Awards and at the Venice Film Festival. 20 CIGARETTES is an autobiographical story about an ill-fated filming trip to Iraq. Amadei miraculously survived a suicide bomb in which 19 Italian peacekeepers were killed.

Aureliano Amadei in Helsinki from September 21 to September 24

Icíar Bollaín & Paul Laverty

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

Icíar Bollaín was born in Madrid in 1967. Her interest in cinema can be traced back to her teenage years and her roles in films such as Victor Erice’s THE SOUTH (1983) and Manuel Gutierrez Aragon’s MISADVENTURE. For LEO (2000) she was nominated for the Goya for Best Actress. Bollaín made her debut as a director in 1995 with HI, ARE YOU ALONE? at the Valladolid Film Festival, where she won the Best New Director award. She subsequently directed FLOWERS FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1999), AMORES QUE MATAN (2000) and TAKE MY EYES (HIFF 2003) – for which for she won seven Goyas, including Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film. EVEN THE RAIN continues her list of original, convincing first-rate films.

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

A Golden Palm and nine films in collaboration with Ken Loach have won Paul Laverty recognition as one of the most acclaimed scriptwriters in recent film history. Born in Calcutta in 1957, his concern for social issues led him to work for a human rights association in Nicaragua. His experiences in Central America took him away from his law studies and inspired him to write the script for CARLA’S SONG, his first film with Loach. CARLA’S SONG was to be the beginning of one of the most prolific professional relationships in contemporary cinema. Laverty’s newest film EVEN THE RAIN cleverly explores power constructs in a deep and multifaceted manner.

Icíar Bollaín and Paul Laverty In Helsinki from September 23 to September 25

Mikael Buch & Nicolas Maury

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

HIFF is proud to present the world premiere of LET MY PEOPLE GO! Mikael Buch’s (left) debut feature is a kitsch-farce partly filmed in Finland and written by one of France’s front row filmmakers, Christophe Honoré. Accompanying Buch at the festival is French actor Nicolas Maury, whose previous films include PARIS, JE T’AIME and HEARTBEAT DETECTOR, a part of the festival programme in 2008.

Mikael Buch & Nicolas Maury in Helsinki from September 22 to September 24

Phil Cox and Dennis Wheatley

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

Director Phil Cox’s (on the right) documentary THE BENGALI DETECTIVE follows dancing detective Rajesh Jin and his colourful group of assistants as they try to solve murders, adulteries and the backgrounds of fake shampoos. Since the corrupt and inefficient police force doesn't enjoy any trust amongst the people of India, they resort to the help of private detectives.

Phil Cox began his career with experimental and ethnographic film before specializing in reportage and long-form documentaries from conflict areas around the world.  He has been honored with the Rory Peck Award and Royal Television Society Award for both his directing and cinematography. Cox has been director of London-based Native Voice Films for 12 years.

Dennis Wheatley was responsible for the sound design and original music of THE BENGALI DETECTIVE. His journey into the world of sound began at a young age. At first, Wheatley experimented with reel to reel tape recorders, synthesizers and anything he could wrestle sound from. Wheatley was gradually drawn into arranging and mixing and it felt like a natural transition for him to start working more on the landscapes of sound in film. Wheatley has worked for several years on a mixture of documentaries, drama, shorts, feature-length and everything in between.

Phil Cox, Dennis Wheatley and producer Giovanna Stopponi in Helsinki from September 15 to September 18

Aksel Hennie, Synnøve Macody Lund and Asle Vatn

For director Morten Tyldum, Aksel Hennie (left) was the only candidate for the lead in HEADHUNTERS, the action thriller based on Jo Nesbø’s novel. Previously Tyldum and Hennie have worked together on the critically acclaimed blockbuster BUDDY (HIFF 2003).

Aksel Hennie is one of Norway’s most popular actors, last seen in MAX MANUS (2008) and A SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN (HIFF 2010). Aksel Hennie has received the Best Norwegian Actor award at both the Amanda Awards and the Kosmorama Film Festival, and has also made his mark at a number of international festivals.

Synnøve Macody Lund (middle) is a journalist and former model. HEADHUNTERS marks her debut as an actor. A very extensive round of casting was required before realising that Synnøve would be perfect for the part.

Aksel Hennie, Synnøve Macody Lund and Asle Vatn in Helsinki on September 19

Hannes Holm

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

BEHIND BLUE SKIES is award-winning director Hannes Holm’s newest feature and a part of the Nordic Exports series. Holm, a guest at this year’s HIFF, is known for his youth film ADAM & EVE. Based on a true story, BEHIND BLUE SKIES is a strong and sympathetic crime flick spiced up with teenage hormones and Swedish sparkle. The main role in the film is played by the newest star of the Skarsgård family, Stellan’s son Bill.

