Takes place in Kemijärvi, Finnish Lapland, 3 – 5 April 2009

Finland 4 – 8 March 2009

This popular event is one the leading short film festivals in the world.  The event takes place from 4-8 March 2009 in the city of Tampere in the lakes region of Finland.

The festival puts an emphasis on documentary, fiction and animation films. There are three competitions: Finnish, International and Lab10.

Finnish competition:

This year, about 350 films were offered for the Finnish Competition.  The Finnish Competition is divided into two categories; Films over 30 minutes and films under 30 minutes.

11 films were selected in the over-30 minute category and 25 films in the under-30 minute category.

Jury for the Finnish Competition 2009 are actress Anni-Kristiina Juuso, artist Teemu Mäki, and producer Shane Smith from Canada.

The prize money for the Finnish competition is:

Under-30-minutes category main prize €5000 (Finnkino Oy) and special prize €1500.
Over-30-minutes category main prize €5000 (Oy Yleisradio Ab) and special prize €1500.

The films in both categories also compete for the Risto Jarva Award (€10.000, the Finnish Film Foundation), and for a resourse award (€3400, Digital Film Finland & Finnlab).

International Competition:

A fair 3000 films from 73 countries were offered to the International Competition. Sixty-nine films were selected. Most, 31 of them, are fiction. There are 15 animations and 19 documentaries, and four experimental films. Well known entries include: Nick Park (UK) with his new Wallace & Gromit animation, Hazim Bitar (Jordan), director collective BIF (France), and Mikhail Zheleznikov (Russia).

Jury for the International Competition are Ngo Phuong Lan (Vietnam), Mia Maike Höhne (Germany), Kristiina Pervilä (Finland), William Sloan (USA), and Montserrat Guiu Valls (Spain).

The prize money for International Competition:
Grand Prix €5000, Best Animation €1500, Best Fiction €1500, Best Documentary €1500, as well as nomination for European Short Film Awards.

The winners of the International Competition Grand Prix and the main prize for under-30-minutes in the Finnish Competition get to compete for the nomination for Best Live Action / Animated Short Film

LAB1O Competition

LAB1O Competition, characterized by films that stretch the limits of cinematic expression, launched in 2008. This year 19 films were selected, and they will be divided into three screenings.

Jury for the LAB1O Competition are director of the Mumiá Underground Worldwide Animation Festival Sávio Leite (Brazil), executive manager at Espoo Ciné Jenni Ukkonen (Finland), and program manager at Finnkino Toni Lähteinen (Finland).

Prizes for the LAB1O Competition:
Main prize €2000.

In addition, all competitions have honorary awards and audience awards. The Finnish Competition also has a youth jury award and a student award.

For full details of the competition and festival click here. 

16 – 19 Dec free child place if booked by 10 November 2008*.

A free child place when travelling with two adults to the beautiful Hotel Jeris in Finnish Lapland.  Offer applies on 16 – 19 Dec 2008 departure from London Gatwick.

A choice of accommodation in hotel rooms and lovely cabins. Cabins all have a private sauna.

The holiday includes a snowmobile safari, husky safari, reindeer rides and meeting Santa twice; once as a family and once again at the Christmas party. The holiday also includes full board and upon arrival you will be provided with outer clothing (Outer thermal suit, boots, mitts, balaclava and thick socks) for the duration of your stay.

For full holiday details and prices click here.

* subject to availability.

State of the art dishware, simple handmade wooden gifts, designer textiles and delicious chocolate!

It is hard these days to travel anywhere in the world and to buy a memento only to return home and find it is made in China, but the more discerning shopper visiting Finland and Finnish Lapland can return with real Finnish gems if they know what to look for.

Arabia,

For over 130 years Arabia has been a trailblazer in modern Finnish design. Its product selection consists of popular ranges of dishes and design gift products.

The highly valued Arabia products are characterized by a timeless beauty as well as high quality and functionality. Arabia dishes, made to be used and displayed, hold a central position in Finnish lives: thanks to their innovative and distinctive design, they are equally at home on the kitchen table and at festive occasions. These are items designed for Finns who value the concept of Finnish design and recognize the aesthetic value of the products.

For further details about Aarikka and their products click here.

Aarikka,

Aarikka Oy founded in 1954 is a family business producing unique handmade items using Finnish materials. They produce design products, jewellery and decorative items mainly made of wood. They offer products for all season but particularly popular are their simple Tonttu Christmas decorations. Today their products are sold throughout Finland, USA and Japan.

For further details about Aarikka and their products click here.

Karl Fazer Chocolate

If you leave Finland with nothing else, make sure that you have at least one bar of this chocolate in your bag………it is truly heaven. How ever many you take home you will wish you had bought more,, you have been warned!

The secret behind Karl Fazer Milk chocolate remains a secret and had done so since it was first produced in 1922. It is a unique recipe using full fat milk and the finest cocoa beans. Whatever the magic combination is it seems to work. You will spot it throughout the country in its distinctive blue and gold wrapper. In later times they have also added to the range with various fruit and nut varieties.

For further details about Karl Fazer and their products click here.

Marimekko 

Marimekko Corporation is a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company that was established in 1951. The company designs, manufactures and markets high-quality clothing, interior decoration textiles, bags and other accessories under the Marimekko brand, both in Finland and abroad.

Strong and distinctive product design is the cornerstone of Marimekko’s operations and corporate culture. The starting point for design is that each individual Marimekko product must earn its own design value and express Marimekko’s lifestyle concept.

For further details about Marimekko and their products click here.

15 – 16 November 2008

The Chocolate Festival which first took place in Perugia, Italy in 1993 and has since been celebrated in Paris, New York, Barcelona and Stockholm this year arrives in Helsinki for the first time.

