Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival – Pauliina Ståhlberg in conversation with Pia Rickman on Behind the Scenes of Intimacy at Industry@Tallinn event, on 21st November 2025.
This fireside chat takes place at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Nordic Forum Hotel’s Vega room later this month – hope you can make it! Read more here.
The Boy Next Door is now streaming on Yle Areena. This Finnish-Swedish mini drama series is written by Eva-Maria Koskinen, directed by Hannaleena Hauru and produced by Jussi Rantamäki / Aamu Film Company Ltd. The Boy Next Door is starring Sannah Nedergård, Rasmus Slätis, Sebastian Blomqvist, Frida Eklund and Tuuli Heinonen with an array of other fantastic cast members. Lovely collaboration with great people behind and in front of the camera!
A History of Intimacy Professionals in Entertainment is out now! In this book, Brooke M. Haney explores the evolution of intimacy coordinators, choreographers and directors in the performing arts, highlighting the history of their critical role in fostering safe(r) and respectful environments on set and in theatres. Pia’s interview can be found in chapter 17.
The Boy Next Door (Pojken in grannhuset) is available at Yle Areena on 4th August 2025. Check out the trailer below!
Join the online hangout at EWA network with Pia – Read more here.
Want to join the next workshop?
Three separate workshops—designed for different roles across the industry and Higher Education:
- Crafting Connection: Navigating Intimacy with Confidence Workshop for Actors & Performers
- Working with Intimacy: Best Practice for Productions Workshop for Directors & Producers
- Holding Space: Consent & Boundaries in a Creative Process Workshop for Actor Trainers & Creative Educators
Interested? Have a question?
Reach out or register your interest: getintouch@piarickman.com
Very pleased to join the European Film Academy! It is especially great to be part of the community of filmmakers and support European cinema on Europe Day, 9th May 2025.
As part of Straight 8 2025 competition, Immodest has made it to Top 8 and will have its premiere in Cannes in May 2025. This innovative 3-minute short film, shot on Super 8 was written by Charly & Robyn Faye, and was directed by Robyn Faye. Immodest is starring Emma Brunet and Charly Faye with an ensemble of fantastic performers. Congratulations to the team!
Stanislavsky and Intimacy has just been released! This first academic edited book on the subject has its focus on how intimacy protocols, choreography, and theories intersect with the broad practices of Konstantin Stanislavsky’s ‘system’.
Discover what Pia writes on Techniques for Action within Actor Boundaries for Film and Theatre in chapter 8. Stanislavsky and Intimacy (2024) is edited by Joelle Ré Arp-Dunham.
Our first Nordic IC training launched in September 2023. Read more here.
The first Nordic IC training launched in September 2023 and included trainees from the Nordic and Baltic regions. This training was organised in collaboration between us at Nordic Intimacy Coordinators (NIC) and The Intimacy Professionals’ Association IPA, and it successfully concluded in spring 2024, marking an exciting milestone in NIC history.
Higher Education Intimacy Coordination & Direction Guidelines are out now! The purpose of this guidance is to empower students and staff in performing arts and creative Higher Education institutions to better prepare the appropriate levels of intimate content by promoting a shared understanding of consent, boundaries, and how power dynamics affect student engagement in the creation of intimate scenes.
This document is authored by Pia Rickman & Robbie Taylor-Hunt and was published in November 2023 by UK creative trade unions Equity and Bectu.
Check out this story One Magical Night On the Set of Ted Lasso by Vanity Fair. Hannah Waddingham, director Matt Lipsey, and “mystery man” Matteo van der Grijn break down Rebecca’s eventful night in Amsterdam from the season three episode six, “Sunflowers.” One of the most memorable scenes of the season and fantastic collaboration with superbly talented cast and team.
The Diplomat is out now on Netflix. Thrilled to have worked on this production – such an amazing team!
The Diplomat premieres on April 20th 2023 on Netflix. Check out the trailer here!
During the evening at Jussi Gala, Finnish Film Awards, I received an ‘Uroteko’ Award (Deed of the Year Award) together with actor Saara Kotkaniemi for our respective work toward creating safer practices in the film & TV industry in the recent years in Finland. Thank you for the acknowledgement Filmiaura.
Here’s to continuous development of the young field and to many more exciting collaborations with Cast & Creatives in creating visually gripping scenes, rooted in character embodiment and filled with nuance while making safety a priority across the industry!
Finnish Film Awards, the Jussi Gala, was held and celebrated on 24th March 2023! Massive congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. The big winner of the night was the award-winning Girl Picture, which won in the following categories
BEST DIRECTING Alli Haapasalo
BEST SCREENPLAY Ilona Ahti, Daniela Hakulinen
BEST EDITING Samu Heikkilä
BEST FILM Producers Elina Pohjola, Leila Lyytikäinen
BRIGHT STAR OF THE SCREEN Award went to fabulous actor Linnea Leino who among her many other brilliant roles in the year, also plays Emma in Girl Picture.
