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January 2023
YLE LUME LAB & YLE DRAAMA training program for directing drama series
The goal of the training is to develop the skills of working directors to plan and oversee drama series productions.
The first session will be held by Hendrik Handgloeten, the writer and director of Babylon Berlin.
The program directors are Jarmo Lampela and Raimo Lång from YLE.
September 2022
YLE interviews Nina Menkes and Inka Rusi
Brainwashed team was interviewed during the HELSINKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL where it had three sold out screenings and an additional fourth screening. Thank you to the amazing audience and awesome conversations!
And thank you to Hannamari for the wonderful interview.
To read the article please CLICK HERE
September 2022
BRAINWASHED: SEX - CAMERA -POWER trailer out on INDIWIRE
Menkes’ “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power” centers on the cultural normalization of the exploitative male gaze found in cinema. Using clips from more than 175 films ranging from “Sleeping Beauty” to “Eyes Wide Shut” and “Spring Breakers,” Menkes deconstructs how the visual language of cinema is connected to “employment discrimination against women and an environment of pervasive sexual harassment, abuse, and assault.”
The film premieres October 21 2022 via Kino Lorber at the new DCTV Firehouse Cinema in New York City and the Laemmle in Los Angeles, with a national rollout to follow.
May 2022
THE GREAT UNKNOWN awarded development funding from Konstamfundet
The miniseries produced by Onerva Pictures has been awarded the prestigious Konstamfundet development grant. The fund supports projects that highlight the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland.
For fund website please CLICK HERE
Campaign film for Mannerheim League for Child Welfare
It was a huge joy and honor to be able to work on such an important project that is close to my heart. And always a joy working with Grillifilms. Thank you to everyone who made it possible!
Client MLL Jukka Illikainen I Producer Katja Jokinen I Director Inka Rusi I Production manager Ronja Pero I Production coordinator Mia Ekman I Location scout Gabriella Polverino I Dop Alvi Pakarinen I Gaffer Kari Malmio I Sound recordist Jari Ikonen I 1st camera-assistant Aaro Visala I MUAH Riina Savolainen I Picture post-production Katana Creative / Jerry Strengell I Sound post-production Humina / Tuomas Seppänen I Photographer Risto Vauras
Speaker Minka Kuustonen
click on image to view article
The Fund’s focus on the younger generation in 2022, will debut at the Göteborg Film Festival
‘20-Something’ will kick-start at the Göteborg Film Festival’s industry events TV Drama Vision and Nordic Film Market, with the presence of seven Nordic Talents former participants, who will pitch their projects and network with industry delegates.
Directior Inka Rusi will be pitching The Great Unknown (Min ljusa stad) with producer Tanja Rusi.
ME, BRENDA selected to Script Development initiative organized by APFI
The screenwriter or team of screenwriters will meet the appointed consultant approx. once a month. Between these meetings writer/writers will develop the concept until it’s ready and then start to write the script. By the end of this project the script will be ready or at least nearly finished.
BRAINWASHED: Sex-Camera-Power premiere at Sundance Film Festival & Berlinale Panorama Section
Brainwashed is based on director Nina Menkes's cinematic presentation, Sex and Power, the Visual Language of Cinema, that uses film clips by A-list directors from the 1940s through to the present, to show how the visual grammar of cinema contributes to conditions that create discriminatory hiring practice, pay inequity and a pervasive environment of sexual harassment in the film industry and beyond. Director Inka Rusi has been working closely with Menkes from the onset of the film as a creative producer.
The film will have its European Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival Panorama Section.
BIND part of the 2021 Tacoma Film Festival
The film can be seen part of the Short Films 6 program.
The Tacoma Film Festival bills itself as “the ultimate indie festival,” and it screens works from the Pacific Northwest and all over the world. The festival aims to support up-and-coming indie filmmakers and awards prizes across various categories including Local Audience Choice Awards for short and feature-length films, Best Regional Film, Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay.
For festival website please CLICK HERE
BIND has been selected to the National Competition Shorts Program
A total of 34 entries have been shortlisted for the National Competition of the Cut to the Chase – R&A Shorts of the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy. In addition to the competition films, the programme includes a number of award-winning shorts from the world’s biggest film festivals. Cut to the Chase – R&A Shorts programme will be screened September 22–26.2021
Inka Rusi selected to participate in the 2021 Nordic Talents Pitch Competition
Inka will be pitching Min Ljusa Stad (The Great Unknown).
Nordic Talents organised by Nordisk Film & TV Fond is a unique opportunity for Nordic film & TV students who get a chance to network with 200+ industry people and fellow film graduates, and to win the NOK 250,000 Pitch Prize and NOK 50,000 Special Mention. The cash prize is handed out by Nordisk Film & TV Fond as development funding.
Min Ljusa Stad (The Great Unknown)
Miniseries project Min Ljusa Stad has been awarded development funding from the Finnish Film Foundation in the latest grant cycle.
The series is inspired by the biography of Sally Salminen by Ulrika Gustafsson (2019)
Production company: Onerva Pictures
Director: Inka Rusi I Producer: Tanja Rusi Scriptwriters: Beata Harju & Inka Rusi
BIND selected to the 2021 CAA Moebius festival
Short film BIND has been selected to the CAA Moebius showcase (June 9 – 10, 2021).
Creative Artists Agency announced on that the sixth edition of their Moebius Film Festival will take place June 9-10.
The two-day virtual screening series, spotlighting diverse graduate filmmakers, will welcome talent from AFI, CalArts, UCLA, USC and Chapman University. 12 directors will be represented, from six countries.
As has been the case in past years, CAA agents will be on hand for the event, to mentor the filmmakers. Professionals from various major agencies, management companies, production companies, studios, networks and streamers are expected to be in attendance, as well.
PAINTINGS fashion film premiere at Fashion in Helsinki
A brand film for fashion label PAINTINGS.
Production company Woodpecker I Client: PAINTINGS Director: Inka Rusi I Producer: Katariina Holma & Kimmo Manninen DoP: Sonja Huttunen I 1st AC: Eino Antonio I 1st AD: Tanja Rusi I Sound: Christian Sjöholm I Costume: PAINTINGS I Music: Mitja Nylund I Grade: Alex Coveney I Editor & Post: Henriikka Ihalainen
Cast: Amanda Palo & Ronja Pero
Grillifilms presents Inka Rusi
Thank you Drama Queen, Neste and Kesko for sharing this project with us, and for working together in dispelling prejudices.
#NAINENRATISSA 2021 campaign
To celebrate International Women’s Day NESTE - K wanted to make a film that would laugh at old stereotypes about women drivers.
Production company Grillifilms I Client: Neste - K I Agency: Drama Queen Communications
Director: Inka Rusi I Producer: Katja Jokinen DoP: Sonja Huttunen I Production Manager: Ronja Pero I Gaffer: Karoliina Kärkkäinen I Sound: Pirkko Tiitinen I MUAH: Leena Waggoner Editor & Post: Henriikka Ihalainen I Production assistant: Gabriella Polverino I Casting: Vera Melleri
Cast: Anni, Riitta, Lila, Siiri, Jessica & Inka
BIND selected to the 2021 Florida Film Festival
Short film BIND has been accepted to the NARRATIVE SHORTS program at the 30th Florida Film Festival (April 9 – 22, 2021). As it has been selected for competition the film will be eligible for the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short. The full festival line up will be announced on the 17th of March 2021.
Florida Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying festival and is one of Moviemaker Magazine’s 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee.