Finland is often characterized by freezing cold temperatures, snow-covered landscapes and of course, the infamous Northern Nights. Yet, as soon as summer rolls around, the locals take advantage of their scenic surroundings. Whether lazily picnicking with friends, wandering through outdoor public parks or beating the heat with a fresh scoop of ice cream, summer in Finland is like no other.
A major reason for enjoying the great outdoors has to do with the Midnight Sun, a natural phenomenon in which daylight hours are greatly extended, resulting in long days and short nights. During peak days, the sun doesn’t set at all which can easily confuse first time travelers to Finland. The sunshine is the brightest in destinations north of the Arctic Circles and south of the Antarctic Circle, thus explaining why winters in Finland are rather dark and summers are consistently sunny.
Also occurring during the summer season is a slew of outdoor festivals throughout Europe, and Finland is certainly no exception. Taking place every June in Sodankylä, The Midnight Sun Film Festival, is unarguably one of the most highly anticipated annual events in the country. Generally scheduled for the second week of June, the festival takes advantage of the nonstop sunlight by showing classic movies throughout the day and night for five consecutive days.
Further adding to the Midnight Sun Film Festival’s unique appeal is its unexpected location. The small town of Sodankylä, nestled in the heart of Finland’s Lapland, transforms into a bustling hub for young, hip and hard-core movie fanatics. During the festival’s entirety, the atmosphere remains friendly and non-competitive and the picturesque lakes and forests of Lapland serve as the perfect movie backdrop.
Using large tents as movie theatres, the dark space inside creates a realistic environment much like being in an actual theatre. There are always a few glints of sunlight peeping inside the tents serving as a constant reminder of the Midnight Sun lurking outside. A long line waiting outside the largest tents’ entrance clearly marks the most popular showings.
When it comes to movie selection, the event organizers do their best to showcase various directing styles. Each year, roughly 20-30 films are shown from different countries but the majority tends to be contemporary Finnish films and international classics. During screenings of silent films, it’s not uncommon to hear a live orchestra playing, adding melodic sound in live time, further instilling a more emotive experience.
Roughly 19,000-25,000 people attend the festival each year along with many accomplished film directors and famous actors also in attendance. Aki and Mika Kaurismäki and Peter von Bagh are the Finnish directors who founded the festival back in 1986. Since then, they have been passionately working to keep the tradition alive and well within Finland’s youth community.
Another highlight of the five-day extravaganza is the active involvement of film industry insiders who attend and sometimes even assist in the event’s production. This not only demonstrates their role in giving back to the local community but also shows their sincere appreciation for the art of cinematography. The mix of acclaimed directors, new talent and an international audience creates an engaging environment throughout the festival’s duration.
The founders also aim to steer clear of marketing initiatives that will detract from the authentic experience. Samuel Fuller, Jonathan Demme, Michael Powell, Jim Jarmusch, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Jean-Pierre Léaud and Agnès Varda are just a few of many notable guests throughout the years. Their presence has been integral to the increasing global awareness of The Midnight Sun film Festival.
Although Sodankylä’s location north of the Arctic Circle creates chills in the evening hours, most guests are too busy chatting about the last movie played to notice the dip in temperature. Other attendees simply warm up by hopping into one of several nearby bars and restaurants while others choose to casually drink wine and play music outside in the field.
Once the festivities come to a close, the quiet town slips back into its normal, everyday routine. While it might make more geographical sense to host the event in Finland’s capital city, Helsinki, the remote Sodankylä has never stopped the thousands of locals and tourists who travel here each year to partake in the festival. In many ways, the town’s far northern location is a major factor contributing to its tremendous success.