What a ride!
Thank you Filmiaura for the great dinner & party!
Ted Lasso Season 3 is out now on AppleTV+. This was such a fun production and team to collaborate with!
Ted Lasso Season 3 premieres on March 15th 2023 on AppleTV+. Check out the trailer here!
How women in Finnish cinema made their way to the front row.
Link to the book here.
First International Intimacy Coordination Conference took place 18-19th February, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. This conference brought together intimacy coordinators from around the world to discuss, exchange knowledge and promote best practice around working with intimacy in stage and screen industries in Europe. Here’s the event program.
Romantic Getaway is available on Sky now! Absolutely stunning collaboration with a brilliant cast and creatives.
Romantic Getaway is coming to Sky Max and Now on New Year’s Day 1st January 2023! Check out the trailer here:
What Remains has its World Premiere at the Warsaw International Film Festival on October 14th and enters the Official Selection for International Competition. The film is directed by Ran Huang and the lead cast includes Gustaf Skarsgard, Andrea Riseborough and Stellan Skarsgard. Book your tickets here.
In October 2022, two years into the existence of the Bectu intimacy branch, we have now formulated the following in-depth guidance on shooting intimacy.
The aims of this guide are to offer vital information to the employer and other practitioners that may be involved in managing, casting, directing, producing, and designing scenes with intimate content, and to consolidate the current foundations of intimacy coordination practice for screen in the UK.
I’m pleased to have contributed to this guidance as a working group member.
What Remains trailer is here! More news to come with release dates in Europe.
Girls Girls Girls (UK title for Girl Picture) had its UK launch at the end of September. The Guardian wrote a smashing review here of this European modern film with “…such a vivid, lovable triple-decker performance from Milonoff, Kauhanen and Leino”.
Film’s director, Alli Haapasalo speaks with Anna Smith in GIRLS ON FILM podcast here about representation, time after #MeToo and working with an intimacy coordinator.
“To create the choreography, I worked closely with intimacy coordinator Pia Rickman. She had wonderful techniques for creating the illusion of what was happening, and I loved the rehearsal process that she took the actors and me on. Any awkwardness people may have had went away because we simply concentrated on the narrative and how to tell it. We actually had fun figuring out the details—it is an exciting professional challenge to create a physical choreography that makes room for emotion and performance. The actors were encouraged to take part in the making of the choreography, but also encouraged to opt out any time they’d feel like it’s more of a burden than a privilege.” Alli Haapasalo in 8/22 Filmmaker Magazine
COOL, CALM, CONNECTED – Vodafone’s new TV ad, directed by Nick Davies, is out! This was a wonderful collaboration with cast & other creatives. Medical & midwife expertise was provided by wonderful Hannah Hunter & Tess McLeish.
Director: Nick Davies
Agency: Ogilvy UK
Prod co: The Sweetshop Films
Producer: Theo Youngstein
DOP: Ula Pontikos_Edit: Owen O’Sullivan_Wardrobe: Lydia Kovacs_HMU: Lulu Hinton_Art: Theo Boswell Casting: Hammond Cox Casting
The Finnish Institute in London organises a screening of the film Tove (2020) at Rio Cinema on 21 June at 6 pm. The screening is followed by a live Q&A with the film’s producer Andrea Reuter and intimacy coordinator Pia Rickman. The film is subtitled.
Tove film screening and Q&A, 21 June at 6 pm. Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2PB. Tickets £10, concession £7,50. Book here. The venue is wheelchair accessible. For further accessibility information, visit the Rio Cinema’s accessibility page.
The event is organised by the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland with the support of the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland.
In May 2022, Blockbuster Gang, a crewing company in Finland, established their first AD Bootcamp. I was asked to run a session with the junior Assistant Directors on the role of an intimacy coordinator, and how AD’s can prepare, plan and support the safe working protocol when filming intimate scenes. I look forward to many more bootcamps from this Gang in the future!
Salome at Finnish National Opera & Ballet 18.3-23.4.2022 and live stream on Thursday 7th April at 19.00 EEST:
After Salome’s world premiere in 1905, Richard Strauss became an opera composer whose name was on everyone’s lips. Sensational in its time, Salome was received with both wonder and shock, thanks to its theme combining religion and eroticism and its groundbreaking musical language. The one act opera is one of the most powerful and intensive representations of the genre of all time.
