Excursion: Finland captures the essence of Northern Europe

This year, the Excursion section looks north to Finland. In collaboration with the Tampere Film Festival, the largest short film festival in the Nordic countries, Tribute to a Vision creates a platform for contemporary Finnish filmmaking while further enriching its partnership with the Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival.

The short film selection was curated by Jukka-Pekka Laakso, long-standing director of the Tampere International Film Festival, one of the most prominent short film festivals in Europe. The programme offers diverse perspectives on contemporary Finland and its filmmakers – spanning fiction, documentary, and animation – opening space for a distinct, often highly direct and unusual look at everyday life, society, and human relationships.

Equally engaging is how this Finnish focus connects with our cross-border region: the selection is part of a broader collaboration established during GO! 2025, designed to continue well beyond the European Capital of Culture year. The Finnish films will be screened on September 30 at 20:30 at the Kulturni dom Nova Gorica, with Jukka-Pekka Laakso presenting the programme in person. We are also especially pleased to announce his participation in the First Crossings international jury, where alongside Alessandro Comodin, João Nicolau, and Ester Ivakič, he will decide the winner of the festival’s inaugural best student film award.

As part of the Finnish collaboration, a dedicated youth cinema event Cinema Is Our Magnet 3 is planned during the 2026 festival edition, bringing Finnish films and cultural perspectives closer to children from both sides of the border.

This collaboration is further enriched through its connection with Oulu European Capital of Culture 2026, continuing the dialogue between European Capitals of Culture, following our own experience as part of GO! 2025.

Screenings: September 30 2026 | EPICenter | 20.30
Ikaros - Anna Eriksson (7’)
Krakens Maw - Miro Seppänen (13’)
Peppermint Diesel 20% - Mariangela Pluchino (15’)
The Beauty of Automobiles - Juha Löppönen (6')
Too Blue a Sky - Risto-Pekka Blom (15’)
Workload - Aatos Äijö (25’)