The spring season of Pirkanmaa is opened in March by Tampere Film Festival as well as Tampere Kuplii Comics Festival. April follows by bringing on stage the phenomena of Finnish modern art music in Tampere Biennale. From below you can read the compilation of the events of the first half-year. Welcome to the best festivals of the spring!
Tampere Film Festival 6.–10.3.
Tampere Film Festival is now organised for the 54th time. The short film focused festival brings together cinema lovers and industry professionals. The festival week consists of competition screenings and special programming, as well as public and industry events. Event though the festival is focused on short films, they are accompanied by long-form documentaries, silent films and occasionally even longer fictional works.
During the five-day event, there are over a hundred screenings at Finnkino Cine Atlas and Arthouse Cinema Niagara. In addition to the screenings, there are many events that are open to public, as well as those directed at industry professionals.
The main themes of the festival in 2024 include Democracy in Danger, that contemplates the state of democracy both in Finland and abroad, as well as Forest, which looks at the different aspects of the woods in the midst of a capitalist discourse about forests. These themes are accompanied by open panel discussions, that feature film directors and researcher from Tampere University.
Tampere Film Festival also takes a peek at the archies. The experimental films of Kai Oka, that were lost for decades, are brought to the silver screen in the Lost Reels screening. The Finnish Film Archive has also collected it’s own treasures from the history of Manserock and Finnish commercial films.
For the children, the festival offers Minikino screenings free of charge.
For more information: https://tamperefilmfestival.fi
Tampere Kuplii Comics Festival 20.–23.3.
Tampere Kuplii comics festival puts the spotlight on comics and graphic novels, and their makers. The festival includes multiple workshops and exhibitions devoted to comics, as well presentations, panel discussions and lots more. The annual Comics-Finlandia award is this year presented by author and journalist Roman Schatz. The winner will be announced March 22.
The festival’s theme this year is Little Miracles. On the one hand, it celebrates smaller acts and works in the art of graphic novels, and on the other hand, it emphasises how something little can be extraordinary and how modest beginnings can grow to become something huge.
The weekend programme takes over Tampere Hall, and during weekdays, the festival is scattered around the city.
For more information: https://2024.tamperekuplii.fi/index.html
Tampere Biennale 10.–14.4.
Tampere Biennale presents the most important phenomena, most topical composers and the newest compositions of Finnish modern music. For festival caters for its open-minded audience modern music that will surprise, inspire and break artistic boundaries.
This year’s theme is Worlds in Metamorphosis. The programme is compiled with the lead of composer Minna Leinonen, and in it, fantasy and reality, as well as past and present, are united. Once again, the Biennale offers a varied selection of premieres and seldom-heard works of orchestral and chamber music from interesting composers.
As a special event, the festival presents the Audio Story by Tammerkoski, a combination of dance and music, conceptualised by Minna Leinonen, which will be performed four times during the festival. The unique audio walk traverses through the national landscape of Tammerkoski, while immersing into a mystery written by Salla Simukka, narrated by Seela Sella. The composition and sound design are by Tytti Arola ja Þorkell Nordal, and the choreography is by Samuli Roininen.
In addition, Tampere Biennale presents Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s From Wasteland to Wonderland concert, which offers a full range of fresh contemporary music, in addition to modern classics. The concert includes, among others, Cecilia Damström’s new work Wasteland, and Korean-born Unsuk Chin’s work Alice in Wonderland: Puzzles and Games, with soprano vocals by Piia Komsi.
For more information: https://tamperebiennale.fi
Photo: Tampre Film Festival 2024 / Miten marjoja poimitaan | Director: Elina Talvensaari