Hannes Holm in Helsinki from September 15 to September 18

Jaak Kilmi and Kiur Aaarma

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

Jaak Kilmi (left) is one of the world’s most original documentarists, and his style is immediately recognizable. Producer Kiur Aarma and director Jaak Kilmi are both known for their film DISCO AND ATOM WAR (HIFF 2009) and have once again combined their skills. In TALLINN SPICY SPRATS: THE CANNED TALES the stories of the living and dead, memories and city legends, children and skeletons come together and are connected by a five-hundred-year-old murder story that occurred in old Tallinn. The histories of Estonia and Finland have often shared a path in Kilmi’s films, making TALLINN SPICY SPRATS a must-see for everyone in Finland.

Jaak Kilmi in Helsinki from September 16 to September 20
Kiur Aarma in Helsinki from September 17 to September 19

Katrin Laur

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

GRAVEYARD KEEPER’S DAUGHTER is a depiction of modern-day Estonia and its problems through the eyes of a child. The film is festival guest Katrin Laur’s second full-length feature. Laur’s debut film, RUUDI (2006), won awards at both the Warsaw Film Festival and Tokyo International Film Festival.

Katrin Laur in Helsinki from September 15 to September 17

Helene Lindholm

The critically acclaimed SHE MONKEYS is a taboo-breaking depiction of developing sexuality. Producer Helene Lindholm has studied literature and philosophy at Uppsala University and graduated as a scriptwriter from the Swedish School of Television in 2001.

Helene Lindholm in Helsinki from September 20 to September 22

Andres Maimik

Arvo Kukumägi, one of Soviet Estonia’s best-known actors, had managed to drink his career into oblivion by the beginning of the new millennium. KUKU – I WILL SURVIVE, directed by festival guest Andres Maimik and Kaidi Kaasik, is not a conventional portrayal of an actor. It is, instead, a revealing journey into the complicated relationship between art and alcohol. KUKU – I WILL SURVIVE is a part of the Tere Eesti! series.

Andres Maimik in Helsinki from September 16 to September 18

Colm Meaney

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

Irish actor Colm Meaney’s long list of well known films and tv series includes THE COMMITMENTS (1991), THE SNAPPER (1993) and STAR TREK, in which he acted for 12 years. Now Meaney stars in Darragh Byrne’s melancholically beautiful PARKED. Finnish actress Milka Ahlroth plays the leading female role.

Colm Meaney in Helsinki from September 17 to September 19

Risteard ”Richie” Ó Domhnaill

The Irish director Risteard Ó Domhnaill filmed his documentary THE PIPE over a period of five years. This touching story is about the people of Rossport who insistently fight for their village against Shell, which strives to build a gas pipe on their land. Ó Domhnaill’s first feature length documentary has been rewarded and praised around the world for its strong message and beautiful cinematography. THE PIPE is screened in cooperation with Greenpeace.

Risteard Ó Domhnaill in Helsinki from September 24 to September 25

Ian Palmer

KNUCKLE, a part of the Watch Me, I’m Irish series, is a ruthless, testosterone-filled documentary that has already thrilled audiences at the Sundance Film Festival. Irish director Ian Palmer followed and filmed the feuding of Irish Traveller families for 12 years. The brutal KNUCKLE is Palmer’s directorial debut.

Ian Palmer in Helsinki from September 16 to September 19

Spencer Susser

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

Only on rare occasions does a director get actors such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman to star in their debut film. Spencer Susser’s tough and stylish HESHER also features music by Metallica. The film is written by Susser and director David Michôd, best known for his gritty debut, Animal Kingdom. Susser, who charmed audiences at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, is currently working on a feature-length version of his zombie short film I Love Sarah Jane.

Spencer Susser in Helsinki from September 18 to September 21

Joona Tena

Finnish director Joona Tena is best known for his breakthrough film FC Venus (2005). Tena’s new feature, BODY OF WATER, is this year’s Finnish Film Gala film. The psychological thriller is based on a story by the Brothers Grimm. At the core of the film is a universal tale of a mother’s worry for her child. The award-winning director has made his mark as a skilful storyteller and gifted visualist.

