28.05.2026
TAFF Pro: Portfolio coaching
August 26, 2026, 1:00–4:30 p.m., Turku Arts Academy
Organized by: Turku Animated Film Festival & the Animation Department of the Turku Arts Academy
The Turku Animated Film Festival will take place this year from August 26–30. This year’s theme, “Animated to Life” is particularly evident in our professional program, TAFF Pro, where the worlds of stop-motion and puppetry come together.
A special feature of TAFF Pro this year is portfolio coaching, which has been highly requested. Now we’re meeting that demand! Twenty-five participants will be selected for the portfolio coaching sessions, where they will receive feedback on their portfolios from experts and fellow participants in small groups. We’ll organize the groups by theme, and the topics will include studio work (i.e., portfolios for job seeking), presenting your own project, and funding (i.e., presentation materials for your work when applying for funding).
The portfolio review will be held on Wednesday, August 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Turku Arts Academy. Each small group or table will consist of five animators, each of whom will have 30 minutes for their own presentation and for feedback. Participants will receive instructions for their presentations and will give them using their own devices. A maximum of 10 participants may be animation students in the final stages of their studies.
The event is informal in nature, but it provides an opportunity for discussion and professional development. The expert’s role is to briefly comment on each presentation and facilitate discussion at the tables. The expert is a professional in their field, whose insights and experience are invaluable at the tables.
The event will be conducted in Finnish and English.
Apply for portfolio coaching here
The application deadline is Wednesday, June 10, 2026. We will notify applicants of the selection results in June!
Themes and experts
Studio work – What kind of portfolio should I submit when applying for a job in animation production?
Leena Lecklin, Gigglebug
Storyboard artist and director Leena Lecklin has been leading Gigglebug’s storyboarding team for several years. She has worked on numerous projects at European animation studios, ranging from children’s series to animated films. At Gigglebug, she focuses particularly on the pre-production of TV animation, such as storyboarding, editing, and character and location design. In addition to Kikattava kakkianen, Gigglebug is known for its series 101 dalmatialaista, Keltainen lumimies and most recently, Bat-Fam.
Terhi Väänänen, Pyjama
Terhi Väänänen is the CEO and founder of Pyjama, an animation studio based in Turku. Pyjama specializes in story-driven 2D animation, producing both its own films and series as well as commissioned work. Pyjama works with numerous talented animation experts and graphic designers. Pyjama’s productions include Belzebubs, a comedy series based on JP Ahonen’s comic strip about a black metal cult family and the family patriarch’s band activities, which is set to premiere soon.
Project presentation – What’s the best way to present my new project?
Mika Koskinen
Mika Koskinen is an animation director and part-time producer at both Indie Films Oy and Animaatiokopla. Mika has served as the executive director of the Finnish animation guild and currently serves on its board. Mika has experience both in pitching his own animation projects and in evaluating projects in general.
Financing – What kind of portfolio will impress funders?
Janne Niskala, Finnish Film Foundation
Janne Niskala serves as a grant reviewer for the Finnish Film Foundation and evaluates grant applications ranging from screenplay grants to development and production grants. Janne has worked as a producer, director, and cinematographer. His most recent film as a producer is Máhccan – Kotiinpaluu (2023), which won the Jussi Award for Best Documentary last year.
Teija Raninen, WFFC
Film Commissioner Teija Raninen serves as the head of the Western Finland Film Commission (WFFC). She is an expert in project funding and internationalization who promotes film productions made in the Turku region and supports the launch, growth, and internationalization of companies in the gaming, film, and tourism industries.
Schedule
1:00 PM Start – Briefing (10 min) – Breakout sessions
1:20 PM Pitch sessions (30 min per participant; 3 presentations)
2:50 PM Coffee break
3:20 PM Pitching session: 30 min per participant (2 presentations)
4:20 PM Closing remarks
4:30 PM Event ends
In brief:
- Subject: Portfolio coaching
- Date and Time: August 26, 2026, 1:00–4:30 p.m.
- Location: Turku Arts Academy, Linnankatu 54, 20100 Turku. Classroom 330.
- Contact person: Annika Dahlsten, annika@taff.fi / +358 40 5171750
- Organized by: Turku Animated Film Festival & the Animation Department of the Turku University of Applied Sciences Arts Academy
- Supported by: Finnish Film Foundation, AVEK, Finnish Arts and Culture Agency
Application form
The Turku Animated Film Festival, better known as TAFF, is an international film festival that celebrates the art of animation and the creative spirit. TAFF will be held for the 11th time in Turku, Finland’s animation capital, from August 26–30, 2026. In 2026, TAFF will once again feature over 20 different program sections and nearly 200 films.