On the “Night of Arts 2023”, Helsinki’s central square Kansalaistori was filled with people when the “Final Scenes of Disaster Movies” opened the renowned Helsinki Festival. Three short films were shown to public on a large screen, accompanied by live music performed by the band Cleaning Women. The “Final Scenes of Disaster Movies” is created by artist-duo Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary as artists and are known for their inclusive film projects. The line production and VFX-services for the films were provided by Empire Pictures.

https://helsinkifestival.fi/taiteidenyo/en/event/final-scenes-of-disaster-movies/

Empire Pictures’ series for children "Les Copains" ("Kaverit" / "Kompisarna" / "Xarite Yii") has been granted development funding by Konstsamfundet in collaboration with Svenska Kulturfonden, The Church Media Fund KMS, The Finnish Film Foundation and La Direction de la Cinématographie Sénégal. The series, which mixes animation and live action footage is created and directed by Antonia Ringbom and El Hadji Bamba Sène. The series is a co-production with Senegalese RIACFilms.

The development of "Les Copains" ("Kaverit" / "Kompisarna" / "Xarite Yii") has been launched at the embassy of Finland in Dakar, as directors Antonia Ringbom and El Hadji Bamba Sène, producers Saana Räntilä from Empire Pictures and Alioune Sène from RIACFilms as well as many members of the Finnish-Senegalese team behind the series meet with ambassador Anu Saxén and the head of La Direction de la Cinématographie Germain Coly. The event was organized at the embassy during the Finnish teams' visit to Dakar.

Short animation film ”The Egg Timer”, written by Empire Pictures’ Annalisa Schmuckli, has received a scriptwriting grant from the Finnish Film Foundation.

Short film ”The Rooster” (”Le Coq”), directed by Pierre-Louis Umdenstock, finishes shooting in Paris and the munincipality of Villemomble. ”The Rooster” stars French talents Moussa Sylla, Selina Laurenn and Denis Jansolin, and the crew consists of incredible artists from all over the world. The post-production of the film will start in autumn 2022, and the film will have it's premiere in 2023.