Series Mania - six hot series coming from Finland to be sneak-peeked in Lille

As always, the Finnish series showcase is curated and presented by Audiovisual Producers Finland (APFI) which represents over 120 Finnish production companies.

APFI executive director Laura Kuulasmaa said she and her colleagues gave priority to series in development with local partners attached. “All the stories offer something that hasn’t been told or seen yet,” she noted. “The dramas in the showcase all have quite bold subjects and therefore stand out. The comedies have this Finnish quirkiness and also fresh approaches to the stories, characters and settings that haven’t been seen in the international markets,” she added.

Three series have been commissioned by the Finnish pubcaster Yle: Aamu Film Company’s Monster, Rabbit Films’ Queen of Fucking Everything and Critical Point produced by Whatevergroup, while MTV/C More has ordered L/Over, the drama series debut of Gutsy Animations, behind the acclaimed multi-season Moominvalley animated series.

Standout names associated to the upcoming shows include prolific directors, active both in feature film and series-Aleksi Salmenperä, (White Wall, Bubble), Marja Pyykkö (The Paradise, Hooked), Tiina Lymi (Happier Times, Grump, Man and a Junior), Hannaleena Hauru (Fucking with Nobody, Thick Lashes of Lauri Mäntyvaara). But also rising talents making their drama series debut: Kaija el Ramly (Getaways & Dreams), winner of a Nordic Talents award, and Pieruperse, instagram phenomenon and anonymous artist, known for his daring cartoons.

Kuulasmaa underlines that the six projects “that represent ambitious and bold story telling by some of Finland’s finest creative talent” come on the heels of ReelMedia’s Tipping Point, which scooped the Series Mania Prize at the last Berlinale Series. The eco thriller will be presented out of competition at Series Mania Co-Pro Pitching Session March 21^st.

The six Coming Next from Finland series will also be pitched by their respective creators and/or producers Tuesday March 21st between 11.30-12.30, at Lille’s drama industry event Series Mania Forum (March 21-23).

Here is the breakdown of the series:

• CRITICAL POINT (Kriittinen piste)
  3x50’ drama comedy produced by Antti Kaarlela of Oulu-based Whatevergroup for Yle.
  Written by Antti Kaarlela, Antti Kairakari, Aleksi Puranen, Naima Mohamud.
  Directed by Kaisa el Ramly.
  Story: Somali teenager Hodan struggling her way into adulthood with an ultimate goal: winning the Winter Olympics in ski jumping. When she arrives in Ylitornio, Lapland and moves in with her father, she discovers an old ski jump hill. Seppo, a former pro ski jumper, sees the potential in her and becomes her coach, training her for the next Winter Olympics.
  
  The series is currently in its second week shoot. El Ramly who directed the full series told us “I was immediately intrigued by the main character and where she is at the moment in her life, a turning point and place where she has to make big decisions and grow up, but still hold onto her dream of becoming the world's greatest ski jumper. Also the universe in the show is a wonderful mixture of big and small, scary and safe, warm and cold. It’s a relatable story with lovely characters, places AND ski jumping, a truly fascinating sport!”
• L/OVER
  6x41’ mystery drama produced by Gutsy Animations’ Marika Makaroff and Kristina Rytkölä for MTV/C More.
  Written by British screenwriters Frog Stone, Sophie Swithinbank, Kevin Rundle (Eastenders, Hollyoaks).
  Directed by Aleksi Salmenperä.
  Story: the series explores how and why coercive control-sometimes mistaken for love, can be the greatest danger in a relationship. One beautiful spring day, a woman meets a man and falls in love. At first, it looks like the love story of the century - until one day a crack appears. Slowly, nothing seems to work and all the love seems to vanish. The man controls his family with unpredictable bursts of rage, even in public. But why doesn’t the woman leave?

• MIRACLE
  6x42’ mystery drama produced by Johanna Tarvainen and Samuli Norhomaa for Solar Republic.
  Written by leksi Aro-Heinilä, Marianna Lehtonen, Jemina Jokisalo.
  Directed by Marja Pyykkö.
  Story: Ada’s family runs a Christian revival movement. To get her parents’ attention, the teenager starts lying that she sees divine revelations. Ada’s “visions” turn the family’s fortunes around, but the lies lead towards ruin.

• MONSTER
  4x55’ drama produced by Aamu Film Company’s Jussi Rantamäki for Yle.
  Written by Eva-Maria Koskinen.
  Directed by Hannaleena Hauru.
  Story: On a warm summer evening, 16-year-old Nicke Stén discovers that he is in love with his girlfriend's 11-year-old little sister Linnéa Krook.
  20 years later, Linnéa (31) recognises Nicke (36) on TV. Without telling her sister and mother, Linnéa starts tracking down Nicke to find out why he left so quickly and what role she herself played in his disappearance.

• PORIDISE
  8x20’ adult animation black comedy, produced by Severi Koivusalo for the fast-expanding production, financing and distribution group Aurora Studios (Mobile 101) in collaboration with Boutique Animation.
  Written by Pieruperse, Severi Koivusalo and Juhani Ylitalo.
  Directed by Pieruperse.
  Story: The series is a dark and witty adult animation series, adapted from the world created by Finnish cartoon artist & social media phenomenon Pieruperse. It’s the story of three dysfunctional men, whose lives revolve around the local public swimming pool in the small town of Poridise.
  
  It all starts when a sensitive urbanite Ossian arrives in the xenophobic city of Poridise to perform his non-military service at the local public swimming pool. This forces the men of Poridise to think about their own emotional expression and masculinity. At first, everything seems to be fine but it soon becomes clear that beneath the surface lies a chlorine-smelling secret and a trauma that the city of Poridise would like to forget.
  
  “Poridise studies masculinity and its fragile nature,” said Koivusalo. “The series dives deep into the core of humanity: it’s about finding a connection with other people.”

• QUEEN OF THE FUCKING EVERYTHING
  6x45’ drama, produced by Rabbit Films for Yle.
  Written by Tiina Lymi, Minna Haapkylä, Olli Suominen, Tiina Pesonen.
  Directed by Tiina Lymi.
  Story: When the middle-aged real-estate star, Linda is left in massive debt when her husband disappears, she ends up on the wrong side of the law to keep up appearances. One small crime leads to another, but soon she is running a shady yet successful construction business. Linda’s leadership skills help her climb the ladder in the underworld. Maintaining her status in both worlds and having a double love life turns into a struggle in many ways.

For further information on the projects and event: CLICK HERE.