ABOUT THE FILM
Story
A group of scientists - five women – decide to provide a lasting solution to the shortfall of fresh water and energy that is threatening the earth. They found a centre in the spirit of underground movements in northern Lapland, and begin gathering information on the Sámi people’s use of their environment and their relationship to nature.
The group wants to maintain the research and provide information about their work for free. In doing this, they want to break through the undemocratic tradition of withholding information, which has its foundations in the economic mindset of profit.
But then the researchers come across situations that result in their contacting forces of nature that are foreign to them.
The group is unable to process the information they acquire, and disband.
The film
NON Profit is a feature film by Feodoroff, a member of the Skolt Sámi indigenous minority. It is considered as a very first Sami-Finnish feature film.
The film was shot in Nellim in Finnish Lapland, in Finnmark in Norwegian Lapland and southern Finland, between 1999 and 2004. The main characters are played by some of the best-known actresses in Finland, such as Ria Kataja, Saija Lentonen, Katja Kukkola, Minna Harjuniemi and Milja Sarkola.
In 2007, Feodoroff was awarded the Finnish Critics’ Association’s prestigious “Critic’s Spurs” award for the film.
Story
A group of scientists - five women – decide to provide a lasting solution to the shortfall of fresh water and energy that is threatening the earth. They found a centre in the spirit of underground movements in northern Lapland, and begin gathering information on the Sámi people’s use of their environment and their relationship to nature.
The group wants to maintain the research and provide information about their work for free. In doing this, they want to break through the undemocratic tradition of withholding information, which has its foundations in the economic mindset of profit.
But then the researchers come across situations that result in their contacting forces of nature that are foreign to them.
The group is unable to process the information they acquire, and disband.
The film
NON Profit is a feature film by Feodoroff, a member of the Skolt Sámi indigenous minority. It is considered as a very first Sami-Finnish feature film.
The film was shot in Nellim in Finnish Lapland, in Finnmark in Norwegian Lapland and southern Finland, between 1999 and 2004. The main characters are played by some of the best-known actresses in Finland, such as Ria Kataja, Saija Lentonen, Katja Kukkola, Minna Harjuniemi and Milja Sarkola.
In 2007, Feodoroff was awarded the Finnish Critics’ Association’s prestigious “Critic’s Spurs” award for the film.
Music
Non Profit existed for a long time as a framework, a skeleton that was brought to life when composer Laura Murtomaa began to imagine what idealism, work, a forest speaking, a branch hole, or the dead earth sound like. Laura brought together a top-notch team, and so began the recording, and ushering into music, of washing machines, branches and the rattling of rocks.
Director’s words
What should I say about Non Profit? That small yet gigantic dream that would have stopped me from being if it had not transpired. And which itself stopped being when it was realised. Became real and changed at least my own reality. Gave it boundaries.
Non Profit and I have travelled side by side ever since 1997. A large group of people have come and gone to and from its existence, many of them having left a large mark on it during their time with it as well as in leaving it.
There are those who have saved us technologically, saved us from bankruptcy, saved us from border officials, from hunger, from disbelief, from despair, from uncertainty, from losing the art, from assault by false art, have lent an ear, an eye, their skill, their mind and imagination on loan and been there without receiving anything more than an uncertain promise in return: this will be completed, once and for all.
Non Profit was created according to the principles the name itself implies: the cast and crew have worked on it for meals-only compensation, that is until the film received the premiere of its first version in January 2007 and producer Outi Rousu found us. Or Non Profit found Outi.
For Non Profit, this past year has been a time of polishing, during which the lo-fi film has been stylized, and no longer something that is forced to exist by convention. At the same time, Non Profit has become acquainted with film industry professionals.
But before this there were many, many years. The digital revolution made it possible to produce a feature film on a shoe-string budget and on a do-it-yourself basis. The only thing that was needed was endless patience and many years of free time.
