About Söderlångvik Masterclass
The Söderlångvik Masterclass is a residency initiative created in collaboration between the arts fund Amos Andersons Fond and Helsinki International Film Festival. Aimed at film industry professionals based in the Nordics, the masterclass takes the form of an inspiring, hands-on three-day retreat at the scenic Söderlångvik summer residence of the art fund’s founder and film enthusiast Amos Anderson, located on Kimito Island. During the masterclass, participants engage in a dynamic, high-level exchange of knowledge and perspectives, led by an experienced Nordic talent of the film industry. The focus is on fostering meaningful connections in a collaborative and intimate setting. The Söderlångvik Masterclass seeks to strengthen and grow collaborations between Nordic film professionals, organically creating new working relationships and talent exchange. To date, various filmmaking professionals from across the Nordics have benefited from the masterclass experience, expanding their skills and their networks. More information on past editions can be found below.
Spring 2026 edition with Trine Dyrholm
This spring, the masterclass proudly welcomes internationally acclaimed Danish actor Trine Dyrholm as its lead. A carefully selected group of 12 Nordic film professionals will gather for a three-day residency focused on deepening the collaboration between directors and actors.
Recognised as one of the leading actors of her generation with titles such as Queen of Hearts and The Girl with the Needle under her belt, Dyrholm has built a remarkable international career spanning film, television, and theatre. With award-winning performances across the Nordic region and beyond, she brings a wealth of experience in character work and long-standing creative partnerships with directors to the masterclass.
The theme of this edition centres on the creative dialogue between director and actor, and the shared process of building a character.
Over the course of the residency, participants will explore how trust, preparation, and artistic openness can strengthen both performance and storytelling. Through discussions, practical exercises, and shared reflection, the masterclass offers a rare opportunity to examine the actor–director dynamic in depth.
From 7–10 May 2026, a carefully selected group of 12 film professionals from across the Nordics will take part in a hands-on, three-day residency at the historic Söderlångvik grounds on Kimito Island – once home to arts patron and film enthusiast Amos Anderson.
Participants
Directors
- Kirsikka Saari, Finland
- Jojo Erholtz, Finland
- Jakob Marky, Sweden
- Yngvild Sve Flikke, Norway
- Matias Broe, Denmark
- Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson, Iceland
Actors
- Alex Anton, Finland
- Hilma Kotkaniemi, Finland
- Tobias Zilliacus, Finland
- Josefin Asplund, Sweden
- Rio Pettersen, Norway
- Saga Garðarsdóttir, Iceland
Autumn 2025 edition with Tarik Saleh
For Autumn 2025 edition, the Söderlångvik Masterclass proudly welcomed award-winning screenwriter and director Tarik Saleh, known for his gripping political thrillers, to Finland’s Kimito Island. His acclaimed Cairo Trilogy has captivated international audiences, most recently with Eagles of the Republic, which premiered in the Main Competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Saleh is also known for his long-time collaboration with actor Fares Fares, who plays the lead character in Saleh’s films.
This edition of the masterclass brought together directors and actors for a deep dive into the filmmaking process from script to screen, through the lens of Tarik Saleh’s Cairo Trilogy. Together with Saleh, the participants unpacked how creative collaboration and directorial vision take shape at every stage of the filmmaking journey, from the first spark of an idea and the hunt for financing, through the intense rhythm of production and post, all the way to the film’s big leap into the world via festivals, distribution, and sales.
From 18–21 September 2025, a carefully selected group of 12 film professionals from across the Nordics took part in a hands-on, three-day residency at the historic Söderlångvik grounds on Kimito Island – once home to arts patron and film enthusiast Amos Anderson.
Participants
Directors
- Ima Iduozee, Finland
- Malin Nyqvist, Finland
- Suvi West, Finland
- Gagga Jónsdóttir, Iceland
- Anton Petersen, Faroe Islands
- Ville Gideon Sörman, Denmark
Actors
- Joonas Saartamo, Finland
- Elsa Saisio, Finland
- Saga Sarkola, Finland
- Amed Bozan, Sweden
- Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Norway
- Doreen Ndagire, Sweden
Behind the Scenes: Eagles of the Republic
Following the Söderlångvik Masterclass, the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, in collaboration with Konstsamfundet, hosted a screening of the final instalment of Tarik Saleh’s Cairo Trilogy, Eagles of the Republic, on Sunday, 21 September at 18:00 at the historic Bio Rex cinema in Lasipalatsi, in the heart of Helsinki. The screening was followed by an in-depth conversation between Tarik Saleh and moderator Marta Balaga.
