THE MAKERS OF BOX OFFICE SENSATION UNKNOWN SOLDIER TEAM UP AGAIN WITH BETA CINEMA FOR WWII EPIC LAPLAND WAR

Beta Cinema has boarded international sales for Lapland War, a gripping WWII epic by award-winning Finnish director Aku Louhimies (Unknown Soldier, Conflict), with principal photography currently underway in Finnish Lapland.

Finland, 1944. As the Second World War nears its end, young Finnish soldiers Heikki and Pauli take their first steps toward adulthood. Amid the unforgiving expanse of the Arctic Circle, and despite the rising tension at the front, friendships form and forbidden love blossoms between local Finnish women and the German soldiers stationed in the region. Interpreter Saara Vainio leaves her husband for German officer Duisberg, defying both convention and country. When news of Finland’s armistice with the Soviet Union reaches the front lines, everything changes: Heikki and Pauli are forced to turn their weapons on those they once fought beside, and Saara and other women must choose between love and loyalty — between the men they care for and the nation they belong to. Their stories intertwine as each character embarks on a journey toward forgiveness.

The film is produced by Backmann & Hoderoff, the production company founded by Aku Louhimies and producer Andrei Alén.

Aku Louhimies describes the film as “a story about a generation of young people trying to make sense of the geopolitical upheaval surrounding them — which unfortunately makes it very current as well.”

The cast includes Volker Bruch (Babylon Berlin/Generation War), Peter Franzén (The Gunman), and Sannah Nedergård (Codename: Annika). Producer Andrei Alén emphasizes the film’s international scope: “The cast brings both authenticity and global appeal to the production. We believe Lapland War will resonate well beyond Finland.” Unknown Soldier (2017) was a major box office hit in Finland and remains the highest-grossing Finnish-language drama in the country’s cinematic history. Beta Cinema sold it to more than 30 territories world-wide, including the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Japan and China.

Filming is taking place across the remote wilderness of Lapland, with additional photography scheduled in Southern Finland later this year. Nordisk Film will distribute the film in Scandinavia, while Beta Cinema is handling international sales.

Lapland War is slated for release in autumn 2026 and will be presented to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market.