Helsinki-filmi

What Helsinki-filmi does

Helsinki-filmi Oy is a Finnish film and television production company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Helsinki. The company produces feature films, drama series, and documentaries across theatrical, broadcast, and streaming distribution, with a catalogue of more than 30 feature films including Tove, Tom of Finland, Heart of a Lion, and the Lapland Odyssey franchise. Its core operations span development, financing, physical production, and post-production, anchored by a leadership team led by CEO Teea Hyytiä and Head of Drama Mia Ylönen. Since 2021 the company has operated as an independent subsidiary of Aurora Studios, the Finnish group that also includes Aurora Pictures and Cinemanse (film import and distribution).

The company's revenue model is project-based and built around three interlocking streams: commissioning fees from Finnish and international broadcasters and streaming platforms (Yle, Elisa Viihde, SkyShowtime, C More, Disney+ Nordic); co-production financing from European partners and public funding bodies (notably the Finnish Film Foundation, which provides €300K–€900K per project); and backend participation from theatrical distribution (SF Studios) and international sales agents (LevelK, The Yellow Affair, About Premium Content). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by project scope, talent, and distribution rights.

On the technology front, Helsinki-filmi's most notable capability is virtual production — Icebreaker (Jään vangit), a 2025 six-part thriller series for Elisa Viihde, was filmed using FireFrame's LED virtual studio combined with real maritime footage, enabling arctic storm and underwater sequences that would otherwise be impractical. Its go-to-market relies on winning commissions from a diversified roster of buyers, entering international co-productions with partners in Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, and the UK, and leveraging film-festival premieres (Sundance, Berlinale, Toronto, Gothenburg, Venice Days, Canneseries) to drive international sales and brand recognition. The company also receives discretionary public funding, with the Finnish Film Foundation distributing over €3.1 million across 477 funding decisions in a single recent cycle.

Name

Helsinki-filmi

Legal name

Helsinki-Filmi Oy

Website

https://helsinkifilmi.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Helsinki-filmi is a Helsinki-based film and television production company founded in 2002, producing feature films, drama series, and documentaries for Finnish broadcasters, pan-European SVODs, theatrical distributors, and international sales agents as an independent subsidiary of Aurora Studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film and Television Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Business, Politics & Current Affairs Documentaries (MPADADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC)

Keywords

• Film production
• Television series
• Nordic filmmaking
• Documentary production
• Co-production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Film and Series Production: Production of feature films, documentaries, and drama series for theatrical release, streaming platforms, and broadcast television. Revenue generated through production fees, co-production financing, and backend participation.
2. Commissioning Fees: Productions commissioned by Finnish and international broadcasters including Yle, Elisa Viihde, SkyShowtime, C More, and Disney+ Nordic Original Series.
3. Co-production and International Sales: European co-productions with international partners generating revenue through international sales, world sales agents (LevelK, The Yellow Affair), and festival screenings.
4. Film Foundation Funding: Production grants and development support from the Finnish Film Foundation (€3.1 million+ distributed across 477 funding decisions in December).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Helsinki-filmi is a Finnish film and television production company that produces feature films, drama series, and documentaries for theatrical release, streaming platforms, and broadcast television. The company secures commissioning fees from broadcasters and streamers (Yle, Elisa Viihde, SkyShowtime, C More, Disney+), engages in European co-productions, and generates revenue through international sales agents and theatrical distribution.

