We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Iris Schwanck (1950-2025), the revered former longstanding Director of FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange. She served as FILI’s Director at the Finnish Literature Society from 2001 to 2015 and led countless projects with exceptional vision and dedication.
Among her many achievements, she directed the highly successful Finnland. Cool. project, during which Finland was the Guest of Honour at the 2014 Frankfurt Book Fair, and served as both the Commissioner General of the 100% Finlande cultural season in France in 2008 and the Main Coordinator of the Nordic Countries’ Guest of Honour programme at the Paris Book Fair in 2011. Thanks to projects such as Frankfurt 2014, the visibility of Finnish literature and the number of translations into German have remained consistently high and continue to grow.
A trained linguist and PhD holder in French philology from the University of Helsinki, Iris also served as Director of the Finnish Cultural Institute in France (1999–2000), Deputy Director of CIMO – the Centre for International Mobility (1995–1999), and Coordinator of International Affairs at the University of Helsinki (1990–1995).
After her retirement, she continued to contribute actively to Finnish literary and cultural life — as Chair of the Finlandia Prize jury in 2015, and through her board work for various associations devoted to literature and theatre. She also taught Finnish to immigrant women with her characteristic warmth and enthusiasm.
We will always remember our dear Iris for her remarkable talent in developing and envisioning the international promotion of Finnish literature and FILI’s activities, for her radiant energy, sparkling humour, and deep love of literature and reading.
Thank you, Iris, for everything.
Our heartfelt condolences to Iris’s family and loved ones.❤️
Photo of Iris: Heli Sorjonen