100 Sunset - Key Still 2_TIFF

 

Saimaa Film Festival Program
8.–16.8. & 29.8.2026

MOST FILM SCREENINGS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

Tickets for screenings at Nuijamies Venue and Lusikkovuori luola  are 5€.
Bio Vuoksi: The Stranger 7€.

Changes are possible. THE PROGRAM IS BEING UPDATED. THE SCHEDULE MAY CHANGE.

The program is also gradually being added here: https://saimaafilmfestival.com/ohjelma/

We are currently adding information about the films to our website.

SAIMAA FILM FESTIVAL IS ORGANIZED WITH THE SUPPORT OF KÄRKI LEADER AND LÄNSI-SAIMAA LEADER.

SATURDAY 8.8. PREVIEW SCREENINGS

FESTIVAL CLUB 14:00-17:15

  • NANCY Luciano Zito, Argentina, 75 min, 2025
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSyY4tH3rq0
  • NEWBORN Alejandro Zuno, Mexico, 104 min, 2024
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o5V6QD1QrY

    FESTIVAL CLUB 17:30-19:00
    BOGOSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL     Columbia 

    • MALICIA Edward Gómez, 15 min, 2024
    • MI VICHE TODO EL DÌA / MY DAILY VICHE Juan Camilo Moreno, 26 min, 2025
    • LA MONA / HOT WAVE Laura Gutiérrez, 18 min, 2025
    • AGACHAR EL ROSTRO / LOWERING THE GAZE Camilo Medina Noy, 12 min 35 sec, 2025

TUESDAY 11.8.

FINNISH FILMMAKSERS

FESTIVAL CLUB 10:00-11:45

FESTIVAL CLUB 12:00-13:30

FESTIVAL CLUB 14:00-15:25

FESTIVAL CLUB 15:45-17:20

  • RUHJOTTU MIES / THE MAN UP NORTH Emilia Kovanen, 37 min, 55 sec, 2025
  • VALINTA Marko Kivioja, 38 min 44 sec, 2024
    https://youtu.be/U5f-kS_Wd3M?is=3E9kItPGRkyI8TTX
  • KUULAT / BEADS Hannaleena Bensky, 12 min, 2024
  • PUSKEE VEEMÄISEEN PAIKKAAN - THE BEAUTY OF AUTOMOBILES Jukka Kärkkäinen, 5 min, 34 sec, 2026

FESTIVAL CLUB 17:30-19:20

FESTIVAL CLUB 19:30-21.20

FESTIVAL CLUB 21:30-22:30

FESTIVAL CLUB 22:40-00:00

WEDNESDAY 12.8.

FESTIVAL CLUB 10:00-11:30

THE FINNISH MEDIA ART CENTER

********

 

PROFESSIONAL EVENT (OPEN TO ALL)

PROFESSIONAL EVENT, OPEN 12:30–17:00

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.

FESTIVAL CLUB 18:00-20:00

  • PAXTA / COTTON Rashid Malikov, Uzbekistan, 78 min, 2025. THE CINEMATOGRAPHER IS PRESENT.

THURSDAY 13.8. 

FESTIVAL CLUB 10:00-11:30

BIO VUOKSI 13:00-15:15

  • ONI-GIRL / DEMON GIRL Genki Takigawa, Japan, 120 min, 2025

FESTIVAL CLUB

ELOKUVIA 16:00-17:15
KAPINA ELÄMÄN PUOLESTA Saku Souka, Finland, 80 min, 2025
https://vimeo.com/1138878026?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

FESTIVAL CLUB

TANSSIELOKUVIA 17:00-18:30

  • ODE MARITIMA / NAVAL ODE Fu Le, France, Portugal, 6 min, 2025
  • YES! Madli Lääne, Estonia, 3 min, 2024, Choreo: Raido Mägi
  • DAUGHTERS Sara Europaeus, Netherlands, Finland, 24 min, 2026, Choreo: Sara Europaeus
    https://vimeo.com/1157595787/cd7905cd58?fl=ip&fe=ec
  • AVALANCHE Silja Tuovinen, Finland, 10 min, 2026, Choreo: Silja Tuovinen
  • Siõrškuâđam - VAIETUT ASKELEET Laura Feodoroff, Kati Kallio, Finland-Saamenmaa, 13 min, 2025, Choreo: Laura Feodoroff
    KESKUSTELUA

FESTIVAL CLUB 19:15-22:15

AZERBAIJANI FILMS

  • VARHAISET TUNTEET / ERKEN HISSLER / EARLY FEELINGS Nurlan Hasanli, 17 min 42 sec, 2025
  • A LONELY PERSON`S MONOLOGUE Emin Efendiyev, 53 min, 2024
  • KÜR - ÇAYLAR ANASI / KUR - THE MOTHER OF RIVERS Seyran Mahmudoghlu, 57 min, 2025
  • FROM ORION WITH LOVE Rafig Hajiev, 30 min, 2026
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahDLf1aBGDM

