Once Upon a Time in a Forest – Havumetsän lapset

MOVIE SCREENING part of the DokuMontage series of EUNIC Berlin – the European Culture Instutes. With a video greeting from Ida Korhonen, one of the protagonists of the film.

Once Upon a Time in a Forest – Havumetsän lapset
Finland 2024, 93 min, OmeU, Directed by: Virpi Suutari.

Once Upon a Time in a Forest is a magical documentary film and an open love letter to Finnish nature and those who want to protect it.

Finland is renowned for its forests, lakes and unspoilt nature. Yet its economy has long been closely tied to the forestry industry. The documentary follows young environmental activists from Elokapina (Extinction Rebellion Finland), a protest movement founded in 2021. They campaign to protect one of Europe’s last natural coniferous forests and preserve Finland’s biodiversity. The film explores what drives their commitment to nature conservation and what are the choices they must make to devote themselves fully to the movement’s goals.

Once Upon a Time in a Forest celebrated its international premiere at CPH:DOX 2024 in Copenhagen. The film won two Jussis—Finland’s national film awards—for Best Cinematography and Best Documentary, as well as the Casacomune Prize and the Special Mention Jury Prize at the CinemAmbiente – Environmental Film Festival 2024 in Turin, the Audience Award at DOK Leipzig 2024, and the Grand Prix at the FReDD Festival in Toulouse.