Editor

The 22nd Helsinki IFF ? Love & Anarchy ended Sunday the 27th September. For the first time the attendance number of the festival grew to a record breaking 50 000 plus.

The final attendance number of the 22nd HIFF was 51 277. This figure breaks the previous record of 48 400 from 2008.

This year?s festival included 425 screenings, of which 96 were sold out. Among the most popular films were (500) Days of Summer, Il Divo, The September Issue, An Education, Synecdoche, New York, Hierro, The Cove, Humpday, Heaven?s Heart, The Girlfriend Experience, Mary and Max, Calamari Union (Seattle remake), Food Inc., Ponyo on the Cliff and the festival closing film Bright Star. The screenings of John Woo?s historical spectacle Red Cliff I-II were also very popular. Red Cliff I-II was screened as the original, five hour version, for the first time in the Western Countries.

The Love & Anarchy Ministry sincerely wishes to thank the audience, sponsors, coordinators and filmmakers who attended the festival for the wonderful festival year. The 23rd HIFF takes place from the 16th to 26th September.