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Films by the water and in the fortress walls – Saimaa Film Festival 20.-24.8.2025
Saimaa Film Festival, held for the first time, invites lovers of cinematic art to the heart of South Karelia’s most beautiful natural and historical cultural landscapes. For five days, from August 20 to 24 2025, cinema will not only be seen – it will become part of the national landscape and flow through its audience, enchanting them with its raw power.
The festival will mainly showcase films from the years 2024 and 2025, but will also include older works and retrospectives. The program features both feature-length and short films.
The festival's screening locations are as unique as the films themselves: At Ukonniemi Beach in Imatra, visitors can dive into the fascinating world of international short films.
At Taavetti Fortress in Luumäki, impressive works by Estonian filmmakers will be shown: Rebel with a Bow Tie (Kikilipsuga mässaja) by Jaan Tootsen and Lioness (Emalõvi) by Liina Trishkina-Vanhatalo.
The rushing waters of the Hiitolanjoki River in Rautjärvi set the tone for Flow, an Oscar-winning animated family film, and Tran Anh Hungin's The Taste of Thing.
At Imatra Summer Theatre, under the gentle embrace of the dimming summer night, audiences will experience Pirjo Honkasalo’s powerful work Orenda and Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme. Expect dozens of films in various picteresque locations – one more unique than the other.
Atmospheric screenings will also be held at: Rasilan Harbor in Ruokolahti, Lappeenranta Fortress, Bio Vuoksi Cinema in Imatra, Nuijamies Cultural Space in Lappeenranta, Festival Club at Imatra’s Koskenpartaa (Koskenparras 5), where the cinematic experience continues through discussions, encounters, and shared moments.
So far, confirmed festival guests include: Mark Lwoff – producer at Buffo Films, Ivo Felt – head of Estonian Allfilm, Tambet Tasuja – film editor and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars), Imatra-born filmmakers Hannu Peltomaa, Eki Peltomaa, and Arttu Peltomaa.
The festival opening will take place on the Koskenpartaa pedestrian street in Imatra, featuring Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves (Kuolleet lehdet) and Calamari Union.
At Bio Vuoksi in Imatra, midnight screenings will include The Year of the Hare (Jäniksen vuosi), The Ballad of Salli (Balladi Sallista), and Guled & Nasra.
In addition to Finland, films will arrive from: Estonia, Latvia, Austria, France, Poland, Germany, USA, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
The festival’s artistic director is Kamran Shahmardan.
The program will continue to be updated until the festival week.
Link to the festival program: https://saimaafilmfestival.com/en/programme/ (to be published gradually)
Get your ticket for the main film events at Imatra Summer Theatre here!
CHANGES ARE POSSIBLE!
Interview Requests:
JP Natunen (Producer): +358 40 7460773, jp@fincrea.fi
Katri Lätt (Chair): +358 40 5588411, katri.latt@gmail.com
Organized by: Mustan ja Valkoisen Teatteri-yhdistys ry (The Black and White Theatre Association)