Non Profit is what it is. The film has been written with endlessly inspiring people, without whom I couldn’t – and wouldn’t have wanted to – do anything. They commented on unfinished thoughts, provided their own thoughts and became a part of Non Profit’s fabric.
- Feodoroff
Non Profit existed for a long time as a framework, a skeleton that was brought to life when composer Laura Murtomaa began to imagine what idealism, work, a forest speaking, a branch hole, or the dead earth sound like. Laura brought together a top-notch team, and so began the recording, and ushering into music, of washing machines, branches and the rattling of rocks.
Director’s words
What should I say about Non Profit? That small yet gigantic dream that would have stopped me from being if it had not transpired. And which itself stopped being when it was realised. Became real and changed at least my own reality. Gave it boundaries.
Non Profit and I have travelled side by side ever since 1997. A large group of people have come and gone to and from its existence, many of them having left a large mark on it during their time with it as well as in leaving it.
There are those who have saved us technologically, saved us from bankruptcy, saved us from border officials, from hunger, from disbelief, from despair, from uncertainty, from losing the art, from assault by false art, have lent an ear, an eye, their skill, their mind and imagination on loan and been there without receiving anything more than an uncertain promise in return: this will be completed, once and for all.
Non Profit was created according to the principles the name itself implies: the cast and crew have worked on it for meals-only compensation, that is until the film received the premiere of its first version in January 2007 and producer Outi Rousu found us. Or Non Profit found Outi.
For Non Profit, this past year has been a time of polishing, during which the lo-fi film has been stylized, and no longer something that is forced to exist by convention. At the same time, Non Profit has become acquainted with film industry professionals.
But before this there were many, many years. The digital revolution made it possible to produce a feature film on a shoe-string budget and on a do-it-yourself basis. The only thing that was needed was endless patience and many years of free time.
Non Profit is what it is. The film has been written with endlessly inspiring people, without whom I couldn’t – and wouldn’t have wanted to – do anything. They commented on unfinished thoughts, provided their own thoughts and became a part of Non Profit’s fabric.
- Feodoroff
Critics
“Head and shoulders the most interesting Finnish drama movie for years. A film that thinks as well as acts and asks as much as it provides answers.
The images stream out with a magical intensity, tracing a story of ecologically-sustainable existence. A group of researchers equipped with all the trappings of modern high technology move to a remote northern location on a project to see how little energy a community needs to get by. Before long the experiment runs into a crisis and the graphs on the computer displays flat-line.
The marsh sucks down the human. Ancient gods and idols and the spirit of the place cause the horizon to shift. The spirits of the dark waters work their spell. Nature experts its primeval strength, against which the trendily green city-people have no defences.
The narrative shows how cultural collisions bend fenders. Nature strikes back. It also offers lessons, if anyone is prepared to listen. The hands on the global doom watch clock are still at five-to. The audience holds its breath and then bursts into loud and sustained applause.”
Kirsikka Moring, Helsingin Sanomat
“Head and shoulders the most interesting Finnish drama movie for years. A film that thinks as well as acts and asks as much as it provides answers.
The images stream out with a magical intensity, tracing a story of ecologically-sustainable existence. A group of researchers equipped with all the trappings of modern high technology move to a remote northern location on a project to see how little energy a community needs to get by. Before long the experiment runs into a crisis and the graphs on the computer displays flat-line.
The marsh sucks down the human. Ancient gods and idols and the spirit of the place cause the horizon to shift. The spirits of the dark waters work their spell. Nature experts its primeval strength, against which the trendily green city-people have no defences.
The narrative shows how cultural collisions bend fenders. Nature strikes back. It also offers lessons, if anyone is prepared to listen. The hands on the global doom watch clock are still at five-to. The audience holds its breath and then bursts into loud and sustained applause.”
Kirsikka Moring, Helsingin Sanomat
Cast and crew
Cast:
Minna Harjuniemi graduated from the Directing program at the Theater Academy in spring 2002. She is the Director of the Helsingin Taiteellinen Teatteri theater and also works as a freelance director. Minna has also acted in dozens of productions.
