Three international film productions in progress in Turku
International production company Filmgate Finland Oy has started operations in Turku. The company is currently developing three major film productions that have received funding from Business Finland’s production incentive for the AV industry.
Set up in Turku, Filmgate Finland Oy is already working at three major international productions. The company’s first production is starring the iconic spy Harry Palmer who will be back in Turku. Previously Harry Palmer (then played by Michael Caine) had adventures on Ruissalo Island and the Turku Castle in the film Billion Dollar Brain in 1967. This time Filmgate Finland Oy and Altitude Television are co-producing ITV’s six-episode miniseries The Ipcress File in which the role of Harry Palmer will be played by Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders). Filmgate Finland is doing the VFX post-production for the miniseries.
Photo: Ross Ferguson
In spring, Filmgate Finland also made agreements on the VFX post-production for two other films. The Lair is a new horror-action film by director Neil Marshall (Hellboy, Game of Thrones and Westworld) with British stars Jonathan Howard, Charlotte Kirk and Jamie Bamber. The third production is the drama feature Living directed by Oliver Hermanus and produced by Stephen Woolley (The Crying Game, 1992 and Carol, 2015), and starring Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood.
The productions have received funding from the production incentive for the AV industry administered by Business Finland. The production incentive was actually an important factor for the expansion of Filmgate Films to Finland. Filmgate Films has offices in London, Gothenburg and now also in Turku. Merja Salonen, Product Manager for production incentive at Business Finland is happy about the international company relocating in Finland.
”It’s great to have the expertise of Filmgate Films and producer Sean Wheelan’s international networks in Finland.”
”Turku’s importance as an international film city is growing further with Filmgate Finland. Filmgate Finland is bringing to Turku the long awaited post-production know-how and the company’s extensive international networks. Together with Finland’s biggest production service company Film Service Finland Oy and Filmgate Finland Oy, Turku is now able to provide even more competitive services and co-operation opportunities for international productions”, says Teija Raninen, Film Commissioner and Senior Executive of Experience Turku spearhead at Turku Science Park Ltd.
Photo: Laura Malinen, WFFC