The festival has opened up Vyborg to the Finnish film industry
We would like to take part in the 1997 Vyborg International Film Festival,' said Kirsi Tykkylainen, on behalf of the Finnish delegation at the festival.
The delegation also included Raimo O Niemi and Heikki Takkinen, who directed and produced the Finnish drama Thomas, which drew large audiences at the festival and received excellent reviews.
On a personal level, coming to Vyborg was not easy for Kirsi, head of the International Department of Finnish Film Foundation: her grand father was buried in Vyborg.
However, speaking from a professional and international point of view, she believes that 'it is very important for the Finns that people in Vyborg were able to see recent titles from Finland'. She added: 'With its festival programme of Russian films, Vyborg could be expanded to Finland.'
Kirsi also revealed that Finnish directors are looking at Vyborg as a location for future film projects, as well as using neighbouring Estonia for filming.
Helsinki-based producer Heikki Takkinen announced that this September he begins production in Estonia of a US$3 million historical drama, Days of Grace, which is likely to be in the 1997 Vyborg programme.
