Finfringe is an annual festival in Turku that was officially established on March 11, 2018. Preparations for the first Finfringe Festival had started a couple of years prior, when the festival founders learned about the Fringe movement by working at and attending various Fringe festivals in Europe and North America.
Inspired by their experiences, they decided it was time to bring this festival format to Finland, in order to present innovative international performing arts and serving as a platform for collaborations between different art forms in the Turku region.
From the very start, Finfringe has been working closely with the professional stages and other regional actors in Turku. The festival is organized by a non-profit organization, FINFRINGE ry, that has a six-person board. The
festival team is a mixed bunch of people from different professions: apart from it's core team, multiple volunteers are involved during the festival every year.
The first Finfringe took place in Turku from May 10th to 12th, 2019. The festival is still fairly small – but steadily growing – and for that reason it is a curated festival.
Dates 2024:
8th May - 12th May
Team:
Kristina Vahvaselkä, Executive Director
Kristina is a member of the Board of Directors of FINFRINGE ry, and the
Executive Manager for the 2024 Festival. She is responsible for all things
finance and administration: if anyone knows anything about the festival, it’s her.
Sami Rannila, Artistic Director
Sami is the Chairman of the Board for FINFRINGE ry, and responsible for the
festival's artistic profile and programme planning. He is an avid Fringe goer and
has the biggest smile of the team.
Sauli Luttinen, AD, Brand Manager
Sauli is the Vice Chairman of the Board for FINFRINGE ry, and responsible for
all the beautiful elements that the visual appearance of the Finfringe Festival
entails. Oh, did you know that Sauli is also a classically trained singer?
Antton Kainulainen, Production Manager
Antton is a member of the Board, and manages the stage and technical staff.
Despite his young age, he has been working in the performing arts field already
for years.
Tove Forssell, Administrative Coordinator
Tove is a member of the Board, and coordinates the administration and, with
Kristina, is responsible for the smooth running of the administration. She is
definitely a firecracker, a festival-shark-of-all-trades.
Sanni-Leena Salonen, Marketing Manager
Sanni-Leena (or Sanni) is the Secretary of the Board, and responsible for the
marketing of the festival as well as its social media. She is still fairly new to the
Fringe world, but has quickly found herself submerged in it all.
Tarja Suomi, Sales Manager
Tarja is responsible for the festivals sales. Tarja is a hardcore professional in
her field, with whole a lot of knowhow and a wide network.
Partners:
Åbo Svenska Teater, Turku City Theatre, Linnateatteri, City of Turku,
Hansakortteli, Turku school of applied sciences, Turku Center association.
Contact:
info@finfringe.fi