The Seal Mother to be filmed in Savonlinna in February

Photo: Ewa Januszewska.

From left to right: Mateusz Damięcki, Vincent Willestrand, Karolina Gorczyca

Scenes from the Polish-Finnish co-production The Seal Mother will be filmed in the Savonlinna region at the end of February. The feature-length fiction film explores motherhood in its many forms and the human relationship with nature. The film's themes include climate change, biodiversity, empathy and environmental responsibility. Greenlit Productions from Vihti is the Finnish co-producer of the film, while Mamma Pictures from Poland is the main producer. The City of Savonlinna is one of the film's financiers.

The film's director, Agnieszka Trzos, describes The Mother Seal as, above all, an intimate and universal story. "Although the film can be considered socially responsible due to its environmental themes, for me it is the story of a woman who wants a child at almost any cost and is willing to make difficult decisions for it," says Trzos.

Filming Locations and Assistants are being sought in Savonlinna

The final act of the film takes place in Savonlinna and the surrounding impressive, snowy lake landscape, where the main character Kaja participates in the conservation work of the endangered Saimaa ringed seal. Filming will take place at the end of February, and the production will scout locations while visiting the city in January. Local Savonlinna residents are also being sought for filming as supporting actors and volunteer assistants.

Producer Merja Ritola is incredibly happy that The Seal Mother has finally entered production. “I have been following the project since 2018, when executive producer and director Agnieszka Trzos first introduced it to me. Significantly, the final scenes of the film will be filmed, somewhat unexpectedly, in Savonlinna – a city that was my student town in the early 1990s and which has many fond memories. Warm thanks to the City of Savonlinna for the excellent cooperation and to Kai Rinkinen and Janne Kaperi from Biisonimafia, with whom we are making the practical arrangements for the filming. It is of paramount importance for film productions that there is professional expertise and strong local knowledge in the locality. I hope that similar productions will continue to be produced in Savonlinna; these landscapes deserve it,” Ritola emphasises.

"International film shoots are an excellent fit for the Savonlinna archipelago landscape and highlight the cultural and natural landscapes of the area, as well as the possibilities of the national urban park. Cooperation with Greenlit Productions opens up new perspectives for tourism and event activities and also offers opportunities for local operators, such as the Biisonimafia," says Event Manager Marita Kajander.

Synopsis of the film

The Seal Mother follows Polish woman Kaja (42 years old), who works at the Heli Marine Station with seals in the Baltic Sea. At the same time, she dreams of having a child of her own. After several failed fertility treatments, Kaya decides to travel to Finland to find a new direction and hope for her life. In Savonlinna, she joins volunteers who protect the critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal and help with nesting during mild winters. The story, told with sensitivity and courage, juxtaposes the personal longing for motherhood with the vulnerability of nature.

Filmmakers

Director Agnieszka Trzos

Trzos is a director, screenwriter and producer. She graduated from the University of Warsaw and the Polish Film School in Łódź. She is an alumnus of the EAVE program and a member of the Polish Film Association, the Women Film Associates network, the Polish Directors' Union and Women in Film. She has directed several feature fiction and documentary films and television series.

Main actor (Kaja): Karolina Gorczyca

Gorczyca is a famous Polish actress known for her strong and captivating performances in leading roles in films and theatre.

Festivals and Premiere

The film will be completed in late 2026 and screened at international film festivals in early 2027. The Finnish premiere is planned for late 2027. The film has been financed by the Finnish Film Foundation, the Polish Film Institute, Documentary and Feature Film Studios, Orka, and Rabarbar Film Studio. Partners include Kino Polska, YLE, the City of Savonlinna, Metsähallitus, and WWF Poland. In Finland, the film is distributed by StoryHill.

For more information, please contact:

- CEO Merja Ritola, tel. 050 593 7714, merja.ritola@greenlitproductions.net

- Event Manager Marita Kajander, marita.kajander@savonlinna.fi