The Robin That Never Returned
Original Title: Punarinta joka ei palannut
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Length: 13 min
Genre: Documentary Film
Year of Production: 2025
Writer-Director-Cinematographer: Jani Ahlstedt
Producer: Merja Ritola / Greenlit Productions (FI)
Editor: Akke Eklund
Sound Designer: Joonas Jyrälä
Assistant Director-Cinematographer: Jaro Jääskeläinen
Sound Recording: Liisa Leppänen, Jaro Jääskeläinen
Production Assistant: Iisa Arvelin
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Festivals:
Tampere IFF / National Competition, Finland / March 2025
Asia Film Week, Beijing, China / June 2025
Huhtamo IFF / Opening Film, FI / July 2025
Cerdanya Film Festival, Spain / July/August 2025
Pahantorjuja, Vihdin Elokuvajuhlat, FI / August 2025
Green Screen, Germany / September 2025
FICVI Vilaseca 2, Spain / October 2025
Plons! International Short Documentary Film Festival, Netherlands / December 2025
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Synopsis
Tatu Hokkanen ringed a nestling robin in Finland in the 1990s. The bird was later found shot dead in Brescia in Northern Italy.
Years later, bird conservationists Katia and Paolo are at the forefront of fighting bird poaching in the Province of Brescia, where the bird Tatu had ringed in the 1990s was found. Poachers are still targeting robins.
Set in two countries, the story is about conservation work and love for the little birds, transcending national borders.