Product overview

Helsinki-filmi is a Finnish film and series production company founded in 2002 and operating as an independent subsidiary of Aurora Studios. The company produces a diverse portfolio of feature films, television series, and documentaries, including notable titles such as Tove, Teräsleidit, Tom of Finland, Heart of a Lion, Lapland Odyssey, Prinsessa Pikkiriikki, The Summer Book, and Icebreaker. Their productions span multiple formats including theatrical films, streaming series for platforms like Yle, Elisa Viihde, SkyShowtime, and Ruutu+, and documentaries. Recent productions include youth series Sneakermania for Yle Areena, thriller series Icebreaker for Elisa Viihde featuring virtual studio technology, and literary adaptations like The Summer Book and The More Loving One. The company has produced over 30 feature films and several drama series, with works distributed globally and featured at major festivals including Berlinale, Toronto, Sundance, and Venice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sneakermania 8-episode drama-comedy series about a 17-year-old sneakerhead influencer navigating friendship and competition in Helsinki sneaker culture. Commissioned for Yle Areena.
• Tell Everyone (Kerro kaikille) Historical drama about women committed to a mental asylum on Seili island in 1898, based on true events and Katja Kallio's book.
• Ladies of Steel - Like There's No Tomorrow (Teräsleidit - kuin viimeistä päivää) Comedy sequel featuring 75-year-old Inkeri on a road trip with her sisters, believing she has two weeks to live.
• Icebreaker (Jään vangit) 6-part thriller series set on a stranded icebreaker in the Gulf of Bothnia, combining virtual studio technology at FireFrame studios with maritime drama.
• The More Loving One (Anna minun rakastaa enemmän) Film adaptation of Juha Itkonen's novel about a small-town couple whose relationship is tested by dreams of stardom in the music industry.
• The Summer Book (Kesäkirja) English-language adaptation of Tove Jansson's beloved novel about a young girl and grandmother spending summer on a Finnish island.
• Sunset Grove (Ehtoolehto) 8-part crime comedy series about three retirement home residents investigating mysterious disappearances and a cook's suspicious death.
• Sebastian Drama about a 25-year-old writer in London who works as a sex worker to research his debut novel.
• Pepe Documentary about Pepe Willberg's career and Finnish pop music history spanning seven decades.
• Itty Bitty Princess (Prinsessa Pikkiriikki) Family film adaptation of the popular Finnish children's book series about a princess on adventures.
• Codename: Annika Series about Finnish detective Emma Haka going undercover in Stockholm's art world to investigate money laundering. Commissioned for SkyShowtime.
• The Worst Idea Ever Film about two lifelong game designers whose friendship unravels as one longs for nostalgic youth while the other wants to marry.
• Tove Biographical drama about Tove Jansson's life in post-WWII Helsinki, focusing on her relationships and creation of the Moomins.
• Dogs Don't Wear Pants (Koirat eivät käytä housuja) Dark romantic drama about a widower's intense connection with a dominatrix following a tragic event.
• Tom of Finland Biographical drama about Touko Laaksonen, the Finnish artist behind the Tom of Finland homoerotic drawings.
• Heart of a Lion (Leijonasydän) Drama about a neo-Nazi who falls in love with a woman whose son is black, forcing him to confront his beliefs.
• Lapland Odyssey (Napapiirin sankarit) Comedy about Janne from Lapland on a quest to find a digital TV box before dawn to save his relationship.
• Comeback Film about a rock band reuniting when their sober singer relapses, featuring a quest to reclaim fame.
• DikDek Dark comedy series about a private detective who opens a haunted bed and breakfast with his wife. Commissioned for C More Original.
• The Replacement (Sijainen) Psychological thriller series about an architect on maternity leave who suspects her replacement is taking over her life. Commissioned for Elisa Viihde.
• The Machinery (Koneisto) Action thriller set between Norway and Sweden about a man who wakes up with no memory and a bag of money.
• Thin Blue Line (Ohuella langalla) Swedish drama series depicting the daily lives of six police officers in Malmö and their struggles to separate work and personal life.
• Ladies of Steel (Teräsleidit) Comedy about 75-year-old Inkeri who flees with her sisters after hitting her husband with a frying pan. Highest-grossing domestic premiere and most-watched Finnish film of 2020 with 247,071 admissions.
• Lost Boys Documentary following Finnish men from the Reindeerspotting documentary who disappeared into Asia's streets.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Summer Book exceeded 100,000 admissions in Finland
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• SF StudioscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNordic theatrical distribution partner handling film releases and home entertainment across Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Distributor for major Helsinki-filmi productions including Ladies of Steel and The Summer Book.
• LevelKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational world sales agent handling global distribution rights for Helsinki-filmi productions including Sebastian and Tove. Manages festival sales and international licensing.
• The Yellow AffaircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld sales agent for multiple Helsinki-filmi productions including Ladies of Steel, Dogs Don't Wear Pants, Tom of Finland, and The Summer Book.
• Elisa ViihdecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinnish streaming platform commissioning original series from Helsinki-filmi including Icebreaker (Jään vangit), Sunset Grove (Ehtoolehto), and The Replacement (Sijainen).
• YlecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinnish public broadcaster commissioning original series including Sneakermania and acquiring television broadcast rights for Helsinki-filmi productions.
• SkyShowtimecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational streaming platform commissioning series Codename: Annika (Koodinimi: Annika) for their pan-European streaming service.
• Disney+flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommissioned first Nordic Original Series To Cook a Bear for Disney+ streaming platform.
• C MorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommissioning original comedy series DikDek for C More Original platform.
• About Premium Content (APC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent handling international distribution of Icebreaker (Jään vangit) series to markets including Spain, Portugal, Australia, Germany, UK, and Poland.
• Free Range FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for The Summer Book film adaptation of Tove Jansson's beloved book.
• Stille ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for The Summer Book.
• High Frequency EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for The Summer Book.
• Lemming FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Sebastian film.
• Ima IduozeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector of Sneakermania, first youth series from Helsinki-filmi. Received Helsinki City Artist of the Year 2023 award and previously directed internationally successful short film After We're Gone.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zentropa: Danish film and TV production company (founded by Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen) producing feature films and drama series for Nordic and international markets. Directly comparable to Helsinki-filmi in scale, genre mix spanning auteur drama to commercial fare, and pan-European co-production approach.
• Nimbus Film: Danish production company producing drama series, feature films, and documentaries for DR, TV 2, and international streamers. Comparable in producing prestige Nordic drama, accessing cross-Nordic co-production financing, and serving similar broadcaster/streamer client base.
• Nice Drama: Norwegian-Swedish production company producing drama series for NRK, SVT, and international platforms. Comparable in producing prestige Nordic drama series with international co-production partners and similar broadcaster relationships.
• Anagram: Swedish production company producing drama series and feature films for SVT and international platforms, including co-productions with Nordic partners. Comparable in genre mix (drama, thriller, literary adaptation) and co-production-driven financing model.
• Filmlance International: Swedish production company producing drama series and feature films for SVT, Netflix, and other international platforms, including the Bridge trilogy. Comparable in producing high-end Nordic drama for global streamers and competing for similar commission slots.
• Rabbit Films: Finnish production company producing drama series and feature films for domestic broadcasters (Yle, MTV) and international platforms. Direct Finnish peer competing for the same commissioning slots, broadcaster relationships, and Finnish Film Foundation financing.
• Yellow Bird: Swedish production company known for the Millennium/Dragon Tattoo film series and other Nordic noir content. Comparable in producing internationally distributed Nordic crime/thriller content with co-production financing across multiple territories.
• MRP Matila Röhr Productions: Finnish film production company producing feature films and drama series for domestic and international markets. Direct Finnish peer with overlapping genre mix and competing for the same Yle and Finnish broadcaster commission relationships.

Broad incumbents

• SF Studios: Swedish film studio and Nordic distributor (part of Bonnier Group). Functions both as Helsinki-filmi's Nordic theatrical distribution partner and as a producer of Nordic and international feature films and series - making it a comparable incumbent with broader portfolio scope including distribution.
• Nordisk Film: Danish-Nordic production and distribution major (Egmont-owned) producing feature films, drama series, and operating cinemas across Scandinavia. Comparable as a larger incumbent Nordic production-and-distribution group with broader portfolio and deeper resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/helsinkifilmi
• Instagraminstagram.com/helsinkifilmi/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helsinki--filmi-oy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Helsinki-filmi