Backlight Photo Festival continues its international collaboration with Rotterdam Photo in March 2026, supporting emerging photographic talent and fostering dialogue between artistic communities in Finland and the Netherlands.
As part of this ongoing exchange, two photography students from Tampere University’s photojournalism programme – Milla Radaelli and Sami Sorasalmi – were selected through a student open call organised by Backlight. Their works are presented within the curated programme of Rotterdam Photo, offering insight into the perspectives and approaches of a new generation of contemporary photographers.
The collaboration forms part of a long-term partnership between Backlight Photo Festival and Rotterdam Photo, aimed at creating opportunities for early-career artists to gain international visibility and build professional networks.
Milla Radaelli
My First
My First is a photographic exploration of first love, tracing how young people experience falling in love for the first time. The series captures moments of excitement, vulnerability, hesitation and connection.
Set against a world marked by conflict and uncertainty, these intimate encounters take on a broader significance. The work reflects on how love, trust and emotional openness can emerge even in fragile conditions, framing first love as both personal transformation and a gesture of resilience and hope.
The series is part of an ongoing body of work exploring love across different stages of life, and the ways in which human connection persists in times of instability.
Sami Sorasalmi
Uprooted Legacy
Uprooted Legacy examines the cultural and political significance of olive trees in Palestine. Long regarded as symbols of peace, continuity and connection to the land, olive trees also represent a vital source of livelihood for many Palestinian families.
The work is situated within the context of the prolonged Israeli occupation, during which large numbers of olive trees have been destroyed, and access to agricultural land has been restricted. Palestinian farmers continue to face violence and uncertainty, particularly during the harvest season.
Through portraits of olive trees, the series reflects on themes of loss, resilience and the enduring relationship between people and land.
The exchange continues later in 2026, when students from the Willem de Kooning Academy will present their work at the Backlight Photo Festival. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to supporting emerging voices and building sustainable international connections in contemporary photography.
The project is supported by the Patricia Seppälä Foundation and the C.V. Åkerlund Foundation.