Spring 2025 edition with Magnus von Horn
In the spring of 2025, the Söderlångvik Masterclass continued with its third edition and proudly welcomed Oscar®-nominated film director and screenwriter Magnus von Horn, who arrived in Finland fresh from a successful international festival run – most recently the 97th Academy Awards, where his latest film, The Girl with the Needle, was nominated for Best International Feature Film. Widely praised for his meticulous approach to character building, von Horn will craft the masterclass theme around Developing characters in filmmaking, guiding professionals who are at the beginning of their feature-length film careers in either directing or screenwriting.
Participants
Screenwriters:
Elísabet Hall (Iceland)
Helmi Tolonen (Sweden)
Marianne Lentz (Denmark)
Nuutti Sihvonen (Finland)
Theo Boguslaw (Sweden)
Venla Aakko (Finland)
Directors:
Anna Blom (Sweden)
Arman Zafari (Finland)
Ingvild Dahlgren (Denmark)
Miia Tervo (Finland)
Pavel Andonov (Finland)
Sakaris Stórá (Faroe Islands)
Behind the Scenes: The Girl with the Needle
Set in 1018 Copenhagen, The Girl with the Needle follows a woman who resorts to the unthinkable in order to survive. The film was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards and received widespread acclaim across Europe. Following the screening, the audience had a unique opportunity to sit in on an intimate discussion between Magnus von Horn and Variety journalist Marta Balaga, where they dove deeper into the themes of the film to discussed the visual elements and how they helped create the world as seen through von Horn’s lens.
Autumn 2024 edition with Umberto Onza
Following a successful first edition, the autumn masterclass will take place on 20-22 of September and will delve into the intersections between AI and filmmaking under the helm of Design Director Umberto Onza– taking a look into a future that is rapidly becoming our present. Following the Masterclass premise of interdisciplinary creation and with the goal of fostering groundbreaking ways of thinking, selected participants will enter a long weekend of practical exercises and in-depth discussions: how can AI be in service of filmmaking? What will filmmaking look like in the future, and what skills are needed for new talents to be competitive?
Participants
Adam Cronstedt, Director
Sara Forsius, Cinematographer
Arthur Franck, Director
Hannaleena Hauru, Director
Isabella Karhu, Producer
Iris Kärkkäinen, Cinematographer
Tomi Nieminen, Producer
Sarri Nironen, Screenwriter
Anastasia Pashkevich, Screenwriter
Joel Rahkonen, Director
Hanna Västinsalo, Director
Timo Wright, Director
Behind the Scenes: AI in Filmmaking
To crown the weekend, the Söderlångvik Masterclass will welcome the audience to a special screening on Sunday 22.9 at Bio Rex Lasipalatsi, featuring a curated selection of short films that have been realised using artificial intelligence technology, including Umberto Onza’s Kalevala. A conversation post-screening, moderated by journalist Marta Balaga will allow the audience to step inside the world of film creation using AI.
Spring 2024 edition with Alma Pöysti
Taking place on 3-5 of May, the first edition of the masterclass was led by Finnish actor Alma Pöysti, and moderated by journalist Marta Balaga. The masterclass was held in English, and made up of 12 professional actors and directors from the Nordics, chosen by a jury of industry experts. After a weekend full of exchanged insights and new collaborations, the masterclass culminated in BEHIND THE SCENES: in conversation with actor Alma Pöysti and cinematographer Linda Wassberg; an evening of conversation and a film screening which was open to the public at Helsinki’s Bio Rex Lasipalatsi on Sunday the 5th of May.
Participants
Six actors and six directors were chosen after a thorough selection process involving over 100 applications, securing representation of each Nordic country in the final group. The selection emphasised participants’ interest in Nordic collaboration and focused on assembling a group of professionals at different stages of their careers. This diversity enriches the masterclass, providing an invaluable opportunity to learn from and collaborate with the region’s cinematic talent. Participants for the masterclass are:
Actors
Edvin Endre (Sweden)
Josefin Neldén (Sweden)
Kingsford Siayor (Norway)
Linnea Leino (Finland)
Ragga Ragnars (Iceland)
Roderick Kabanga (Finland)
Directors
Elisa Kujala (Sweden)
Elfar Adalsteins (Iceland)
Kaya Pakaslahti (Finland)
Nitesh Anjaan (Denmark)
Marja Pyykkö (Finland)
Samuel Boateng (Finland)
Behind the Scenes: in conversation & screening
Organised as part of the Söderlångvik Masterclass also came BEHIND THE SCENES, an evening consisting of an in-depth conversation between actor Alma Pöysti and cinematographer Linda Wassberg. The event consisted of a screening of the 2020 feature Tove, which both Pöysti and Wassberg collaborated on, and continued with a deep dive between the two on their experiences coming from two very different roles onto the same set.