Hollywood turns north – Finland's rising profile in international film

Earlier this year, the seaside city of Jakobstad experienced a media frenzy rarely seen in Finland. Tom Cruise had ordered a luxury sailboat from one of the country’s top shipbuilders, Nautor Swan, and flew in to inspect the progress of his 108-foot custom yacht.

While Cruise has yet to film in Finland, it may only be a matter of time – because beyond shipbuilding, the country has quietly positioned itself as a serious player in global cinema, drawing high-profile filmmakers from around the world. 

For many, Finland’s appeal lies in a compelling combination: up to 40 per cent production support, authentic winter conditions, untouched and film-ready locations, and highly skilled, English-speaking crews known for calm, quiet efficiency. 

Add to that a sense of ease and safety – hallmarks of the world’s happiest country – and it’s no surprise that filmmakers are returning time and again. 

These five actors each left Finland with vivid memories of its landscapes, crews and distinctive way of working.

1. Emma Thompson – “I will miss Finland with every fibre of my being.”

Emma Thompson spoke with warmth and admiration about her time filming The Dead of Winter in the snow-covered landscapes of Koli, Eastern Finland. Set to be released in the United States in September, the critically acclaimed film sees Thompson take on the role of a widowed fisherwoman who interrupts a kidnapping and becomes a teenage girl’s only hope. Koli was used to stand in for a snow-deprived Minnesota. 

Describing the shoot as life-enriching, Thompson praised both the landscape and the crew: “From the moment I landed, I was met with kindness and warmth, with deep hospitality and humour by people who made my stay in Koli feel more and more like home,” Variety quoted her, adding that “All the Finns on our crew were admirable in different ways.” 

Shot in remote, wintry conditions, the production left a deep impression on the actor. “Every day the director and I would look at the landscape and remind ourselves that this was more of a life-enriching experience than work.”

2. Glenn Close – “Finland is a magnificent country and I can’t wait to come back.”

Glenn Close starred in The Summer Book, directed by Charlie McDowell and adapted from Tove Jansson’s beloved novel. Filmed on Rankki Island in the Kotka archipelago and other locations along Finland’s coast, Close played a grandmother spending a formative summer with her granddaughter, portrayed by Emily Matthews. 

The coastal setting became integral to the tone of the film, offering a stripped-back environment that mirrored its themes of connection, grief and renewal. McDowell described how cast and crew adapted to the rhythms and unpredictability of nature – much like the characters themselves. 

Close fully embraced the setting, choosing to live in the house used for filming throughout production. Her quiet immersion in the environment reflected the film’s meditative quality and left a strong impression on those around her. 

“It really was an extraordinary experience for me to be in Finland,” Close reflected, following the Hollywood premiere. “I congratulate all those who made what I think is a beautiful movie – I’m very proud of it.”

3. Nick Frost – “Shooting in Finland didn’t disappoint. It was a dream come true for me.”

In Get Away, Nick Frost’s first solo-written feature, Tampere convincingly stands in for the Swedish archipelago, becoming the fictional island of Svalta. Few viewers would guess that this darkly comic tale of a family holiday turned nightmare was filmed far inland in Finland’s third-largest city. 

Best known for Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Frost both wrote and starred in the film, inspired by visits to a remote Swedish island where his ex-wife’s family owns a summer home. 

“Ever since watching Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth I’ve been fascinated with Finland,” he recalled. “When I finally got the chance to come and shoot there it didn’t disappoint. It was a dream come true for me. I’m also addicted to cinnamon buns, so there’s that.” 

The cast included Aisling Bea and Sebastian Croft, alongside Finnish actors Eero Milonoff and Ville Virtanen. Dutch director Steffen Haars praised the “really, really high standards” of the local talent, while cinematographer Joris Kerbosch was impressed by the technical skill of the Finnish crew: 

“I honestly felt spoiled – my focus puller was just really great, really on top of things. Actually, I don’t know if there’s a focus puller in the Netherlands working at that level. That’s more like international level – amazing.”

4. Aaron Paul – “Finland was beautiful and the people there are incredible.”

Aaron Paul filmed the sci-fi thriller Dual in Tampere in 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Directed by Riley Stearns and backed by XYZ Films, the project placed Paul in a darkly comedic role – but his off-screen experience was something else entirely. 

Paul arrived just a day before filming began, but quickly embraced Finnish life. “I’m a huge sauna guy and that’s the birthplace of sauna,” he told Forbes. “A lot of the hotel rooms have their own sauna. It’s just a very normal thing.” 

For director Riley Stearns, choosing Finland was an unexpected but crucial decision. Originally considering Vancouver, Toronto, and New Mexico, he and the producers opted for Tampere when Finland’s pandemic response proved far more reliable. “We already knew of Finland’s reputation for great film crews,” Stearns later recalled, “and when we saw how well Finland was handling Covid we thought, this definitely seems like our best bet.” 

That decision paid off. Over three months of filming, Stearns and his team found the Finnish crew exceptional. From mastering advanced tools such as the techno-dolly to enabling seamless split-screen shots of Karen Gillan acting opposite herself, their technical skill kept the production running smoothly under strict Covid protocols. “I don’t think a similar-sized crew in the United States would have been able to do what we were able to do,” he reflected. 

For Paul, the lasting memory was simple: “[Finland] was beautiful and the people there are incredible.”

5. Jason Segel – “There’s something amazing about the working schedule in Finland”

Jason Segel filmed Over Your Dead Body – the forthcoming US remake of Tommy Wirkola’s Norwegian thriller The Trip – in and around Tampere. The film also stars Samara Weaving, Timothy Olyphant, and Juliette Lewis, with Segel playing one half of a couple whose seemingly idyllic retreat takes a violent turn. 

For the production, Tampere proved an ideal setting – compact and manageable in scale, yet offering all the infrastructure and amenities of a much larger city. That combination gave the cast and crew efficiency without the pressures of a bigger hub. 

“There’s something amazing about the working schedule in Finland, which is 10 hours – and then you stop. So, everyone gets to live their life,” Segel explained. “The day is really manageable. You come in ready to give 10 hard hours of work and then you're done. 

“You know, sometimes when you're shooting in the States, you'll shoot for 14, 16 hours in a day. People get tired, they get burned out. And I do think you get your best work having time in between the days. It's great,” he added.