INKERINAUKIO 22:30-00:40
EXPERIMENTAL INTERNATIONAL FILMS

  • TACET Nonoka Matsuo and Tomikatz, Japan, 10 min 44 sec, 2025
  • WHAT STAYS Jasmina El Far, Germany, 12 min 12 sec, 2025
  • KAUM TRAUM HARDLY A DREAM Herbert Hut, Germany, 3 min 34 sec, 2025
  • DER KOMPANSE Erik Nurnberg and Elias Gabele, Germany, 7 min 38 sec, 2026
  • ICH LIEBE DICH Raskolica, Germany, 3 min 36 sec, 2026
  • IMMORTAL DOG Paul Riemann, Germany, 4 min 3 sec, 2024
  • HAND OF GOD Michał Konrad, Poland, 3 min 13 sec, 2026
  • THESE THINGS YOU BRING UPON YOURSELF Talissa Mehringer, Germany, 4 min 8 sec, 2026
  • TRENCH Piotr Walewski, Poland, 7 min 8 sec, 2024
  • LEICHENWASSER Talissa Mehringer, USA, 12 min, 2011
  • A-Z Tatiana Moshkova, Germany, 4 min, 2025
  • IN SCALE Marina Moshkova, Germany, 7 min 13 sec, 2009
  • SOAP Markus Riexinger, Germany, 11 min 14 sec, 2016/2017
  • BUBBLE GUM Shazad Madon, India, 6 min 13 sec, 2016
  • SPIESSA Stefan Dittrich, Germany, 12 min 4 sec, 2013/2014
  • 5th STATE OF STAGNATION Gamid Ibadullayev, Poland, 8 min 8 sec, 2025
  • DU PLOMB DANS L'AILE Angélique Vecray, Belgium, 4 min 1 sec, 2024
  • SECRET STIRRINGS Marcin Burbo, Poland, 3 min, 2026

FRIDAY 14.8.

FESTIVAL CLUB 10:00-11:30

FESTIVAL CLUB 11:45-13:15

  • THE FORTUNATE Ayalew Nahusenay Dereje, Ethiopia 16 min, 2025
  • SILENT ESCAPE Upeksha Lankathilaka, Sri Lanka 4 min 18 sec, 2026
  • BUONANOTTE, GIACOMO Kathi Hofer, Germany 4 min, 15 sec, 2026
  • LISA FITTKO: RESISTANCE AND EXILE Allegra Stodolsky, Czechia, 29 min, 2025
  • THIS IS A FILM AND I`M THE DIRECTOR Beate Basso, 16 min, Norway, 2026, MAAILMANENSI-ILTA

FESTIVAL CLUB 14:00-17:00

BIO VUOKSI 18:00-20:05

HINKANRANTA 21:00-23:00

  • UIMAHALLI / SWIMMING HALL Anni Suikkanen & Toni Kristian Tikkanen, Finland, 15 min 22 sec, 2025 https://vimeo.com/1151583085/fe7d762efc
  • SAUNA, TAR AND ALKOHOL Marie-Louise Windrum, Germany, 19 min, 2025
  • ROCKPETE GOES KALLIO BLOCK PARTY Joonatan Kaarre, Finland, 32 min, 2025
  • KYYNELSILMÄ - TEAREYE Jari K. Leinonen, Finland, 46 min, 2025

SATURDAY 15.8.

LUSIKKOVUOREN LUOLA 13:00-15:00
Ticket 5€

  • KATOAVAT KALLIOT, VUORET Pira Cousin, Finland, 16 min, 2022
  • THE DEVOTIONALS Waltteri Laineenkare, Finland, 99 min, 2026

NUIJAMIES VENUE 16:00-18:00
Ticket 5€ Buy ticket

NUIJAMIES VENUE 18:30-20.00
Ticket 5€ Buy ticket

  • FINAL STOP Abderrahim Mekkaoui, Algeria, 6 min 35 sec, 2026

JAIME GOMEZ FILMS

SAIMAANHARJUN VAATERANTA 21:00-23:00

SUNDAY 16.8.

FESTIVAL CLUB 10:00-11:30
FILMS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

FESTIVAL CLUB 11:45-12.35

FESTIVAL CLUB 13:00-14.35

  • BECOMING THE OTHER Beate Petersen, Norway, 93 min, 2025

FESTIVAL CLUB 14:45-16.30

  • THE PRINCE Sergiu Scobiola, Moldova, 104 min, 2025

FESTIVAL CLUB 16:45-18.15

FESTIVAL CLUB 18:30-20.20

FESTIVAL CLUB 20:30-22.15

SATURDAY 29.8.

RUOKOLAHDEN TAPAHTUMA-AUKIO

21:00-23:00

 

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