Helmed by Antti J. Jokinen (‘Purge’), the feature film adaptation of Finland’s national epic poetry compilation ‘Kalevala’ by Finnish physician, philologist, and poet Elias Lönnrot (first published in 1835) has been boarded by SF Studios and REinvent with an expected release in Finland early in 2026.
Starring Elias Salonen (‘ADULTS’, ‘Siege’) and Eero Aho (‘The Unknown Soldier’, ‘Helene’) in the leading parts, ‘the Finnish historical drama film ‘Kalevala: The Story of Kullervo‘ will start filming in mid-September in Nurmes, North Karelia, Finland.
Set in the 1100s in North Karelia, this period film explores themes of grace, the pursuit of meaningful existence, self-discovery, revenge, and love of the family, incorporating Karelian and Finnish folklore and mythology. Filming primary takes place in Bomba, in Nurmes, where extensive sets are built, with houses, storehouses, and courtyards.
Antti J. Jokinen
“It is with great pride that we at SF Studios participate in bringing this local power story to the audience. The title and the production call for a lot of expectations, demands, and excitement. The collaborative effort with Reel Media and Antti Jokinen has been outstanding, promising an extraordinary cinematic experience for Finnish screens”.
Yaba Holst, Executive Producer at SF Studios
In addition to Elias Salonen in the leading role as Kullervo, and Eero Aho as Untamo, the Finnish ensemble cast for ‘Kalevala: The Story of Kullervo‘ consists of Ilkka Koivula as Wäinö, Olli Rahkonen as Ilmarinen, Krista Kosonen as Ilmarinen’s wife, and Johannes Holopainen as Kalervo.
Elias Salonen. Photo: Tiia Öhman / ReelMedia OyEero Aho. Photo: Tiia Öhman / ReelMedia Oy
The film is produced by Johanna Enäsuo and Marko Rõhr at ReelMedia in co-production with Antti J. Jokinen’s Storm Inc. production company, in collaboration with SF Studios, the Finnish Film Foundation, and Yleisradio with financial support from North Karelia Cooperative Society (PKO), Nordisk Film & TV Fond, and the Regional Council of North Karelia. SF Studios will distribute the film in the Nordics, while REinvent handles international sales.
“Kalevala is a dream project for REinvent. Antti is such an incredible director and we feel confident that he will master the execution of this epic action film based on the Nordic myth, Kalevala. We can’t wait to show the first images to buyers at AFM later this year”
Rikke Ennis, CEO at REinvent International Sales
About SF Studios
SF Studios, established in 1919, is one of the world’s oldest film companies. Today SF Studios is the leading film studio in the Nordic region with its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, and offices in Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and London. The company is producing and distributing feature films and TV series as well as providing the streaming service SF Anytime. SF Studios is part of the leading Nordic media company Bonnier.
About REinvent International Sales
REinvent is a packaging, sales and financing studio all in one. REinvent has extensive knowledge of original trends and sales opportunities in both the Scandinavian and international markets, and works with high profile European production companies.
Source: SF Studios Photo credits: Tiia Öhman / ReelMedia Oy
This post/page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For details, visit our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Helmed by Antti J. Jokinen (‘Purge’), the feature film adaptation of Finland’s national epic poetry compilation ‘Kalevala’ by Finnish physician, philologist, and poet Elias Lönnrot (first published in 1835) has been boarded by SF Studios and REinvent with an expected release in Finland early in 2026.
Starring Elias Salonen (‘ADULTS’, ‘Siege’) and Eero Aho (‘The Unknown Soldier’, ‘Helene’) in the leading parts, ‘the Finnish historical drama film ‘Kalevala: The Story of Kullervo‘ will start filming in mid-September in Nurmes, North Karelia, Finland.
Set in the 1100s in North Karelia, this period film explores themes of grace, the pursuit of meaningful existence, self-discovery, revenge, and love of the family, incorporating Karelian and Finnish folklore and mythology. Filming primary takes place in Bomba, in Nurmes, where extensive sets are built, with houses, storehouses, and courtyards.
In addition to Elias Salonen in the leading role as Kullervo, and Eero Aho as Untamo, the Finnish ensemble cast for ‘Kalevala: The Story of Kullervo‘ consists of Ilkka Koivula as Wäinö, Olli Rahkonen as Ilmarinen, Krista Kosonen as Ilmarinen’s wife, and Johannes Holopainen as Kalervo.
The film is produced by Johanna Enäsuo and Marko Rõhr at ReelMedia in co-production with Antti J. Jokinen’s Storm Inc. production company, in collaboration with SF Studios, the Finnish Film Foundation, and Yleisradio with financial support from North Karelia Cooperative Society (PKO), Nordisk Film & TV Fond, and the Regional Council of North Karelia. SF Studios will distribute the film in the Nordics, while REinvent handles international sales.
About SF Studios
SF Studios, established in 1919, is one of the world’s oldest film companies. Today SF Studios is the leading film studio in the Nordic region with its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, and offices in Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and London. The company is producing and distributing feature films and TV series as well as providing the streaming service SF Anytime. SF Studios is part of the leading Nordic media company Bonnier.
About REinvent International Sales
REinvent is a packaging, sales and financing studio all in one. REinvent has extensive knowledge of original trends and sales opportunities in both the Scandinavian and international markets, and works with high profile European production companies.
Source: SF Studios Photo credits: Tiia Öhman / ReelMedia Oy
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This post/page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For details, visit our Affiliate Disclosure page.
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