Max Keller

Helsinki 1917: Escape From The Russian Empire

Helsinki seems to rise organically from the restrained and even austere nature that surrounds it. Across these waterways, forests, and rocky landscapes, thousands of former subjects of the Russian Empire fled to the city after 1917, escaping the revolution, civil war, and Bolshevik repressions—both aristocrats and ordinary people alike. Many chose Helsinki because of its proximity to Saint Petersburg, but émigrés also arrived from Ukraine, the Baltic states, and the Caucasus, seeking refuge from persecution and striving to preserve their culture and language. For many, the move was seen as a temporary measure, in the hope that the situation in Russia would soon stabilize. However, Finland, which gained independence in 1917, became a permanent home for many. Over the years, Helsinki hosted notable figures such as Alexander Kuprin, Ilya Repin, Igor Severyanin, Sofia Kovalevskaya, and others.

Bridges to Liverpool

At Eurovision 2023, Estonian singer Alica Milova started off as an underdog but eventually became one of the favorites among both the jury and the audience. Discover how she fulfilled her dream at the age of 20, silenced the haters, and uncover the secrets of Europe's most renowned music competition in Mikhail Valtfogel's film "Bridges to Liverpool."