AVEK and Finnish Cultural Foundation Launch Kehittamo – Talent Development Lab (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Marta Balaga Finland’s Promotion Centre for Audiovisual Culture (AVEK) and Finnish Cultural Foundation are launching Kehittämö – Talent Development Lab, Variety has learned exclusively.

Described as Finland’s first audiovisual development program, it will provide aspiring creators with financial support – €55,000 each, bringing the yearly budget up to half a million – and mentoring from international experts, including Karol Griffiths, who has collaborated with the Coen brothers, Gitte Hansen and Alex Szalat, the head of Docs Up Fund. “[It will allow us to] bring high quality fiction and documentary films, media artworks and other audiovisual works to the culture-loving audience.

AVEK has excellent understanding and wide networks in the sector and working with them will bring added value to the Cultural Foundation’s work,” says director of cultural affairs Juhana Lassila.

The initiative will focus on the upcoming talent or established artists ready to try something different, offering them a chance to find their own voice. “There will be no ‘reality check,’ no one on our side telling you this isn’t possible.