We opened with a round of introductory questions that quickly revealed the shared cultural universe of the group of over 30 higher education students from Finland and Sweden. Favourite films ranged from Jurassic Park and Star Wars to Interstellar, Before Midnight, and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Games such as Skyrim, Cyberpunk, Witcher 3, GTA 6, Fallout 2, the Last of Us Part II, and even online game Candy Crush and classics such as Super Mario Bros was mentioned, showcasing the variety of influences behind the emerging talents.
Five Short Films
The YRGO students’ short film concepts presented today offered a diverse, yet thematically coherent look into contemporary storytelling. All scripts presented in the pitching session are now ready for pre‑production. Each short film will run approximately 3–5 minutes and will be completed by 27 May 2026.
Despite the differences in genre and visual style, each short film centred on intimate human experiences; characters navigating emotional pressure, personal conflict, and pivotal moments of change towards emancipation. Themes such as miscommunication, fear, hope, transformation, and moral ambiguity ran through the stories, placing the characters at crossroads of choices with significant emotional weight. Visually, the short films varied from minimalistic, one-location, dialogue‑driven drama to highly stylised, sensory‑rich atmospheres. Together, they highlighted a strong interest in character‑driven narratives, psychological depth, and the subtle turning points that shape people’s lives.
Cross‑Media Blueprint & Skills Gaps through film-to-game collaboration
This collaboration contributes the starting point of creating a joint understanding on how cinematic storytelling and game design can enrich one another in cross-border collaboration. The early observations made throughout the AV-Growth project reveal skill gaps, but also significant learning potential between the two IP pathways (film and game).
The insights gathered during the piloting phase will allow us to draft a cross‑media blueprint where story, visual mood, emotional arcs, sound design, and interactive world‑building intersect. The AV‑Growth pilot will gather experiences of students and teachers to map the future competencies needed to move fluidly between film and game production, strengthening cross‑sector innovation capacity within the Nordic‑Baltic region.
This hybrid kick‑off event is a concrete example of what the AV‑Growth project aims to achieve: real, hands‑on collaboration in which students can gain experience in cross‑media production, cross‑border teamwork, and creative experimentation. By bringing together film and game students with a shared curiosity for storytelling and visual design, TAMK and YRGO are building a learning environment where new skills and new stories emerge. Today’s session proved one thing clearly: by combining film, games, hybrid teamwork (and yes, some pizza too), you can create a perfect starting point for exciting cross‑media creations of emerging talents.
Written by:
Dr Maria Salomaa
Principal Lecturer, Innovation management
School of Business and Media, TAMK.
Image by: Juha Suonpää
