For professionals

Saimaa Film Festival is a meeting place for films, filmmakers and new collaboration opportunities. The event brings together film professionals from around the world to network, share their expertise and create new international collaborations in an inspiring environment.

Film Production Professionals Day
12.8.2026 at 09.00-17.00

Register here!

The event will be held at the Festival Club, Koskenparras 5, 55100 Imatra. The event is free to attend. You can participate in the whole day's program or part of it.

Program

09.00-11.30
a familiarization trip to potential filming locations in the area (bus transportation). Departure from the Festival Club.

11.30-12.15
lunch

12.30-12.45
Saimaa Film Festival opening ceremony

12.45-12.50
Greetings from the artistic director, Kamran Shahmardan

12.50–13.00
Seminar opening
Juha-Pekka Natunen, producer, Saimaa Film Festival

PERFORMERS

Ayman Alhussein, filmmaker (UK)
Michel Cordey, director (Canada)
Rafig Hajiyev, director (Azerbaijan)
Jussi Konttinen, journalist (Finland)
Otto Kylmälä, director (Finland)
Panu Kärri, tourism and events manager, City of Imatra (Finland)
Boris Litovchenko, cinematographer (Uzbekistan)
Erol Mintaş, director (Finland)
Genki Takigawa, director and producer (Japan)
Tambet Tasuja, film editor (Estonia)

13.00–13.15
Panu Kärri, tourism and events manager (Finland, Imatra): Regional strengths of the film industry in South Karelia

Presentation on the regional strengths of South Karelia, and the growing opportunities for film and audiovisual productions.

13.15–13.30
Jussi Konttinen, journalist (Finland): Cinema, politics and truth – is contemporary cinema art or a tool for influencing?

13.30-13.45
Ayman Alhussein, filmmaker (UK): Refugee Flows and the Importance of the Screenwriter

13.45-14.00
Rafig Hajiyev, director (Azerbaijan): Azerbaijani cinema – new voices and international opportunities

Presentation on current Azerbaijani cinema, emerging filmmakers and opportunities for international cooperation.

14.00-14.20

Michel Cordey, director (Canada): Cultural differences between Quebec and Canadian cinema

14.20–14.40
Networking coffees
Refreshments and free discussion among seminar participants.

14.40–15.00
Genki Takigawa, director and producer (Japan): Japanese independent cinema and international cooperation

Japanese director and producer Genki Tagikawa will present the operating environment of Japanese independent cinema and the opportunities for international cooperation.

15:00-15:15
Boris Litovchenko, cinematographer (Uzbekistan): Uzbek Cinema and the Status of Women in Uzbekistan

15:15-15:45
Tambet Tasuja, film editor (Estonia): Workshop: The Art of Film Editing
Workshop on film editing, the rhythm of storytelling, and the collaboration between director and editor.

15.45–16.30
Panel discussion: From local stories to the world's big screen: identity and networks in international cinema

Panelists:
Erol Mintaş, director (Finland)
Ayman Alhussein, filmmaker (UK)
Genki Tagikawa, director and producer (Japan)
Rafiq Hajiev, director (Azerbaijan)
Boris Litovchenko, cinematographer (Uzbekistan)
Michel Cordey, director (Canada)

Moderator: Otto Kylmälä (Finland)

16.30–17.00
Workshop: international co-productions in South Karelia - opportunities and development areas
The workshop will be moderated by Juha-Pekka Natunen, producer (Finland)

Closing discussion and networking

Free discussion, project presentations and networking among filmmakers, producers, festival guests, tourism operators and cultural organizations.

17.00-18.00
Free

18.00-20.00
PAXTA / COTTON Rashid Malikov, Uzbekistan, 78 min (2025), Festival Club

20.15-24.00
Professional evening at the gem of Hossuka on the shores of Lake Saimaa (Hosseinlahdentie 141, 55420 Imatra). During the evening, there will be food, networking and the opportunity to use the sauna and swim.

🎬 Call for Entries – Saimaa Film Festival 2026!

Saimaa Film Festival is currently accepting submissions. Our acquisitions team reviews submitted films throughout the year on a rolling basis. To begin the acquisition review process, please fill out the form below.
We accept both fiction, documentary, animation films, in all lengths.

The submitted films must not be older than 2 years. 

Next Saimaa Film Festival will take place in Imatra and South Karelia 12.-16.8.2026.. We are now welcoming film submissions to be part of our diverse festival programme!

Submission period: until 31 March 2026

Submission fees

Full lenght:

31€ (until 31 January 2026)

35€  (1 February - 31 March 2026)

Short films: 

21€ (until 31 January 2026)

25€  (1 February - 31 March 2026)

Bring your film to the unique cultural landscape of Lake Saimaa and connect with audiences, filmmakers, and film lovers from all around the world.

Payee: Mustan ja Valkoisen Teatteri / The Theatre of Black and White
Our Bank Account is: IBAN: FI26 1038 3000 3099 04, BIC: NDEAFIHH
Could you please use the reference number (viitenumero): 4239

After payment, please send us the payment receipt, your name and the name of the film to saimaafilmfestival ( at) gmail.com.

Next festival will take place in South Karelia (Finland) in August 2026. 
More information: saimaafilmfestival (at) gmail.com 

Program application is open until 31.3.2026. Application Form