New Visions: Student Films from Finland

Je m’appelle Mariia
dir. Juho Reinikainen, Finland 2024, 25 min
Mariia and her mother fled the war in Ukraine and settled to live in a small town in Finland. As far as Mariia is concerned, Finland is just a staging post: she dreams of studying in France. She and her mother go on a holiday to France. During the trip Mariia feels hopeful, while her mother deals with anxiety regarding not only Mariia but also Mariia’s grandfather, who stayed behind in Ukraine. Will Mariia succeed in her dash for independence in the long shadow of war?
Laura Manninen (translated by Herman Tikkanen)

Confessions of Undecided Women
dir. Milja Härkönen, Finland 2024, 20 min
Confessions of Undecided Women is an animated short documentary consisting of confessions from women in their thirties about childbearing in a society where women’s bodies have been instrumentalised for reproduction. The documentary gives space to the voices of those who are undecided, fearful, or do not want children. It creates room for reflection and discussion on women’s personal choices and societal expectations.
Heta Heikkala

Arcturus
dir. Tuisku Lehto, Finland 2024, 26 min
Memories of the past intertwine with the present in the stylistically playful Arcturus. The warmth of moments captured on a family’s home video merge with the mystical discovery of bear bones and archival footage resurrecting a bear hunt. The film dives into the perspective of the bear crawling on the forest floor, bringing to life the fear of death shared by both bears and humans. The death of a mother and the life of a bear intertwine into a cosmic journey to the edge of the forest.
Jimi Rosling

Raw
dir. Emmi Tenkula, Finland 2024, 10 min
This visually idiosyncratic short documentary concerns itself with immigrants who fled their troubled home countries to settle in safe Finland. However, in their adopted home country, they have run into street violence. By telling the story of these brothers the film asks if it is possible to break the cycle of violence through one’s own actions and to live without constantly having to look over one’s shoulder? The film’s aesthetic choices are bold and alienate the viewer from the violence of the subject to just the right degree.
Laura Manninen (translated by Herman Tikkanen)

Spectacular Specimen
dir. Mónica Celeste, Finland 2024, 26 min
The freely flowing Spectacular Specimen is a film filled with underwater beauty, where researchers explore the endlessly fascinating world of marine life. Underneath the surface, objective attitudes to research work hide true passionate relationships to ocean life. This passion for the ocean, however, can often get lost in the world of financially motivated research funding and a field that often objectifies wildlife.
Aleksi Julkunen (translated by Sofia Lanki)

Directors Juho Reinikainen, Milja Härkönen, Tuisku Lehto, Emmi Tenkula, and Mónica Celeste will attend the screening on Feb 8.