Milja Sarkola graduated from the Directing program at the Theater Academy in spring 2006, and in addition to directing, she has acted in a number of productions.
Katja Kukkola has, since graduating from the Theater Academy, worked as a freelance actor. She is a member of the Teatteri Takomo theater, among other things. Katja has acted in a number of productions, radio plays, television series and films.
Heli Sirviö graduated from the Acting program at the Theater Academy in spring 2001, and works as a freelance actor. Heli has acted, for example, at the Kuopion kaupunginteatteri (the City of Kuopio theater) and the Miri theater.
Saija Lentonen graduated from the Acting program at the Theater Academy in spring 2001, and has acted in a number of theater productions, television series and films.
Ria Kataja graduated from the Acting program at the Theater Academy in spring 2000, and works as a freelance actor. She has acted in a number of theater productions, television series, radio plays and films.
Katri Jefremoff is a Skolt master craftsman and cultural influence. Katri lives in Nellimi.
Eeva Aitta works as an actor in the City of Kajaani theater.
Kaisa Korhonen works as a director in Finland and other Nordic countries.
Crew:
Script & Director Feodoroff
Composer and Sound Designer Laura Murtomaa
Editor Riitta Poikselkä
Audio post & final sound mix Joonas Jyrälä
Cinematographer Mikko Enqvist
Lighting Tomi Suovankoski
Director’s assistant Jukka Ruotsalainen
Music mixer Tuomas Norvio
Colour correction, text, mastering Generator Post, Tomi Nieminen
Production Manager Suvi Soitinaho
Producers Feodoroff & Outi Rousu, Periferia Productions 2008
With the participation of the communications workshop of the municipality of Inari, Janne Palokangas & Sami Maununen
Supporters:
Sámi Council Cultural Board
Finnish Sámi Parliament Cultural Board
Finnish Cultural Foundation
Communications workshop of the municipality of Inari
Heltech
Windside
Vladimir Feodoroff
Inger-Kaisa Baeko
In partnership with YLE Co-Productions / Sari Volanen
Post-production funding from the Finnish Film Foundation / Petri Kemppinen
© Periferia Productions (Finland) & Feodoroff
Cast:
Minna Harjuniemi graduated from the Directing program at the Theater Academy in spring 2002. She is the Director of the Helsingin Taiteellinen Teatteri theater and also works as a freelance director. Minna has also acted in dozens of productions.
Milja Sarkola graduated from the Directing program at the Theater Academy in spring 2006, and in addition to directing, she has acted in a number of productions.
Katja Kukkola has, since graduating from the Theater Academy, worked as a freelance actor. She is a member of the Teatteri Takomo theater, among other things. Katja has acted in a number of productions, radio plays, television series and films.
Heli Sirviö graduated from the Acting program at the Theater Academy in spring 2001, and works as a freelance actor. Heli has acted, for example, at the Kuopion kaupunginteatteri (the City of Kuopio theater) and the Miri theater.
Saija Lentonen graduated from the Acting program at the Theater Academy in spring 2001, and has acted in a number of theater productions, television series and films.
Ria Kataja graduated from the Acting program at the Theater Academy in spring 2000, and works as a freelance actor. She has acted in a number of theater productions, television series, radio plays and films.
Katri Jefremoff is a Skolt master craftsman and cultural influence. Katri lives in Nellimi.
Eeva Aitta works as an actor in the City of Kajaani theater.
Kaisa Korhonen works as a director in Finland and other Nordic countries.
Crew:
With the participation of the communications workshop of the municipality of Inari, Janne Palokangas & Sami Maununen
Supporters:
In partnership with YLE Co-Productions / Sari Volanen
Post-production funding from the Finnish Film Foundation / Petri Kemppinen
© Periferia Productions (Finland) & Feodoroff