Alli Haapasalo’s Girl Picture in cinemas Spring 2022! Here’s the first glimpse of this beautiful feature film:
GIRL PICTURE REVIEWS:
“Milonoff and Leino share irresistible chemistry, impossible to look away from as their young love blooms. Though the couple try to exist in a bubble of happiness, separate from the rest of the world, their issues remain internal and thus, inescapable. Leino is a frequent scene-stealer, wearing Emma's wounded determination on her sleeve, while Milonoff leads with endless charisma, all the more heartbreaking when her confidence falters.” SLASHFILM 26/1/22 “Girl Picture is that rare movie about female pleasure, particularly young female pleasure. There’s nothing sexually explicit on Haapasalo’s celluloid but the underlying drive to connect with someone sexually, or emotionally, is white hot nonetheless… But it’s also about something greater: about learning how to advocate for yourself, to say what you mean, and mean what you say. At any stage in your life.” SCREEN RIOT 24/1/22 “Aamu Milonoff could have chemistry with a rock, and she gives one of the best youth performances of the entire fest... Girl Picture is, in a lot of ways, girl heaven. Haapasalo loves her characters and treats them with the utmost dignity and respect despite the sticky situations they end up in. It preaches love and community and making room for yourself in your own life.” BUFFED FILMBUFFS 27/1/22
Yellow Sulphur Sky based on a novel written by Kjell Westö, directed by Claes Olsson, now in cinemas in Finland!
Mestarillinen kuvaus nuoruudesta ja kasvamisesta nousee parhaimpien kotimaisten romaanifilmatisointien joukkoon. Episodi 3/11/21
Working with an Intimacy Coordinator guide is now out! Sex and intimacy have always been part of engaging storytelling because these scenes convey strong feelings and powerful emotions to an audience. Effective intimate scenes have potential to advance the story and reveal something new about the characters and their relationships. In the Finnish Film Foundation’s intimacy guidelines (10/2020), the use of Intimacy Coordinators (IC) in the industry was recommended to be increased. In 2021, Pia was commissioned to put together a guide for working with an intimacy coordinator. This guide was published and endorsed by Finnish Film Foundation, Audiovisual Producers Finland and Finland’s Actors’ union.
This document is available in English, Swedish and Finnish. It is intended to be read in conjunction with the Guidelines for doing intimate scenes in camera work published in October 2020 by the Finnish Film Foundation.
Here’s a fascinating interview between the director Zaida Bergroth and the lead actress Alma Poysti. At 26’06 Zaida and Alma discuss the intimate scenes in Tove. Leffalabra Goes Tove:
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS: I run workshops, lectures and seminars online and in person. Contact me via email if you wanted to know more and/or book a chat with me. All workshops and lectures are specifically tailored to meet your individual or company needs and goals.
2-day Intimacy in Film & TV Workshop: ARRANGED ON DEMAND – Please be in touch!
Intimate scenes are often challenging for both cast and crew. Similarly to a physically violent scene which can cause external damage if not handled properly, an intimate scene can cause internal damage that is not visible to the eye. Therefore, it is important that cast and crew who are working with an intimate scene are equipped with techniques and protocols that support open communication, transparency and consent.
During the workshop the participants will have a unique opportunity to explore new tools for their work in film, TV and theatre both through the guidelines and practical exercises.
- There will be no nudity in this workshop
- Please bring copy of the text, notebook and pens, yoga mat and water
- Please wear clothes in which you can easily move in
COURSE DURATION: 10am – 5pm (please arrive by 9.45am for a 10am start)
Tove is now in cinemas in Finland!
“The scenes in which Tove bares it all, connecting with a loved one, are captured in the most tasteful and romantic way by Bergroth. Instead of showing what goes on in these most private events, she chooses to avoid unnecessary clichés and rather goes for the build-up, which is just as intimate. ‘Tove‘ is in ways comparable to Todd Haynes’ 2015 drama ‘Carol‘. The same sense of desire finds a balance with Bergroth’s own vision.” (Tove directed by Zaida Bergroth, produced by helsinki-filmi Oy/ IntoScreens 09/09/20)
“There is a noted dedication to showing the physicality of their love, with hands pawing at backs when they don’t yet want to part, sleepily toying with a lover’s bangs in the morning, and untying the straps of a dress, that makes their love feel tactile. The frequent scenes of intimacy never feel made for male consumption, with unobtrusive ways to avoid nudity, and body hair, that only serves as further evidence to call Tove an example of the female gaze.” (Tove/ Cinema Etc. 09/2020)
This is fun!
I’m excited to take part in PRESENT: Choreographing Intimacy – Trust and Boundaries in Acting on Wednesday 11th November 2020 at 5PM with fantastic colleagues!
Exciting news!
In October 2020, Finland became the first Nordic (and EU!) country to establish intimacy guidelines for the film & TV industries, published by the Finnish Film Foundation. I’m excited to have been consulted on these guidelines here. Available in English, Swedish and Finnish.
Hello Helsinki!
I’m thrilled to have been invited to the Finnish Film Affair as part of Helsinki International Film Festival (HIFF) to discuss Choreographing Intimacy & Initiating Change. You can find details here.
PAST WORKSHOPS:
Pia Rickman 