Text: Niina Virtanen / Film Tampere
Feature image: Photo from the set of Somekingi, photo by Annamaria Palsi-Ikonen
One question we get asked a lot is: how do you get into the film industry? How do you get your foot in the door?
We’ve heard this question from young filmmakers over the years, but we’ve also seen an increase in the number of international filmmakers and industry professionals moving to Finland and Tampere, asking the same question.
Therefore, we wanted to write this (hopefully!) helpful post in English to go through a few basics you should be aware of when entering the film business in Finland.
1. Know what you’re getting into
Want to work in the film industry? Congratulations! But also – be ready to hustle.
Unfortunately, this is not an easy industry, and it’s not going through the easiest of times either. Not to sound like a bummer, but it’s important to acknowledge that there’s a lot of competition in the industry, lots of ideas, and lots of people and companies applying for funding for their projects – but not that much funding available.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t keep trying, but be prepared to try, get knocked down and try again – about a hundred times. Someone will always get the funding, someone will get their projects sold and released, and someone will be selected for Cannes and go on to have an amazing career. That someone might just as well be you!
But it will take time and loooong working hours. Be prepared.
2. Do your research
If you want to work in the Finnish film or TV industry, take the time to properly familiarise yourself with what the industry in Finland looks like. Who are the people creating this content? Which companies and producers are behind it? Who are the directors and screenwriters? Who is buying the content?
Familiarise yourself with recent Finnish films and find out what kind of Finnish content Yle, commercial broadcasters and streaming platforms are buying and releasing. Look at the end credits: which companies are behind these projects? Study their portfolios and find out who the key producers are within these companies.
Based on what you learn, put together a strategy: who to contact, how, when and why.
Most companies have a very distinctive style and unique portfolios, so it doesn’t make much sense to send your CV and a job application to a documentary production company if you want to work in feature films.
Make a good impression by showing the person you’re contacting that you’ve done your homework: you know what they and their company do, and you’re approaching them because you genuinely want to work with them.
Generic emails and CVs with no personal touch make you seem pretty generic, too. If you don’t put in the effort to get to know the company you’re contacting, why should they put in the effort to get to know you? In addition to your CV and job application, make sure your LinkedIn and IMDb profiles, as well as any showreels you might have, are up to date and professionally presented. Whenever possible, it’s always better to meet people in person than to send cold emails or call at potentially inappropriate times (people in leadership positions are always busy). A good way to meet people and make a good impression is at festivals and industry events. For more on this, see tip number 3.
Also remember the importance of internships, especially if you want to work on films sets. The only way to learn set work is to work on sets. Getting an internship can be difficult, but not impossible. Contact the production companies directly, be very spesific about what you could bring to the table and make them an offer they can’t refuse. Most Finnish film sets operate in Finnish, but if you don’t speak Finnish, why not find out which projects have international crew for instance, and ask if you could be their international production assistant on set?
3. Network, network, network
There’s no getting around it: this is a people business.
Especially in a country as small as Finland, where the industry is relatively small, it’s all about who you know. Sure, you might have an amazing project, but if nobody knows who you are, they’re not going to buy it.
One option is to draft an annual networking plan for yourself: which events will you attend, which people do you want to meet, what will you present to them, and how will you follow up afterwards?
What are the key industry events in Finland, you might ask? Check out at least Tampere Film Festival, Finnish Film Affair and Screen Helsinki. If you have the opportunity to travel, some important international networking events include Berlinale in Germany, Göteborg Film Festival and Nordisk Panorama in Sweden, and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia. Cannes in France is worth considering once you’re a little further along in your career and ready to play in the big leagues. We at Film Tampere and Business Tampere organize events for companies as well, to follow up on those, see: Tapahtumat arkisto – Business Tampere
Photo: Érica Dahlström‑Dezonne
If you’re interested in transmedia projects and want to network with people from the transmedia and gaming industries as well (which we strongly recommend!), don’t miss Leaderboard in Tampere, Pocket Gamer Connects or W Love Games in Helsinki. It might also be a good idea to pop by an IGDA event! They’re held monthly in several cities around the world, including Tampere. If you want to try working as part of a game development team, look for both national and international hackathons and game jams, and join a few teams to learn more.
