Finland chose comedy family time Represent the country in the 2025 Oscar for Best International Film.
The film, from writer-director Tia Kouvo, is a keen look at tight-knit family bonds, telling the story of three dysfunctional generations who gather at their grandparents’ house during the holidays. Ria Kataja, Elina Knihtilä, Leena Uotila, Tom Wentzel and Jaco Paio Jarkko Pajunen stars in this black comedy that brings back the Christmas spirit.
Jussi Rantamäki and Emilia Haukka produced the film for Aamu Film Company together with Vilda Bomben Film. The film is adapted from Kouvo’s 2018 short film of the same name.
family time It premiered in the Encounter section at the Berlin Film Festival last year and debuted in Finland last November. It went on to sweep the Finnish Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay. The Match Factory is responsible for international sales.
Finland receives one Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category – for Aki Kaurismäki no one in the past 2002 – No wins yet. Kaurismäki’s last work, 2023 fallen leavesand Yoho Kusmanin’s Compartment No. 6 In 2021, both were on the Oscar longlist but were not nominated.
The submission deadline for the 96th Academy Awards is November 14, 2024. Will be held on Sunday March 2.
The Finnish jury wrote: “family timeThis highly original and deftly told film shows how form and emotion can be combined into cinematic virtuosity. As the film’s international success attests, the precise observation of the mundane in Finland has expanded into a universal experience.
