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Stormskerry Maja, a sweeping period drama about a woman’s struggle for survival on a remote 19th-century island, was the big winner at the 2025 Jussi Film Awards, Finland’s equivalent to the Oscars, taking home six awards, including best film and best director for Tiina Lymi. The film’s star Amanda Jansson also took Jussi for best lead performance.

The Jussis were handed out at a gala ceremony in Helsinki on Friday.

Other top winners included Apple Thieves, Missile, My Name Is Dingo, and Once Upon a Time in a Forest, each earning two awards. Notably, this year introduced two new acting categories: ensemble of the year and breakthrough role of the year, reflecting the evolving recognition of performances in Finnish cinema. Additionally, the inaugural visual effects of the year award was presented, marking a milestone for technical achievements in the industry.

The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, known as the “Concrete Jussi,...

Finnish director Tiina Lymi decided to “go big” for “Stormskerry Maja,” set in the 19th century. Based on a series of books by Anni Blomqvist, it has been selected for International Film Festival Rotterdam and Goteborg.

“It had to be done this way. It’s about life and death, love, sorrow and lust. Big emotions. I really respect my producers’ decision to commit to this budget. €4 million is nothing in the U.S., but it’s a lot in Finland.”

In the film – produced by Markus Selin, Jukka Helle and Hanna Virolainen for Solar Films and sold by Picture Tree Intl. – a young peasant woman, married off to a man she barely knows, moves to a remote island. Her new environment isn’t exactly welcoming, but Maja falls for it quickly – and for her new husband Janne.

Lymi shot the film on Åland Islands. “It’s a crazy place in...

Picture Tree Intl. has boarded international sales for Scandinavian period drama “Stormskerry Maja,” directed by Tiina Lymi, adapted from Anni Blomqvist’s series of novels.

The film chronicles the saga of Maja and her family as they embark on a journey to the desolate and remote island Stormskerry. Their daily existence becomes an unwavering struggle for survival, but Maja, holding on to her deep-rooted connection to the island, remains there despite hardships.

The cast includes “Thin Blue Line” star Amanda Jansson and Linus Troedsson, as well as Desmond Eastwood, who appeared in “Normal People.” The film was shot in Swedish and English.

“Stormskerry Maja” is produced by Markus Selin, Jukka Helle and Hanna Virolainen for Solar Films in Finland, and marks its second collaboration with Pti after “The Midfwife.” Nordisk Film will distribute the film in Scandinavia next year.

Pti’s AFM slate includes “Everything’s Fifty Fifty,” written and directed by Alireza Golafshan,...

Finnish helmer Tiina Lymi has found the cast for her upcoming period drama “Stormskerry Maja,” set in the 19th century. “Thin Blue Line” star Amanda Jansson will play the headstrong lead, with Linus Troedsson cast as Maja’s husband Janne.

Jonna Järnefelt, Tobias Zilliacus, Amanda Kilpeläinen Arvidsson will also star, joined by Tony Doyle and Desmond Eastwood, who appeared in “Normal People.” The film will be shot in Swedish and English.

Based on a series of novels written by Anni Blomqvist, “Stormskerry Maja” tells the story of Maja and her family as they move to a barren and remote island. Their everyday life is a relentless battle for survival, but Maja stands her ground. Despite all the setbacks, she stays in Stormskerry, where her roots are.

Produced by Markus Selin, Jukka Helle and Hanna Virolainen for Solar Films, it will be distributed locally by Nordisk Films. The film will premiere...

Helsinki-based sales outfit The Yellow Affair, behind Hulu’s transgender TV drama “Rūrangi,” has boarded the Finnish pic “The Grump: In Search of an Escort.”

The third installment in “The Grump” series about the stubborn elderly Finnish farmer, the pic is produced by Markus Selin, Jukka Hele and Hanna Virolainen for Finnish production powerhouse Solar Films, in co-production with Raoul Reinert for Germany’s Aspekt Telefilm.

This time around, on the pretext of finding a replacement for his beloved vintage Escort car, the Grump heads off to Germany where his estranged elder brother Tarmo is based. Forced to spend time together, the siblings end up healing decades of old wounds.

In the main roles are Heikki Kinnunen, cast as the-not-so-happy old man in the second film “Happier Times Grump,” as well as Aake Kalliala.

The pic, about reconciliation and forgiveness, was co-financed by the Finnish Film Foundation, Telia Group’s...

Set to be finished in February, the new Swedish-language film will tackle some weighty topics, such as love, friendship and – the scariest of all – class. Based on a novel by Kjell Westö, Yellow Sulfur Sky is currently in post-production, with work on the sound mix set to coincide with the Finnish film's bow at Göteborg's Nordic Film Market. Produced by Jukka Helle and Hanna Virolainen, of Solar Films, as well as the director, Claes Olsson, it promises to dig into decades-long relationships, especially the one between Frej and Stella. “It's quite a complex story, with different characters as they meet and become friends, or even enemies later on – as happens sometimes when you get older,” Olsson shares with Cineuropa. “The main character, Frej, meets Stella when he is around 17 or 18 years old. Their relationship goes up and down, like a roller-coaster. They love each other,...

Projects include period drama ‘The Emigrants’ and ‘Margrete – Queen Of The North’, starring Trine Dyrholm.

Goteborg’s Nordic Film Market has revealed the 13 Nordic films that will be presented as works in progress at its online market.

They include two big-budget historical epics, Charlotte Sieling’s Margrete – Queen Of The North, starring Trine Dyrholm as a powerful ruler in the early 15th century; and Erik Poppe’s The Emigrants, about Swedes moving to America in the 19th century.

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Further features set to be previewed include Bille August’s drama The Pact, about Karen Blixen’s...