Nordic Frames: I Love My Car - Lapinlahti Film Festival 2026

Lighthearted tales of people in cars: moving fast, moving slow, sometimes stuck, sometimes without a worry in the world where one's going. It truly is the journey that matters.

Short films:

1. Puolanka Pussy Rally, Finland
2. Broken Down, Sweden, Denmark
3. Gravity Racer, Norway
4. Fiddler's Green, Finland
5. Respite, Norway
6. I should be there, but I'm here, Finland
7. The Beauty of Automobiles, Finland

The short films are followed by a 30 minute Q&A session.

Age restriction for the screening: 12 (references to sex and death)

Lapinlahti Film Festival's Nordic Frames program brings new short films from all over the Nordics to Helsinki.

Maximum of two tickets per booking. Do not make multiple bookings for the same show. If you book a ticket but later encounter an obstacle, cancel the ticket well in advance using the link included in the email.

Puolanka Pussy Rally

Project title (Original Language): -
Country: Finland
Year: 2026
Duration: 5 min
Directors: Inka Achté, Einari Paakkanen
Age limit: 12

Synopsis: Puolanka, a tiny village in Northern Finland is famous for its population decline, but also for its dark sense of humor about it. As the long summer evenings stretch out, teenage boys celebrate their new driver’s licences by endlessly circling the same few streets, while an older generation of local gents, proudly known as The Parliament, has already parked itself permanently at the petrol station café. Here, hunting and the legendary “Pussy Rally” aren’t taboos but badges of cultural identity. The only mystery that seems unsolved: where have all the women gone?

Broken Down

Project title (Original Language): De Nedbrutna
Country: Denmark, Sweden
Year: 2025
Duration: 15 min
Director: Victor Cornelius
Age limit: 12

Synopsis: On a ridiculously long and straight road in the middle of nowhere, a couple's car breaks down. As they wait for roadside assistance, their true selves are unmasked, leading to a breakdown of an entirely different kind.

Gravity Racer

Project title (Original Language): -
Country: Norway
Year: 2025
Duration: 4 min
Director: Finn Walther
Age limit: S

Synopsis: A four-year-old discovers the fine line between bravery and recklessness. A fearless four-year-old sets out to conquer the steepest hill in town with his homemade Gravity Racer, but as bravery meets gravity, he’s faced with the consequences of his decision. Gravity Racer is about children's balance between imaginative play and risk assessment, about challenges and boundaries.

Fiddler’s Green

Project title (Original Language): Matkalla Sukulaisten Luo Haminaan
Country: Finland
Year: 2025
Duration: 11 min
Director: Juha Koiranen
Age limit: S

Synopsis: Couple travelling to visit relatives - like we all, sooner or later.

Respite

Project title (Original Language): Respit
Country: Norway
Year: 2026
Duration: 17 min
Directors: Mads Toft Hansen, Alma-Oline Weitling
Age limit: 7

Synopsis: A young Danish man travels to Norway to clear out the house of his late mother, confronting the remains and the place. As he moves through unfamiliar surroundings, the film unfolds a story about family tensions, loss and belonging.

I should be there, but I’m here

Project title (Original Language): Mun pitää olla tuol ja mä oon tässä
Country: Finland
Year: 2025
Duration: 7 min
Director: Oona Julia Pennanen
Age limit: S

Synopsis: Voice messages about being late. The hurrying figures battle against time. Some make it, while others must accept the closed gates. The eyes and tears roll around wherever they happen to go...

The Beauty of Automobiles

Project title (Original Language): Puskee veemäiseen paikkaan
Country: Finland
Year: 2026
Duration: 6 min
Director: Jukka Kärkkäinen
Age limit: S

Synopsis: Intimate moment between a father and son - one night, one car ride, one problem.

---

Auditorium

The auditorium is dark and air-conditioned, so it can feel quite cool. Please bring warm clothing, hearing protection if needed, and stay hydrated – a reusable water bottle is an excellent companion.

Please note that the use of alcohol or other intoxicating substances is prohibited inside the auditorium and throughout the festival area.

Please be kind to yourself and to those around you. Thank you!