4. Show them what you know – and be ready to learn new things
Okay, so you’ve done your research and listed your networking events – then what? Remember to vocalize what you know and can do. Especially in a competitive industry like film and TV, it’s absolutely vital to make yourself stand out from the hundreds of other people trying to break into the industry. Emphasize your unique talents, your motivation and hunger for the business, and what would make you a key player in the company, production or project you want to be part of.
But even when emphasizing your skills, remember this: it’s not (only) about what you want, but also about what they need. If you want to make short films about aliens in the Middle Ages, you’re absolutely free to do so! But that may not be what most companies are looking for. Be open, adaptable and willing to learn.
Also remember that the film industry is soooo much more than just making films. To ensure you have a long-lasting career in the industry, it’s always a good idea to learn about business as well, in addition to areas such as marketing, AI, distribution, B2B, sustainability, PR and technical skills… just to name a few.
5. A short list of who to contact and where to look
I want to start a company. Who should I contact?
In Tampere, Uusyrityskeskus Ensimetri is the place to start: Planning a business | Business Consulting | Ensimetri In other regions, contact your local business advisory services or economic development organisations. Once you’ve established your company and want to, for instance, grow, expand internationally or secure larger amounts of funding, we here at Business Tampere can help you!
If you don’t have a company yet but have a business idea, concept or blueprint in the field of createch, new media or transmedia, or are interested in startup business models, check out Startup Tampere and Startup House Platform 6.
I want to find a job. Where should I look?
For open positions in Tampere, check out: Avoimet työpaikat Tampere – Duunitori
For positions in the Finnish game industry, please see: Games Jobs Finland – Explore all open game industry positions in Finland
For film and TV, unfortunately, there isn’t a dedicated platform listing all available positions. Your best bet is to contact production companies directly and follow the Facebook group TV-friikuille töitä | Facebook.
If you want to be an extra on set or would like to pursue small acting gigs, we have a list of Facebook groups for extras on our FAQ page – do have a look!
An important note: Film Tampere is not involved in the recruitment or internship processes of individual productions, so unfortunately, we cannot help you get hired by a production company or onto a production.
Photo: Mirella Mellonmaa
I want to know what productions are being made. Where can I find information about them?
Acquisition and commissioning decisions concerning new films and series made by broadcasters, streaming platforms and networks are generally confidential business information, so this information is not publicly available.
However, public funding decisions for film and TV productions are public, and you can find out which projects the Finnish Film Foundation is supporting on its website: Tukipäätökset – ses.fi
Funding decisions made by AVEK for documentaries, short films and media art can be found here: AVEKin tukipäätökset – Kopiosto
If you want to know which productions Film Tampere is supporting through its production incentive, you can look them up in the City of Tampere’s official register of proposals and meeting minutes here: Tampere esityslistat ja pöytäkirjat
I’ve just moved to Tampere and want to get settled. Can I get any help?
Yes, you can! International House Tampere is a hub dedicated to helping international residents, employees, students and their families settle into life in Tampere. They provide guidance on navigating everyday life, working and studying in the region.
I want to study the AV industries in Tampere. Is that possible?
Sure is! Have a look at Film Tampere’s FAQ page, where you’ll find a list of schools and study programmes: Frequently Asked Questions | Film Tampere
We also recommend reading the entire page, as it covers several other questions you might have.
+ Bonus: Few podcasts to listen
In addition to the links above, here are a few more resources to help you learn about the Finnish film and creative industries.
Ina Mikkola & Portinvartijat
A Finnish-language podcast series Ina Mikkola & portinvartijat | Yle Areena by journalist Ina Mikkola takes an in-depth look at the different areas of Finnish culture and arts funding. It explores the biggest funding organisations and explains their principles and practices. If you really want to understand how the Finnish funding system works and can follow Finnish, this is highly recommended!
Filmbranschpodden – Building Film Ecosystems, Film Tampere and the Nordic Industry
For English-speaking audiences, we recommend this episode Fanny Heinonen – Building Film Ecosystems, Film Tampere and the Nordic Industry – Filmbranschpodden | Podcast on Spotify of Swedish podcast Filmbranschpodden, where Film Tampere’s Programme Leader Fanny Heinonen talks about Film Tampere, our strategy and our vision for the future.
Last but not least: good luck – see you out there!