SF Studios and REinvent boards major motion picture adaptation of Kalevala
Photographer: Tiia Öhman / ReelMedia Oy
Kalevala: The Story of Kullervo, based on Finland’s national epic “Kalevala”, is set to start its principal shooting in Nurmes, North Karelia, Finland in September. Antti J. Jokinen will direct the historical drama with Elias Salonen and Eero Aho starring as leads. Johanna Enäsuo and Marko Röhr, at ReelMedia, produce the film. SF Studios distributes the film in the Nordics with an expected theatrical release in Finnish theatres in early 2026. REinvent handles international sales.
Kalevala: The Story of Kullervo is the first feature film adaptation of the Finnish national epic poetry compilation “Kalevala”, which was compiled by Elias Lönnrot consisting of Karelian and Finnish folklore and mythology. The film will explore themes of grace, the longing for a meaningful life, self-discovery, revenge, and the love of one’s family.
The film, set in the 1100s in North Karelia, will be mainly shot at Bomba in Nurmes, North Karelia, where extensive period-appropriate sets will be built: houses, storehouses, and courtyards. Filming will start in mid-September.
“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”, says Yaba Holst, Executive Producer, SF Studios
The cast includes many renowned Finnish actors. Elias Salonen (ADULTS, Siege) stars as Kullervo in his first lead role, and he will be joined by Jussi-award-winning actor Eero Aho (The Unknown Soldier, Helene) playing the other lead role of Untamo. The ensemble also consists of Ilkka Koivula as Wäinö, Olli Rahkonen as Ilmarinen, Krista Kosonen as Ilmarinen’s wife and Johannes Holopainen as Kalervo. Kalevala: The Story of Kullervo is directed by Antti J. Jokinen (Helene, Purge).
“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”, says Rikke Ennis, CEO at REinvent International Sales.
Kalevala: The Story of Kullervo will premiere in theaters in early 2026. The film is a co-production between Antti J. Jokinen’s Storm Inc. production company and Marko Röhr and Johanna Enäsuo’s ReelMedia Oy. The film is made in collaboration with SF Studios, the Finnish Film Foundation, and Yleisradio. Additionally, it is funded by the North Karelia Cooperative Society (PKO), Nordisk Film & TV Fond, and the Regional Council of North Karelia. REinvent handles international sales.
For more information, please contact:
Yaba Holst, Head of Nordic Acquisition, SF Studios, +46 73 411 95 35
Jesper Larsson, Communications Specialist, SF Studios, +46 73 359 96 06
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 and Helsinki. The company is producing and distributing feature films and TV series as well as providing the streaming services SF Anytime and Blockbuster. 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.
