The Blue Sea Film Festival’s programme is once again wonderfully diverse – from local gems to treasures from beyond the blue sea! One of the most anticipated films is A Light That Never Goes Out, directed by Lauri-Matti Parppei, awarded in Cannes and filmed in Rauma. In addition to the director, producer Ilona Tolmunen and actors Samuel Kujala, Anna Rosaliina Kauno and Kaisa-Leena Koskenkorva, will attend the festival.

From the Finnish line-up, audiences can enjoy Apple Thieves, Defiant, and the international Finnish drama Sebastian. The documentary selection takes viewers far and wide: Iceberg Shadow and the football film Ultras travel the globe, while Pepe and Favela Funk Finlândia dive deep into music. Politics takes the spotlight in The Helsinki Effect. For families, there’s Niko ja myrskyporojen arvoitus, Risto Räppääjä ja kaksoisolento, and the award-winning animated film Flow.

For lovers of the unusual, there’s Mr. Ylppö’s directorial debut Kronos kairos – with screenwriter Mika Lätti and actor Protoni Järvinen also present – as well as Mika Taanila’s entirely thermal-camera-shot Failed Emptiness.

This year’s theme country is Lithuania, bringing four films ranging from drama to documentary. Among them, Paradise Not Lost will be accompanied by its director, Linas Mikuta, as a festival guest.

The guest list shines with names such as Elina Knihtilä and Pirjo Lonka, cinematographer Jarmo Kiuru and director Teemu Nikki (Sata litraa sahtia). Mari Rantasila will appear both as the director of Levoton tuhkimo and as a musician on the Bluukkarit stage. Sharing that stage are also Keskiyön auringosta ikuisuuteen producer Olli Happonen with his band New Silver Girl feat. Paola Suhonen (the film’s director), as well as Favela Funk Finlândia producer and 6Kulma! rap duo percussionist Tommi Suoknuuti.

The discussion programme explores Lithuanian film culture (with Mikuta and Laura Kazbaraite), the visibility of the Finnish countryside in film (with Knihtilä and festival director Timo Metsäjoki), and with producer Tolmunen, the question of whether Rauma could be considered a “film city.”

Also returning are Kaisa Kukkola’s Pedapäivä, Ari Impola’s MeKa-TV for special groups, and KaitaFilmihullu Teemu Kauppi’s Kino Verstas.

Something new, something old, and above all, something blue is once again on offer this year.

Please have a look of our films with either English subtitles or spoken English.