Yle supports Finnish short films both financially and mentally

"TV2 supports short films by purchasing the broadcasting rights, usually for three screenings," explains Juha Rosma, the Head of Drama for TV2.

Every year TV2 purchases broadcasting rights to approximately six fictional short films and six documentary films. Some of the films are made by professionals and some by students. According to Rosma most of the films made by students are acquisitions from Tampere School of Art and Media, Lahti Institute of Design and Turku Polytechnic.

"Some of the short films are bought on the basis of scripts, so in a way Yle also participates in the production process."

More stories of the right length

Half an hour-long short films are screened at their own slot, others, less than hour-long short films at fiction films' broadcasting time. Rosma notes that the standard of short films in Finland is quite high. The increase in education in the field of media studies has not really, according to him, influenced the standard of short films.

"Perhaps the know-how in producing films is better now than before. I wish short films had more meaning, which does not mean that the short films should be turned into mainstream films," Rosma points out.

He would like to see more short films, which have a 10-30 minutes' long distinct story. According to Rosma a shortened long film or a prolonged short film are both poor solutions.

"I would like the filmmakers to have more courage and personality. Short films do not have problems concerning distribution or commercial pressure, so it is unnecessary to imitate mainstream films."

Twenty joint productions a year

Joint productions' unit serves all the Yle channels. According to the recently appointed head of the unit, Erkki Astala, every year Yle participates in the production of approximately twenty under 35 minutes' long short films. Additionally Yle purchases 20-30 Finnish films and the same number of foreign films.

"We choose the best and the most promising ones from the ideas, scripts and synopses we are offered, and then we start developing them further," Astala says.

Usually Yle offers only some minor aid in financing the projects, which is why these projects need financing elsewhere as well. It is often difficult to organise financing to short films, since the distribution possibilities are very weak and the relation of financial benefit to expenses is poor.

"Maybe it is the financial difficulties that lead to a longer format in fictional short films and also partly in documentary films. Less than half an hour-long short films are rare outside the institutes and schools of art and media," Astala estimates.

TV1 has its own regular slot for fictional short films, which is the already ten-year-old Uusi Kino. Astala remarks that the screening of short films in television offers support to filmmakers and genuinely fulfils viewers' needs.

"Screening the short films on the Yle channels is a cultural and political duty. Additionally it is important that Yle takes part in young filmmakers' projects at the earliest possible stage. The example of Uusi Kino does prove that with persistent work even a slightly different programme finds its audience."

According to Astala Uusi Kino has had excellent ratings. The audience also found Uusi Kino from its new broadcasting time when it changed from Thursday evenings to Sunday evenings. This, if anything, gives evidence of its stable popularity.

New solutions are needed

Astala comments the future of short films in Finland calmly.

"Of course I would wish that short films had a brighter future than before, but realistically speaking the distribution possibilities of short films are quite narrow."

Erkki Astala encourages financiers, producers and filmmakers to get together and discuss new ways of screening short films. One alternative could be, according to Astala, a so-called package of measures to help screenings of short films.

"But then again a package of measures may limit the filmmakers' freedom of expression. I believe that a short film should be made out of the needs of the filmmaker."