A movie made by an airline and an airport? It's a little corny, sure. But it's also very cut and inspired, and worth a look if you've got an extra 13 minutes waiting around on your watch at lunchtime. Welcome to East and West Side Story.
Finnair and Helsinki Airport have been connecting East and West for 35 years via Helsinki.To celebrate this achievement, the two have released a short film, the first one of its kind, made by an airline and an airport. The short film East and West Side Story speaks of meaningful encounters that take place when people travel.
East and West Side Story follows a famous writer in need of personal privacy, while the whole world wants to have her in the limelight. The story plays on three continents, spacing from the US to Korea and ending in Finland. As the film's title East and West Side Story suggests, the film has two directors: Young-wook Paik aka "Wookie" comes from Korea and Johan Storm from Sweden. The two directors both give their point of view on the same story, produced by B-Reel Films (Bergman: a Year in Life). The leading roles are played by Anne Bergstedt (Boardwalk Empire, Black Swan) and Jae Hoon (One Day Maybe).
East and West Side Story is an excellent example of modern companies using branded entertainment to tell more emotional stories and reach an even wider audience around the world. The short film premiered last night in a very special event at Helsinki Airport, where an aircraft hangar was turned into a movie theater for one night. The guests were hosted by Renny Harlin, the established Hollywood filmmaker and one of the most sought-after directors in China.
Finavia provides and develops airport services with a focus on safety, customer-orientation and cost efficiency in Finland. Finavia's comprehensive network of 21 airports enables international connections from Finland - and to areas throughout Finland. Helsinki Airport is the leading transit airport for long-haul traffic and according to Skytrax the best airport in Northern Europe.
Finnair flies between Asia, Europe, and North America with an emphasis on fast connections via Helsinki, carrying nearly twelve million passengers annually. In 2018, Finnair's extensive network connects 19 cities in Asia and seven cities in North America with over 100 destinations in Europe. Finnair is a member of Oneworld, the alliance of the world's leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience to frequent international travelers.
So, get wrapped up in the world's first film made by an airline and an airport. It's innovative, it's fun, and it's definitely worth your time if you've ever made that connection. The short and the posters all come from A Match Made in HEL. Sit back and enjoy the ride
