The Kidnapping of a President

The Kidnapping of a President
Film poster.
Directed bySamuli Valkama
Written by
  • Samuli Valkama
  • John Lundsten
Produced by
  • Melli Maikkula
  • John Lundsten
Starring
CinematographyTuomo Hutri
Edited byTambet Tasuja
Music byJuho Nurmela
Production
company
TACK Films
Distributed byNordisk Film
Release dates
  • January 2026 (2026-01) (IFFR)
  • 4 September 2026 (2026-09-04) (Finland)
Running time
87 min
Countries
  • Finland
  • Czech Republic
  • Netherlands
  • Estonia
LanguageFinnish
Budget€2.8 million

The Kidnapping of a President (Finnish: Presidentin kyyditys) is a 2026 Finnish comedy-drama film directed by Samuli Valkama. The film is about the 1930 kidnapping of Finnish president Ståhlberg. In the film, K. J. Ståhlberg and his wife Ester are played by Pertti Sveholm and Riitta Havukainen.[1][2][3]

According to the Finnish Film Foundation, the film's budget is approximately €2.5 million; according to the Estonian Film Institute, over €2.7 million. The Finnish Film Foundation's support amounts to €850,000, while the Estonian Film Institute provided approximately €90,000. In addition, production support granted by the Nordic Film & TV Fund totals 1.4 million Norwegian kroner, approximately 118,000.[4][5][6]

Though the film takes place in Finland, it was filmed in the Czech Republic. For example, scenes taking place in Helsinki were filmed in Terezín. This was due to the Czech production incentive scheme, which supported the film's production with 9,567,839 Czech koruna, approximately €388,000.[6]

The Kidnapping of a President premiered at the 2026 International Film Festival Rotterdam.[7] It is scheduled to have its theatrical premiere in later in 2026.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Presidentin kyyditys - Nordisk Film Finland". Nordisk Film Finland. Archived from the original on 2026-01-05. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ^ Schildt, Saku (2025-12-19). "Tältä näyttävät presidentti Ståhlberg ja Ester Ståhlberg Suomen historian synkästä hetkestä kertovassa elokuvassa". Episodi.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ^ "Kyyditys". TACK Films (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ^ STT, Kalle Kinnunen / (2025-06-13). "Jussi Vatanen näyttelee komediassa upseeria, joka järjesti presidentti Ståhlbergin kidnappauksen". Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ^ Jutila, Niko (2025-07-20). "Kyyditys-elokuva saa Tšekissä kuvaamisesta vajaan 400 000 euron kannustinrahan". Elokuvauutiset.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ^ a b Virolainen, Aaro (2025-12-20). "Joensuuhun sijoittuva elokuva kuvattiin muualla: kaupunki on liian erinäköinen 1930-luvun miljööhön – Katso teaser". Karjalainen (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ^ "World premieres and a sauna gathering: Finnish film at IFFR 2026". Finnish Insititue Benelux. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  8. ^ Oravakangas, Maria; Järvinen, Kari (2025-12-19). "Uusi elokuva kertoo Suomen presidenttiparin hirveistä hetkistä". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-02-24.