An evening of short films from Finland at Nordic Nights
The Nordic Nights screening on January 28 features a selection of experimental works, video art, and animated and live-action shorts.
Nordic Nights is a series hosted by the Icelandic Club of Toronto and the Consulate of Finland in Toronto showcasing contemporary Nordic cinema with six alternating screenings a year.
Professor Pierre Tremblay from the School of Image Arts at the Toronto Metropolitan University has lent his expertise in the selection of the programme.
Please join us in conversation with professor Tremblay after the hybrid screening.
Admission is free but registration is required for both in-person and online screening which starts at 7 pm on Tuesday, January 28.
On the Playbill:
The King, by Milja Viita and Veli Granö, 2024 7 min 30 sec
A workshop, artist exchange and film festivals have brought award winning visual artist and filmmaker Milja Viita to Canada several times. She partners with another multi-award winner, Veli Granö, in The King, where a beloved Finnish musician Rauli Badding Somerjoki sends a song for Elvis to perform. Elvis passes away without ever communicating with Badding, but strange things happen in a potato field in Badding's Finnish hometown.
Generatio spontanea by Vappu Rossi, 2024 3min 32 sec
Vappu Rossi is a prolific visual artist with fondness for drawing and interdisciplinary collaborations. Generatio spontanea has already been seen in Europe in an installation format as well. It is a poetic meditation of a lifecycle. Vappu Rossi's Carbon Based Love was screened at Nordic Nights in 2020
Mousetrap by Anna Rohesalu and Jenni Koljonen of Turku Arts Academy 2024 4 min 32 sec, animation
An imaginary world takes over from its creator.
Duck Roast by Jelica Jerinić, 2023 12 min 34 sec
A dinner date goes off the rails with an innocent question about the main course.
Earworm by Matti Luukko, Markus Lehtokumpu, Aatos Salkosalo, and Michal Tomala of Turku Arts Academy 2024 2 min 44 sec, stop motion animation
Dr. Doc from the University of Doctoring creatively deals with a case of earworm with interesting results.
Guests of Honor by Paula Lehtonen, 2024 3 min 34 sec
A dinner party where the guests could end up served on a plate themselves – a contemplation of the relationship of animals and humans. 
The Moon of Toledo / Toledon kuu by Juuso Honkamäki of Turku Arts Academy 2024 6 min 47 sec
A man who has run out of gas while driving in on country roads walks with his canister to find a gas station in the quiet of the landscape. The film was inspired by a traditional Finnish tango from the 1960’s, Toledon kuu, a song of longing for a past romance in Spain.
Strangers in the Dark by Perttu Inkilä and Jenni Pystynen, 2022 12 min 48 sec
Both directors are storytellers in light and dark. The unintended but serious consequences of light pollution for insects is a study of the dark side of light.
Pena’s Special Hauling by Anssi Kassitonni, 2024 11 min, 43 sec
Pena has trucking in his blood and plans to keep on trucking no matter what. Multitalented filmmaker Anssi Kassitonni is a skateboarder, musician, sculptor and filmmaker. His previous short The Saboteur was seen in 2023 at Nordic Nights.