The Finnish director’s new film The Other Side of Hope will have its international premiere in competition at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival.

The film is the second instalment in Aki Kaurismäki’s trilogy focusing on port cities after Le Havre. It’s the story of a Finnish travelling salesman (Sakari Kuosmanen) and a Syrian refugee (Shermwan Haji) crossing paths. The film is shot in 35mm by the director’s long-time collaborator Timo Salminen.
The Other Side of Hope is produced by Kaurismäki’s Sputnik, in co-production with Bufo, in association with YLE, ZDF / Arte and support from The Finnish Film Foundation, Finland 100 Programme and The Church Media Foundation. B-Plan Distribution will release the film domestically on February 3rd, 2017. The Match Factory handles world sales.

Kaurismäki’s much anticipated new film is among the first 14 titles selected for the Competition and Berlinale Special programmes of the 67th Berlin Film Festival unspooling February 09-19, 2017.

Kaurismäki will also be in Berlin as Jury member of the Baumi Script Development Award (€20,000), established in 2015 by Pandora Film and the Film und Medienstiftung NRW, in honour of the late producer/distributor Karl ‘Baumi’ Baumgartner, long time friend to Kaurismäki. “30 years ago his [Kaurismäki]’s collaboration with Pandora film began with Shadows in Paradise, and a deep friendship with Baumi developed. “We are very happy to have Aki Kaurismäki join us this year as guest judge”, said Reinhard Brundig, co-founder of Pandora Film.