All posts by Mika Taanila

I MIGHT BE STUCK (2022)

January 1, 1970

“The cleaning robots in the performance titled I Might Be Stuck by Mika Taanila are almost the closest thing to a human consciousness. It is at their height that we rediscover the cinema, in other words at ground level. The device, which consists in projecting in real time on the screen the images captured by the two characters engaged in their domestic ballet (feet of the spectators, corners of the room, central aisle), also encourages the spectator to look down – which never happens in a traditional screening –since part of the film takes place there. The dialogue between the two robots and the device that seems to be their supervisor obviously contributes to creating an effect that is both comic and profound.”

– Écran Noir, May 16, 2022

 

 

Selected screenings:

Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen 2022

Rakkautta & anarkiaa, Helsinki Film Festival 2022

Doclisboa 2023

Zwei Tage Strom, Filmpodium Zurich, 2024

Luminor Hôtel de Ville, Paris, France, 2025

I MIGHT BE STUCK, FUTURE IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE, TECTONIC PLATE, OPTICAL SOUND, ROBOCUP99 and FUTURO – A NEW STANCE FOR TOMORROW at Zwei Tage Strom in Zurich ( )

April 18, 2024 - April 20, 2024

Six films by Mika Taanila are screening at Zwei Tage Strom – Festival für elektronische Musik in Zurich between April 18-20, 2024.

Cinema  performance I Might Be Stuck (2022, 30 min) is showing back-to-back with Future Is Not What It Used To Be (2002, 52 min) as the opening event of the festival on Thursday April 18th.

Camera-less feature Tectonic Plate (2016, 74 min) screens on Friday April 19th.

Shorts films Optical Sound, RoboCup99 and Futuro – A News Stance  for Tomorrow show as a combined program on Saturday April 20th.

All screenings take place at Filmpodium Zurich.

Tectonic Plate
Futuro – A New Stance for Tomorrow
Future Is Not What It Used To Be
Optical Sound

 

FAILED EMPTINESS at IFFR Rotterdam ( )

January 25, 2024 - February 4, 2024

Feature film Failed Emptiness (2024, 66 min) will have its world premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam on Saturday, January 27th, 2024. The film is screening in program section Harbour.

Original title: Epäonnistunut tyhjyys

Producers: Mika Taanila, Jussi Eerola

Production Company: Elokuvayhtiö Testifilmi

Screenplay: Harry Salmenniemi

Cinematography: Jussi Eerola

Sound and music: Nika Son

Music: Klara Lewis

Cast: Ariane Tretow

 

Booking Date Time Location Type
Failed Emptiness 27 Jan 2024 20:30 Pathé 2 Public
Failed Emptiness 28 Jan 2024 15:45 Pathé 7 Public
Failed Emptiness 3 Feb 2024 18:00 Pathé 3 Public