Princess returns to Kellokoski – Free Outdoor Screening in Prinsessapuistossa 19.9.2026
Princess (Prinsessa) Returns to Kellokoski – Free Outdoor Screening in Prinsessapuisto on September 19, 2026
The Finnish film Princess (Prinsessa) will be shown free of charge at an outdoor screening in Kellokoski’s Prinsessapuisto on Saturday, September 19, from 7 PM to 10 PM. The film starts at 8 PM. The event is organized with the support of the Municipality of Tuusula and in cooperation with Pop Up Kino Helsinki.
This summer, a stage adaptation of Princess was performed at Öljymäen Kesäteatteri during the 130th anniversary year of Anna Lappalainen’s birth. The production was a major success. To celebrate the successful “Princess summer,” the film will now be brought back to Kellokoski for a special outdoor screening next to the Princess statue in Prinsessapuisto.
Princess is based on a true story and tells the story of Anna Lappalainen, a woman who lived for decades at Kellokoski Hospital and believed that she was of royal descent. She became known locally as “Prinsessa" (The Princess), and her distinctive personality became an enduring part of the history of the hospital and the entire community.
The story of the Princess is about difference, human dignity, and the way society treats a person who experiences and sees the world in their own unique way. Over the years, Anna Lappalainen’s life has grown into much more than the story of one individual – it has become part of Kellokoski’s cultural heritage.
Released in 2010, the film brought this extraordinary life story to a wide audience. The film was directed by Arto Halonen and written by Halonen, Pirjo Toikka and Paavo Westerberg. Katja Küttner stars as the Princess.
Princess was a major success in Finnish cinemas, attracting more than 300,000 viewers and becoming one of the most-watched Finnish films of the decade. The film also received international recognition and won awards at several film festivals, including festivals in South Africa, the United States and Portugal.
For her role as the Princess, Katja Küttner received the Best Actress award at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, the Jussi Award for Best Leading Actress, and the Finnish Actors’ Union’s Film Actor of the Year Award.
The Princess’s story has also continued to live on on theatre stages. A musical adaptation, written by Pirjo Toikka and Arto Halonen and directed by Halonen, premiered at Tampere Workers’ Theatre in 2013. The musical became the theatre’s most-watched production in 2013–2014 and was also one of the most popular theatre productions in Finland during that season.
In summer 2026, the story of the Princess received a new stage adaptation at Öljymäken Kesäteatteri in Ohkola. The drama was directed by Heini Tola and written by Halonen and Toikka, who also co-wrote the original film. The production was an enormous success. Performances were sold out just two weeks after the premiere, making Princess the most successful production in the history of Öljymäen Kesäteatteri. Additional performances at Järvenpää-talo in January sold out all 1,120 seats in just six hours.
In 2021, the Municipality of Tuusula organized an outdoor film screening in the same park, allowing local residents to vote for the film they wanted to see. Princess won the public vote, and the event was a great success.
Before the screening
You can get into the atmosphere of the film before the outdoor screening by visiting the Kellokoski Hospital Museum, which will be open on the day of the event from 5 PM to 7:30 PM.
The museum will also screen the much-loved short children’s film The Sad Clown (Surullinen klovni), which was filmed in Kellokoski, at 6 PM and 7 PM.
The film Princess will be introduced and contextualized by its director and screenwriter, Arto Halonen.
Event information
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Prinsessapuisto, Kellokoski Hospital
- The event begins at approximately 7 PM.
- The film starts at around 8 PM, after sunset.
- Dress according to the weather and prepare for a chilly evening.
- Snacks will be available for purchase at the event.
- A limited number of deck chairs provided by Pop Up Kino Helsinki will be available, so we recommend bringing your own chair or something to sit on.
- Please help us keep the event litter-free and peaceful – this is an essential part of the unique atmosphere of an outdoor screening.
- Weather contingency: In the event of stormy or exceptionally rainy weather, the screening will be postponed to another date. Any changes will be announced on Art Films Production’s Facebook and Instagram channels.
Welcome to watch Princess in the place where the story began – and to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Anna Lappalainen’s birth.
Links
Instagram - Art Films production
Further information
+358 50 465 4046