Freelance journalist, non-fiction author and Programme Director of the Helsinki Book Fair Ville Blåfield is taking on a new role as Development Manager at FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange. Beginning in August, he will be responsible for developing literary exports. Earlier this spring, FILI received €250,000 in funding from the Swedish Literature Society (Svenska litteratursällskapet) to support this work over the next five years.
FILI’s Director Tiia Strandén notes that Finnish literary exports have in recent years been developed systematically through close collaboration with the entire book sector.
“The international growth and visibility of Finnish literature will be strengthened both through targeted market initiatives and by highlighting specific literary genres. Achieving this requires the involvement of the entire literary field – from authors, publishers and translators to literary agents and funders. This new concept will help create even better prospects for books that already have strong international potential. We are delighted to have Ville Blåfield leading this development work. As Programme Director of the Helsinki Book Fair, he has done a fantastic job in increasing the popularity and visibility of both Finnish literature and the book fair itself,” says Strandén.
Blåfield has served as Programme Director of the Helsinki Book Fair since 2022 and will continue in the role through this year’s event, taking place on 22–25 October. Previously, he has held roles including Director of media at the communications agency Miltton, Editorial Development Manager at Helsingin Sanomat and editor of its weekly supplement Nyt, as well as serving as managing editor and reporter for several media outlets. Blåfield also serves on the boards of the Finnish Book Foundation (Suomen Kirjasäätiö), Tekstin talo, and UN Women Finland.
“My years as Programme Director of the Helsinki Book Fair have been a deep dive into the world of contemporary literature, and I am truly delighted to be able to continue working in this field that I am so passionate about, and on behalf of Finnish literature, in the years ahead. The recent success of many Finnish authors in the translation market speaks to a new kind of momentum. The growing international interest in Finnish literature and Finland itself has also been evident within the book fair community. With FILI’s expertise and unique international network, I am confident that we will be able to create entirely new and successful concepts for cultural exports,” shares Ville Blåfield.
In 2024, Finland’s literary export revenue totaled 3.3 million euros. The goal for the coming years is to increase literary export revenue to a level closer to those of the other Nordic countries. Among the most notable recent successes on the international stage are Satu Rämö’s Hildur crime novels, which have appeared multiple times on international bestseller lists and sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide, and Iida Turpeinen’s novel Beasts of the Sea (Elolliset), which has been sold in 29 language territories and has gained exceptional visibility, including in the highly competitive US book market. Finnish-Swedish literature is also attracting growing interest worldwide. For example, Maria Turtschaninoff’s award-winning novel Tangled Roots (Arvejord) has been sold to nearly 30 language territories. The latest international literary export success is Mariia Niskavaara’s debut novel Ester, the Butcher (Ester, teurastaja), whose translation rights have been sold to 31 languages in a remarkably short period of time.
For more information: Tiia Strandén,
Interview requests: Hannele Jyrkkä, , tel. 358 (0)50 3222 387