Over the last two years, Helsinki-based Aurora Studios has become a heavyweight player in Finland, handling production and financing of local films and series, as well as theatrical distribution of local films via its own brand Aurora, and foreign titles through Cinemanse, acquired in 2021.

The group also runs the private equity Finnish Impact Film Fund with its €13.5 cash line. See our separate story: Aurora Studios steps up international ambitions with larger €13.5m Private Equity Fund: CLICK HERE.

As explained by Petri Kemppinen, CEO at Aurora Studios, the new deal with Scanbox will beef up Aurora and Cinemanse’s existing theatrical line-up, with a much larger and commercially-oriented film slate. “We are beyond excited about this partnership and really look forward to start working with Scanbox. They have a marvellous team and an absolutely stellar line-up, consisting of premium global films that perfectly match Aurora Studios' and Cinemanse's slates. Their overall approach to distribution really resonates with us,” he said.

For the pan-Nordic group Scanbox Entertainment which has been ramping up its in-house productions over the last couple of years, next to its core distribution activities, the Aurora partnership is also a perfect way to increase its overall presence in Finland.

“The new collaboration with Aurora Studios and Cinemanse is ideal for Scanbox as our aim is to strengthen our position not only as a distribution company but also as a company that delivers local content in Finland,” Scanbox Entertainment CEO Thor Sigurjonsson commented. ”Aurora Studios has a strong local presence and an extensive understanding of tendencies and upcoming talent in the Finnish film industry, and we are thrilled about future collaborations with their passionate and talented team”.

Recent Scanbox high-profile releases include Hlynur Palmason’s Godland, Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson’s Beautiful Beings, Katrine Brocks’ The Great Silence, and Mariano Cohn & Gastón Duprat’s Official Competition. The group has a majority stake in Iceland’s Zik Zak Filmworks, distribution deals with Danish production outfits Motor, Deluca Film among others, and Danish star actor Dar Salim.

Cinemanse has released recently the Oscar-favourite Everything Everywhere All at Once, Park Chan-Wook’s Decision to Leave, Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World, Stephen Frears’ The Lost King, Céline Sciamma’s Petite Maman and the animated film Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.

Recent Finnish films released by Aurora include Pamela Tola’s The Worst Idea Ever and Aleksi Salmenperä’s Bubble. Seven local titles are lined up for 2023.

Commenting on the year gone by and state of the theatrical market in Finland post-Covid, Kemppinen said: “In all honesty, 2022 was a peculiar year. After strict restrictions, Finland had more than 40 local feature premieres and even though the local market share was decent [26.9%], the overall admissions dropped by 30% and the average admissions per local title dropped more than half, compared to pre-pandemic times. In our line-up, Everything Everywhere All At Once is nearing 50,000 admissions which is by far the best result in the Nordics compared to population.”

”This year we have strong local titles such as Comeback by Petri Kotwica and Four Little Adults by Selma Vilhunen and our collaboration with Scanbox will no doubt strengthen our position on the market,” he said.