Seyfi Teoman

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

The promising Turkish director Seyfi Teoman’s new film OUR GRAND DESPAIR has won several awards and was chosen to the Berlinale competition this year. Despite its sorrowful name, the film concentrates on friendship in a surprisingly light and even funny manner. Teoman, a veteran of commercials and short films, studied film at Lodz in Poland, and is currently shooting his new film SAINTS (Evliya).

Seyfi Teoman in Helsinki from September 22 to September 25

Cyril Tuschi

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

The disappearance of the final cut of German director Cyril Tuschi’s documentary KHODORKOVSKY just days before its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival was widely covered in the Finnish media. Tuschi believes that the theft was linked to a Russian campaign against its critics. The critically acclaimed KHODORKOVSKY is a part of the Politics! series.

Cyril Tuschi in Helsinki from September 15 to September 18

Andres Veiel

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

Contemporary German directors have tackled their country’s recent history with films such as THE LIVES OF OTHERS, DOWNFALL and THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX. Andres Veiel follows in their path with his debut fiction feature IF NOT US, WHO?

The portrayal of Bernward Vesper and Gudrun Ensslin is based on a large amount of meticulous research and offers a previously unseen perspective into the birth of the Red Army Faction and the political instability of the 1970s. Festival guest Veiel is known best for his documentaries including THE SURVIVORS and BLACK BOX BRD (HIFF 2002).

Andres Veiel in Finland from September 19 to September 21

Dejan Zečević

PHOTO: SIMO KARISALO

Serbian contemporary cinema has often been inspired by the bloodshed of the country’s recent history, the result being a bunch of rather grim films. THE ENEMY, screened in the festival’s Balkanize! series, convincingly combines paranormal elements to the last days of the tragic Bosnian War. Dejan Zečević is one of the most awarded Serbian filmmakers and has won the FIPRESCI prize for best Serbian director a total of four times.

Dejan Zečević in Helsinki from September 22 to September 25

Journalists

Nick Holdsworth

Journalist and film critic Nick Holdsworth is head of the Eastern European Bureau of Variety and a foreign correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph, The Hollywood Reporter and a number of other English-language titles.

Holdsworth’s interests include social issues and based in Moscow, he is an expert on contemporary cinema of the former Eastern Bloc. Holdsworth has a 20 year experience in journalism, in addition to which he has written two books and directed the documentary THE KYRGYZ ICE-CREAM SELLER: TRAINING FOR CHANGE IN CENTRAL ASIA (2009). He has served as a judge at several Central and Eastern European film festivals. During his visit in Helsinki, Holdsworth is interested in seeing and hearing about new Finnish cinema.

Nick Holdsworth in Helsinki from September 24 to September 25

Paul D. Dasilva

Journalist Paul D. Dasilva represents Screentrade Media and also works as a freelancer. Dasilva is especially interested in the state of short and documentary film and the Finnish film industry. In Finland he will focus on his project Finland Through a Lens, organized together with the Finnish Film Foundation.

Screentrade has established a reputation for getting to the heart of industry matters, among them the digital debate, film piracy and screen jumping, is read by industry players. Screentrade is also one of the few magazines to concentrate both wholly and exclusively upon exhibition and distribution.

Paul D. Dasilva in Helsinki from September 18 to September 24

Finnish Guests

Director Jouko Aaltonen (Battle for the City)

Director Ulrika Bengts and producer Mats Långbacka (Iris)

Director Zaida Bergroth (The Good Son)

Director Mia Halme (Where Once We Walked)

Director Tonislav Hristov (Rules of Single Life)

Director Kari Häkkinen (Eetu ja konna)

Director Ville Jankeri and producer Rimbo Salomaa (Sixpack)

Director Márton Jelinkó (Indebted)

Director Mika Kaurismäki (Mama Africa / Brothers)

Director Elias Koskimies and actors Malla Malmivaara and Jussi Vatanen (Dirty Bomb)

Director Peter Lindholm (Where Once We Walked)

Director Hanna Maylett (Helping Mihaela)

Director Aleksi Mäkelä and screenwriter Marko Leino (Home Sweet Home)

Producers Taru Mäkelä and Jouko Seppälä (Unknown Woman)

Director Raimo O Niemi (Garbage Prince)

Director Jussi Parviainen (In Cold Blood 2)

Director Aleksi Raij (Finnsurf)

Director Oskari Sipola and actress Liina Turkama (August)

Director Ville Suhonen (Frozen Hell – Prisoners of War in Finland 1941–1942)

Director Juuso Syrjä (Ella & Aleksi)

Director Markku Tuurna (Salla – Selling the Silence)

Actress Tiina Weckström (Hella W)