Blue Sea Film Festival 2026
Rauma, Finland | 20–23 August 2026
Blue Sea Film Festival (Sinisen Meren Elokuvajuhlat) is one of Finland’s longest-running independent film festivals, celebrating its 33rd edition in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Rauma on Finland’s west coast. What began as a local cinephile event has grown into a warm, international meeting place for filmmakers, artists and audiences who share a love for cinema.
In 2026 the festival takes a bold step forward by expanding beyond traditional screening venues into restaurants, cultural spaces and public meeting places across the city. Films, conversations, music and spontaneous encounters become part of Rauma’s streets and seaside atmosphere.
The festival is largely organized through volunteer efforts, so we apologize that not all information is available in English.
Festival Highlights
· Theme Country: Norway
· International and Finnish film guests and films
· A wide selection of movies also with English subtitles or spoken English. We will provide a list here a bit later
· Baltic Herring short film competition
· Discussions, live music and cultural events
· 16 mm film screenings with authentic film projection in Restaurant Otava
· Evening parties in Kapakka2 have free admission
Theme Country: Norway
The 2026 theme country is Norway, whose contemporary cinema has attracted increasing international attention in recent years. The festival explores Norwegian film culture through screenings, discussions and visiting artists.
Special guests from Norway are director Lilja Ingolfsdottir and cinematographer Øystein Mamen, who present the acclaimed Norwegian feature Elskling (Loveable) and meet the audience in connection with the screening. Their visit brings a rare opportunity to encounter current Norwegian filmmaking in an intimate festival setting.
Opening Premiere: Red Beast (Punainen peto)
One of the major events of this year’s festival is the premiere of the Finnish historical drama Punainen peto (Red Beast), directed by Antti-Jussi Marjamäki and Veera W. Vilo. The film tells the story of labour movement leader Eetu Salin and the political divisions of early 20th-century Finland.
A large group of filmmakers and cast members will attend the premiere, making it one of the festival’s most significant gala events. The film also has a special connection to Rauma, as parts of it were shot in the region.
Finnish Films and Filmmaker Guests
Blue Sea Film Festival places special emphasis on encounters between filmmakers and audiences. The 2026 programme includes new Finnish fiction films and documentaries presented by their creators. Among the guests are:
· Josefina Rautiainen (How to Shout)
· Aleksi Salmenperä (Father’s Day)
· Paavo Westerberg (Therapy)
· Fabian Munsterhjelm and Samppa Batal (Pantyhouse)
· Sami Sänpäkkilä (8000: An Art Odyssey)
· Milja Viita (People on Sunday)
· Saku Soukka (Rebellion for Future)
· Jukka Kärkkäinen (The Beauty of Errors)
· Tahvo Hirvonen and Anne Lakanen (Tuomari Nurmio – 13 Cold Songs)
The programme also features internationally connected Finnish productions and music documentaries, including Mika Kaurismäki’s Every Note You Play.
Festival Talks & Discussions
The festival is not only a place to watch films but also a forum for discussing cinema and society. All discussions take place at Kapakka² Front Terrace and are open to the public. Norwegian Cinema Today is in English, others are spoken in Finnish.
Saturday 22 August
Norwegian Cinema Today (12:00) A discussion on the rise of Norwegian cinema, its history, distinctive voice and current directions. Guests include Lilja Ingolfsdottir and Øystein Mamen, and the discussion is moderated by Master of Fine Arts in Film Tarmo Hotanen.
Cinema and Therapy – Can the Screen Heal? (14:30) An exploration of mental health, care and recovery in contemporary cinema and of the emotional impact films can have on audiences.
Sunday 23 August
Film Industry NOW (12:30) A lively panel on the future of Finnish cinema in the age of AI, influencer culture and global streaming
competition. Participants include filmmakers and actors Mari Rantasila, Samppa Batal and Josefina Rautiainen, moderated by theatre director, actor and writer Vili Myrsky Nissinen.
Baltic Herring Short Film Competition
The Baltic Herring competition presents new short films from Finland and the Baltic Sea region. The awards ceremony takes place on Saturday 22 August, and the competition remains one of the festival’s central platforms for emerging filmmakers. You can see all the competing films on Thu, August 20 and on Fri, August 21 in cinema Iso-Hannu.Tickets cost 5 euro / screening.
Music, Drag & Evening Events
Festival days continue into the evening with free outdoor events at Kapakka² Courtyard. The programme includes live music, film guest appearances and performances ranging from blues and chanson to drag and cabaret. Highlights include:
· Jori Otsa & Satu Sarkoranta
· Blue ’S’ Train
· Mari Rantasila & Markku Kanerva
· Anita Bang
· Martti Servo & Moods
These events are designed to bring together festival guests, filmmakers and residents in a relaxed atmosphere.
16 mm Film Screenings
In collaboration with the Finnish 16 mm Film Festival Kaitafilmijuhlat, Blue Sea Film Festival presents screenings from original film prints projected with authentic 16 mm equipment. The programme includes films curated by film enthusiast Teemu Kauppi and a special selection from the work of Rauma filmmaker Jouko Nummela, whose films document local life, dialect and history.
All 16 mm screenings have free admission.
Festival Venues
Main Screening Venue Cinema Iso-Hannu Savilankatu 4, Rauma
Festival Centre Kapakka ² – information desk, festival office, discussions and evening events. Savilankatu 2
Additional screenings and events take place at Restaurant Otava, Restaurant Kissala, Lahdenperä Recreation Area in Eurajoki.
Tickets
· Standard screening ticket: 11 €
· Four-ticket pass: 40 €
· Advance ticket sales begin 10 August 2026
Many discussions, outdoor events and special screenings are free of charge.
Why Visit Blue Sea Film Festival?
Blue Sea Film Festival offers something increasingly rare in contemporary festival culture: genuine closeness between filmmakers and audiences. Screenings are followed by conversations, guests mingle with audiences in Rauman and it’s courtyards, and the historic wooden town of Rauma becomes part of the cinematic experience.
Whether you are a film professional, a student, a critic or a curious traveller, the festival invites you to discover new films, new perspectives and new people by the Baltic Sea.
Welcome to Rauma
Join us for four days of cinema, discussions, music and unforgettable encounters in one of Finland’s most beautiful coastal towns.
Blue Sea Film Festival 2026 – Meet in the movies, and between them.