Söderlångvik Masterclass: Open Call

Applications are now open for the sixth Söderlångvik Masterclass, organised by Helsinki International Film Festival and Amos Anderson Fund. Taking place 17–20 September on Kimito Island and in Helsinki, Finland, this autumn’s edition will be led by acclaimed Finnish director Zaida Bergroth. A group of twelve Nordic directors and actors will have the opportunity to join an intensive three-day residency, exploring one of filmmaking’s most essential creative relationships: the collaboration between directors and actors.

One of the Nordic region’s most distinctive contemporary filmmakers, Bergroth is internationally recognised for her deeply human and emotionally rich cinema. Her films, including Maria’s Paradise, Miami and The Good Son, all premiered at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. Her internationally celebrated biopic Tove, about the creator of the Moomins, was Finland’s official submission for the Academy Awards and earned Bergroth numerous accolades, including the Finnish Film Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture. She is also the recipient of the Finnish State Prize for Cinema, awarded in recognition of her outstanding artistic contribution to Finnish filmmaking.

Throughout her career, Bergroth has developed a distinctive directing practice centred on trust, presence and close collaboration with actors, resulting in performances of remarkable authenticity and emotional depth. The sixth edition of the Söderlångvik Masterclass offers participants a rare opportunity to step inside Bergroth’s creative process. Rather than treating performance as something to perfect, the workshop explores how directors and actors can discover a character together through curiosity, openness and genuine presence. Through practical exercises, scene rehearsals and collaborative exploration, participants will examine how rehearsal becomes a space for discovery, how casting shapes the creative process, and how directors can create the conditions for actors to remain fully present in the moment.

“I’m excited and honoured to get to lead the newest edition of the Söderlångvik Masterclass. I’m already looking forward to the intense three-day workshop: the deep-dive conversations about directing and acting, learning from each other and exploring further through concrete exercises. Hopefully, we all leave the weekend with a lot of inspiration!”

Set against the serene Söderlångvik grounds on Kimito Island, once home to arts patron and film enthusiast Amos Anderson, the masterclass provides an inspiring setting for concentrated creative exchange through discussions, practical exercises and shared reflection.

The call is now open for directors and actors based in the Nordic countries. The application deadline is 12 August at 23:59 EEST.