By Päivi Arvonen

Helsinki provides an exotic and functional environment for film productions, but the city’s potential is not yet known internationally.

“There is a great need here for a one-stop service for the film business, and the City of Helsinki is helping to develop one in a project to create a Southern Finland film commission,” says Business Counsellor Taina Seitsara of the Helsinki City Executive Office, pointing out that Finnish Lapland already has such a commission.

Seitsara’s division partnered in the production of a film released last autumn titled Mieletön Elokuu (crazy August). The Helsinki scenes are based on a true story from 1962.

“An outsider doesn’t easily realize what enormous challenges filmmakers face, especially when it comes to historical scenes. The team and all necessary arrangements behind the scenes are huge,” Seitsara says.

New business opportunities

Seitsara explains the partnership production: “We tested an approach where the City puts together a team to handle necessary tasks such as permits, removal of traffic signs and temporary cancellation of resident parking.”

The partnership was an eye opener for her. “There are vast opportunities to link City-provided and private services with film productions.”

Admitting the enormity of the challenge for the City to react to the hectic needs of a film production, she affirms, “We overcame the challenge and everybody feels good about the outcome.”

Commission Helsinki

Last spring saw the launch of a new project named Commission Helsinki to serve film productions with extensive know-how ranging from production processes to dealings with the authorities. The two-year project paves the way for the Southern Finland film commission.

“Film commissions are customary in other countries. Our challenge in the Helsinki area is to get decision makers to realize that such a commission would translate into new business activity.”

International film productions promote travel

Seitsara is convinced that attracting international film productions to Helsinki would bring tourists to the metropolitan area. She mentions a Japanese film from 2004 that features a Helsinki café in the picturesque Eira neighbourhood. The first Japanese tourists visited the café only a week after the film was released. The 8-minute section still brings many Japanese tourists to the café.

Seitsara’s wish list is topped by an international pilot production featuring such fine Helsinki qualities as the maritime nature of the city and the exotic white nights.

“Helsinki is an exotic destination and also a gateway to the East,” she says and adds that the many strengths of Helsinki include the high Finnish worker morale and easy dealings with the authorities.

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