Rare Exports, the feature debut of Jalmari Helander (photo) has just been awarded €720,000 in production support from the Finnish Film Foundation. The €1.9m sci-fi horror film starring Jorma Tommila, Onni Tommola and Tommi Korpela, will start filming in August. It is produced by Cinet Film, with co-financing from YLE TV1 and development support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond. FS Film will release it in the autumn 2010.
MRP Matila Röhr Productions' Backwood Philosopher (Havukka-ahon ajattelija) was awarded €680,000 towards its €1.5m budget. The film directed and scripted by Kari Väänänen is based on Veikko Huovinen's best-selling novel. Shooting will start in June until August 2009. Nordisk Film will release it on January 15, 2010. Moments (Tuokioita) by Saara Cantell, a vignette movie in seven episodes featuring different women at a crossroad in their lives, was awarded €390,000 towards its €566,823 budget. The project is produced by Pystymetsä Oy, with co-financing from YLE Teema. Shooting will start on April 1 and the premiere through Nordisk Film is set for October 2009.