The event is to be held in the centre of Helsinki at the premises of Lasipalatsi and Bio Rex on 15 and 16 November 2008.

The festival is aimed at chocolate enthusiasts and restaurant professionals from around the world and aims to demonstrate the versatility of chocolate. There will be lectures and demonstrations covering areas such as the effects on health and well-being, history, production, the varieties and much, much more.

There will be chocolate tasting sessions and opportunities to buy some very special Christmas presents.

Going fast!

The signs are all there that the festive season is fast approaching: the shelves in all the supermarkets are already stocked with jumbo sized packets of sweets and tinsel, children are vying for places in the nativity play and writing their Christmas wish lists. Santa and his elves are already working long hours ensuring that their route maps are precise and everyone is accounted for.

For those wanting to add something extra special to their festive season a visit to meet Santa in Finnish Lapland is a must. Meet Santa, while he rests in the forest to tell him your Christmas wishes and once again at a Christmas party. Warmly dressed in the amazing thermal outer clothing and boots provided you will take part in husky safaris, snowmobiling, ice-fishing, reindeer rides, tobogganing and tandem skiing

At this late stage in the year only a few places remain. They are as follows: 

Hotel Harriniva:  From Gatwick

A friendly family run hotel offering cosy simple accommodation in a wonderful setting. Excellent activities from the door of the hotel.

Availability: 

12 - 16 Dec (A handful of places remain)

16 – 19 Dec

19 – 23 Dec  (A handful of places remain)

23 – 28 Dec (A handful of places remain)

New Year 28 Dec – 02 Jan (A handful of places remain)

Hotel Jeris: From Gatwick

In a stunning setting deep in the forest on the edge of a national park. Accommodation in cabins where you can relax in the private sauna and by fireplace after a day of exhilarating activities.

Availability: 

16 – 19 Dec

23 – 28 Dec (A handful of places remain)

New Year 28 Dec – 02 Jan

Riekonlinna: From Gatwick

In the pretty resort of Saariselka surrounded by rolling fells. A popular, friendly hotel. Excellent safaris.

Availability: 

19 – 23 Dec  (A handful of places remain)

23 – 28 Dec (A handful of places remain)

Holiday Club: From Gatwick

At the heart of Saariselka this hotel has the added benefit of a large spa swimming pool which is free to all guests.

Availability: 

19 – 23 Dec  (A handful of places remain)

Tunturi: From Gatwick

In an excellent location over looking the fells in Saariselka the hotel offers spacious apartment accommodation.

Availability: 

23 – 28 Dec (A handful of places remain)

Syote Keskus: 16-19 Dec from Manchester only, 22-27 Dec from Manchester and Luton.

A firm favourite with our guests this lovely hotel sits in a stunning fell top location. Amazing views and

very freindly welcome.

16 - 19 Dec

22 – 27 Dec (A handful of places remain)

A diverse range of exciting events throughout the year.

Throughout Finland during the summer there are a diverse rang of music festivals to meet all tastes. Many take place in stunning settings making the most of the long Finnish summer days.

They attract visitors from all over the world.

Hetta Music Event                                           5 – 13 April 2009

April Jazz, Espoo                                            22 – 26 April 2009

Naantali Music Festival                                   31 May – 12 June 2009

Ilmajoki Music Festival                                    4 – 15 June 2009

40^th Kuopio Dance Festival                            11 – 17 June 2009

Provinssirock Seinajoki                                   12 – 14 June 2009

Mantta Art Festival                                          14 June – 23 August 2009

Haapavesi Folk Festival                                  22 – 28 June 2009

Sate-Hame Soi Accordian Festival                 22 – 28 June 2009

Midnight Sun Jutajaiset                                   24 – 28 June 2009

Avanti! Summer sounds                                 24 – 28 June 2009

KalottJazz and Blues Festival                       25 – 28 June 2009

Baltic Jazz                                                      3 – 5 July 2009

Savonlinna Opera Festival                              3 July – 01 August 2009

Kaustinen Folk Music Festival                        11 – 19 July 2009

Pori Jazz Festival                                           11 – 19 July 2009

Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival                    12 – 26 July 2009

Full Moon Dance Festival                               21 – 25 July 2009

Festival of Workers Music                              22 – 26 July 2009

Hippalot Arts Festival for Children                  30 July – 02 August 2009

Faces Etno Festival                                        31 July – 2 August 2009

Chamber Music by Lake Tuusula                   2 – 8 August 2009

Turku Music Festival                                       6 – 12 August 2009

Helsinki Festival                                              14 – 30 August 2009

Lahti Subelius Festival                                    10 – 13 September 2009

Book now for the 16-19 Dec 2008 Special offer to visit Santa in Syote.

Book before the by 31 July 2008 and receive a £75 per person discount on the brochure / web prices for the 16-19 December 2008 departures from Manchester and Luton to visit Santa in Northern Finland.

Syöte, which is often called the gateway to Lapland and is located in northern Finland just below the Arctic Circle, and is home to Finland’s southern most fells.

This really is a beautiful, but isolated location, the nearest large village with shops is 35km away, but is a must for those looking for unspoilt nature, open spaces and a wide range of exhilarating activities.

The hotels, Iso-Syote and Syote Keskus, sit on top of these gentle fells and allow easy access to the surrounding nature, excellent tobogganing and a chance to try skiing on the adjacent slopes.

Meet Santa, once, as a family while he rests in a forest cabin and again at the Christmas party on the final evening. Take part in husky and snowmobile safaris. Try your hand at ice fishing, snow shoeing, riding in a reindeer pulled sled and quad biking.

For further details on the 16-19 December holiday to Hotel Iso Syote click here