Elsa Maria Jakobsdóttir, Kirsikka Saari and Maria Eriksson are among ten European film graduates selected for the European Film Promotion’s initiative.

Future Frames unspools July 2-5, 2017 at the 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival where the film graduates will attend master classes, industry meetings and introduce their graduation films.

Elsa Maria Jakobsdóttir (Iceland) is the first Icelandic woman accepted into the directing course of the National Film School of Denmark. Her first short feature Megaphone (2013) won Best Icelandic Short at the Northern Wave Festival and was selected for Nordisk Panorama’s short film competition. Atelier, her graduation film focuses on a young woman who goes to remote island to get away from it all, taking refuge at a modern studio utopia. But her stay is interrupted by an artist whose acoustic installation disturbs everything. The tension between the two women rises and the motionless calm gives way to growing frustration and anger.

Kirsikka Saari (Finland) is co-founder of the Finnish production company Tuffi Films. She has written the script for several award-winning short films (including the Oscar nominated Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?), for the feature film Korso and TV mini-series Paradise, selected for Prix Europa. She then turned to filmmaking with studies at the ELO Film School Helsinki. After the Reunion screening at Karlovy Vary is her graduation film.

It’s the story of fifty-year-old Saila who wakes up after a class reunion to find that 1) she's not in her own bed, and that 2) she's sharing it with Esa, a vaguely-remembered classmate. Their morning together brings a lot with it: flashes of last night's party but also of others that are long since gone. The memories refresh old emotions which mingle with her current feelings, those that have been enriched by scepticism about life - and by her hangover.

Maria Eriksson (Sweden) has completed her master’s in film direction at the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts. Several of her short films have been selected at international festivals such as Annalyn (2012). She has extensive experience in working with child actors and used her knowledge for her graduation film Schoolyard Blues that just won Best Student Short and Youth Jury Award at the Aspen Short Fest last month. Schoolyard Blues focuses on John’s first day at school. Unlike the other kids whose parents accompany them and arrange everything., his only support is his 11-year-old brother Mika. The latter turns up unexpectedly with somewhat clinical "instructions for school" to help John overcome the challenges he'll face in the coming years.

We’ve asked two questions to each up-and-coming director.

Elsa Maria Jakobsdóttir
What does it mean for you to attend Future Frames?
To me it feels like a very warm welcome to the world of professional filmmaking where I hope to meet future allies and collaborators.

What’s next for you after you graduate from the National Film School of Denmark?
I’m planning on staying in Denmark for a while. I’m developing a project that is rooted in Icelandic reality and another one that is more pan-Nordic and should be shot in Denmark. The school is helping us boost our projects so that we already have something in the making after graduation.

Kirsiikka Saari 
What does it mean for you to attend Future Frames?
I’m really happy about it, it’s a great platform for a graduating director. I’ve been working as a screenwriter, but as I director I’m only just beginning and hope to get some inspiration and tools for my next films. Plus it’s a good way to get to know and network with European colleagues. It’s important, since almost all Finnish films are co-productions nowadays.

What are your current projects?
I’ve written the script of Stupid Young Heart, the new film by Selma Vilhunen. It's been a long project, and I'm thrilled that shootings will be next autumn. It’s the story of 16-year-old Lenni, who is becoming a father by surprise. He wants to do it properly, even though he has never had a father in his life himself. It’s a co-production between our own company Tuffi Films, Hob Ab (Sweden) and Windmill Films (The Netherlands). I’m also writing a feature-length comedy about an extended family and preparing a new short film.

Maria Eriksson
What does it mean for you to attend Future Frames?
A lot. For me as filmmaker it's a recognition and I look very much forward to getting to know the other directors and European film professionals. For the film it's also a good continuation after its world premiere in Aspen where it won two awards, so I hope these recognitions will help the film’s festival life. 

Do you have a first feature project in mind? 
I have been developing a feature film project for a couple of years, but sadly we haven't yet got the Swedish financing that's needed to be able to finally go into production. Since that was my dream project I'm now going to search for a new film idea. I want to continue my collaborations from Schoolyard Blues with screenwriter Pelle Rådström and producer Farima Karimi. First up is a new short that we aim to shoot this fall.