The director of the Helsinki International Film Festival ? Love & Anarchy, Mr. Pekka Lanerva, has been honoured with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

The long time festival director, and one of its founding members, Mr.
Pekka Lanerva, has been honoured with the much appreciated Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres was established in 1957 by the French Minister of Culture. Its purpose is the recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields.

The Ordre has three grades: chevalier (knight), officier (officer) and commandeur (commander). Pekka Lanerva is now a member of the first Ordre; chevalier.

Members of the Ordre are not limited to French nationals. Recipients have included numerous foreign luminaries, e.g. the actor Dustin Hoffman, writer and poet Allen Ginsberg and musician Stevie Wonder.

Mr. Lanerva received his membership at the Finnish-French embassy in Helsinki on the 3rd of November, 2010. ?I?m speechless, this is an amazing honour?, he sighs.