This year’s Finnish Audiovisual Export Award Hulda went to Rovio Entertainment and Mikael Hed, the Executive Producer of The Angry Birds Movie. The Hulda Award is bestowed upon its recipients for their achievements in taking Finnish creative industry exporting to an entirely new level.
The Angry Birds Movie is the most commercially successful movie to ever come out of Finland. Global ticket sales have reached nearly 350 million US dollars. Moreover, it is the second most successful film based on a video game series in the entire world.
The Hulda Award was presented to creator of the Angry Birds characters and brand – Rovio Entertainment – and the man behind the landmark film – Executive Producer Mikael Hed – on Friday March 24th, 2017 at the Jussi Awards, Finland’s premier film industry event. At the gala the award was handed over by Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä to Rovio Entertainment’s CEO Kati Levoranta.
“In addition to its financial success, the jury was impressed with how the film moved forward under Mikael Hed’s leadership. Its development process reflected determination and an ambitious vision, as well as courage to take large financial risks. The team had the foresight to gather the top international talents in the business whilst also making sure the knowledge capital was amassed and utilized in Finland,” sums up the jury that had representatives from broadcasters, distributor, producer and copyright organizations. Finnanimation was represented by executive director Liisa Vähäkylä.
“It’s my pleasure to bestow this award unto Rovio and Mikael Hed. With this and the launch of the film production incentive at the start of this year, we believe Finnish filmmakers will soon be making an even greater mark all across the world. Finland is home to some spectacular talent and numerous examples of success. And The Angry Birds Movie has truly set the bar high,” stated Minister Lintilä.
“We are enormously grateful for this recognition we have received. Spearheaded by Mikael Hed, The Angry Birds Movie and its success worldwide has been an unrivalled achievement for our company. With it, the Angry Birds brand has grown even further,” noted Rovio Entertainment CEO Kati Levoranta.
The audiovisual industry Export Award is given out by film and TV export organization Audiovisual Finland. Each year the award goes to a Finnish audiovisual production, person, company or team which has demonstrated innovative spirit and made a clear international breakthrough, thus inspiring others in the field. In 2014 the award went to Dibidogs animated series.
- Read more on the Hulda award from Audiovisual Finland.
- The Angry Birds Movie website is here.