The former SF Studios top executive has joined the Tampere film commission June 7 to help them boost their international audiovisual activities and promote the city.

A native from Tampere, Toiviainen has spent more than 20 years at SF Studios - including as CEO of the Finnish branch and head of Nordic distribution. Most recently, he was CEO at the Aurora Studios production, investment and distribution group which he helped establish last year.

According to Toiviainen, his role at Film Tampere is threefold:

  • to attract international and Nordic producers, help them access the 25% cash rebate from Business Finland on top of the 10-15% from the City of Tampere, and connect them with local producers and production services.
  • to help mid-sized local audiovisual companies take the next step on the international market
  • to help event-oriented companies scale their business.

“I wanted to get a fresh perspective and focus more on international operations,” he said. My growing, evolving and beloved hometown was perfect for this. I believe I can help Tampere develop into an even more interesting, entrepreneur-friendly and international production city. I will help companies in the audiovisual sector to grow in international circles. My experience and contacts in Finland and internationally will offer interesting opportunities, he added.

Ilkka Rahkonen, Director at Film Tampere said: “At the moment our audiovisual companies are very busy, their order books are full and there is a shortage of experts. We want to continue working for the growth and internationalisation of the film industry. We are excited to have an experienced and respected expert who shares our vision.”

As part of its international push, the Tampere film commission will host pitching events with international partners and develop the industry's agency network, sales and product expertise.

Current productions shooting in Finland’s third largest city include the Finnish TV series Enemy of the People produced by Fire Monkey for C More, sold by REinvent International Sales.

Film Tampere has also secured a strategic alliance with XYZ Films in the US over a number of feature projects, such as the sci-fi thriller Dual starring Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Who) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), shot last year under tight Covid-19 restrictions.