When the forest beckons... Fresh Finnish folk horror.

If there’s one thing that’s truly legendary, it’s the opening ceremonies of the Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival. This year will be no exception: last year the mayor lost his head on stage, but this time… you’ll have to come and see it for yourself!

Featuring extreme attractions, illusions, and surprise performers, with participation from Haapsalu’s own T-Stuudio dance school. The evening will be hosted by the multi-talented Mart Sander.

The ceremony will be followed by the festival’s opening film—the psychological Finnish horror-thriller "Nightborn."

A man and a woman move into a house in the heart of the forest. Soon a son is born to them, but something is wrong—only the mother suspects the terrifying truth about her child.

It is a raw, gripping, and frightening modern fairy tale about motherhood and unconditional maternal love.
The film was directed by Finnish filmmaker Hanna Bergholm and stars Seidi Haarla (of Compartment No. 6 fame) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter films). "Nightborn" made its world premiere in the competition program of the Berlin International Film Festival.
Following the opening screening, guests are invited to a costumed Walpurgis Night run at 21:00. The run is organized by the Läänela Sports Association.
A blood-red carpet will be open for photos, where guests will be greeted by the Sheriff of Haapsalu.

Doors open at 17:30.
NB! HÕFF pass holders are admitted to the opening without a ticket.

With dreams of starting a perfect family, Saga (Seidi Haarla) and her British husband Jon (Rupert Grint) move to the isolated house where she spent much of her childhood, deep in the Finnish forest. But as soon as their baby is born, despite the reassurance of all around her, Saga knows there’s something terribly wrong with her son. As their marriage starts to crack, Jon struggles to support his wife, but only Saga suspects the terrible truth about her newborn.

Hanna Bergholm graduated in 2009 from the University of Art and Design Helsinki with an MA in Film Directing. Her debut feature “Hatching” premiered at Sundance in 2022. “Nightborn”, which was selected for the competition at Berlinale, is her second feature film.

Film screening presented by Finnish Institute in Estonia.