Entrepreneur Story: Finnish Filmmaker Sparks Optimism in New York City
Written By:
Nina Dahlblom
Written by Nina Dahlblom
Lina Hagström can be called lucky. She was born in Finland, the happiest country in the world, as a “Sunday child”—a title passed down through generations. A child born on a Sunday, traditionally believed to be generally happy, fortunate and blessed. Lina’s grandmother, Orvokki, was also born on Sunday, and Lina learned from an early age that she belonged to a fortunate group.
The idea of luck, being fortunate, happy and blessed is also at the heart of Lina’s company, which she founded a year ago in Manhattan, Sunday Child Entertainment. The company documents true-life stories in the form of biopics that connect people and bring optimism into their lives.
When I sat down with Lina for this interview, she was eagerly anticipating the premiere of her first biopic in New York this May. Take Me to Broadway, the biopic film, tells the inspiring story of Ann-Christine Westerlund’s journey from Finland to New York City. “Ann-Christine, a highly recognized tax expert in the Nordic community of New York, embarked on a path from Finland to New York. The film portrays how she met her husband, Mousa, started her own business, and eventually received recognition from the President of Finland for her outstanding work. The central message is about finding your own path and self-confidence.”
In addition to biopics, Lina’s production company is also making feature films. The first completed film concept depicts the journey of an immigrant in New York City.
Big Hairy Audacious Dream
Looking back, Lina’s own path seems consistent. She began studying film and media at the private New School in New York, a university known for its commitment to academic freedom and a multidisciplinary approach to education.
In the United States, students are encouraged to think big. On her first day of school, Lina had to present her “Big Hairy Audacious Dream.” “Mine was winning the Cannes Film Festival. Nothing more, nothing less!” She recalls. “We made a series of short films at school, and one of them was dubbed into Spanish and aired on Mexico’s largest TV channel.”
After graduating, Lina spent six years in brand marketing at the unicorn company Smartly. There, she received solid experience in startup business. “I witnessed the company’s strong growth firsthand. The marketing team expanded, and we got to experiment and do a lot. My background in film and media was an advantage in that work.”
Lina’s dream of owning her own production company emerged when she studied screenwriting for film and TV remotely from a school in Los Angeles. “Due to the time difference, classes were in the evenings, but during COVID, that was a wise investment of time,” Lina contemplates.
The Big Idea Forms as Confidence Grows
Lina vividly remembers a conversation with her father, Pekka, during one Christmas time. “I was listening to Finnish music when Dad mentioned hearing a familiar Finnish song that had been personalized to suit the listener’s life.”
“I started thinking about how much people have videos and photos on their phones these days, but often, they don’t watch them again. Also, the global world, distances, and generational gaps made me think about how personalized films could bring people closer and help them get to know each other better.” And that’s how the idea of biopics was born.
Lina emphasizes that film is an art form that reflects the society we live in. “It has a strong emotional impact, and the feeling and message it conveys can effortlessly cross global and cultural boundaries. Every story deserves to be told.”
At first, Lina felt some self-doubt about calling herself a filmmaker. “I wondered, can I already start a production company? Maybe I should first go work for someone else and learn. But then I realized, I have my own path.”
“We often think that there are certain career paths with fixed frameworks that we can’t stray from. From the outside, it may seem like others have made all the right choices. But detours can also be enriching. I learned valuable lessons about launching new products at Smartly. How lucky am I!”
Navigating Unfamiliar Waters
Lina describes her mood as positive. She officially started building her business full-time in July 2024. She remembers clearly how she shared her idea at our women’s community Business Café virtual event.
“There’s been a lot of new learning,” she says, noting how refreshing it is to learn new things. Especially in the early stages, the founder of a business does everything themselves. While she has a production team for film productions, the new country, its unfamiliar financial, tax, legal matters, and insurance processes sometimes pose challenges for the fresh CEO. “Even paying invoices was its own learning process.”
“There’s always more administrative work coming up, and the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know. Entrepreneurs must endure imperfection. Since deciding to start my company, my emotions have been split.”
“The fear created by my self-preservation instinct balances things out, and that’s a good thing. I’ve jumped into the unknown,” Lina reflects on the emotional turbulence. “I have an idea, but I’m navigating unfamiliar waters. A little fear is like fuel that keeps me moving forward, and thankfully, the main feeling has been excitement and optimism.”
Gifts of Encouragement are Free
Lina praises New York as a positive city for entrepreneurs. She currently lives in Manhattan and is planning to move to Brooklyn.
“New York has an incredibly encouraging atmosphere. When I opened my bank account, the clerk and her young assistant in the bank were very supportive. They showered me with heart felt praises about my business idea and wished me good luck. These experiences make me feel like, even though I’m alone here, I’m not truly alone. I have a community behind me that supports me” Lina celebrates the community feel of her new home city.
“I recommend that people in Finland would express their positive thoughts more often and say them aloud to others. It costs nothing, but it really makes a huge difference.”
In addition to positivity, networking and building relationships are key in identifying opportunities in the U.S. “Being active can take you far, anywhere! Networking quickly helps you identify the right events and contacts that can help you move forward.”
“In a new country, you’re at a disadvantage when it comes to networking compared to your home country with long lasting established connections. However, New York is a dream for networkers. There are many film-related events, inspiring film festivals, and active communities here. While LA is the movie industry capital, New York has its own strong infrastructure for people working in the film industry. There’s a low threshold for joining various communities and events, and they’re easy to find. Production teams are often formed through trusted contacts and word of mouth.”
Film Allows Versatility
Lina’s love for film is strong. She describes her style as “indie” and “big eccentric.” She cites the example of Paolo Sorrentino’s hypnotically entertaining The Great Beauty, a Golden Globe-winning film that she saw at the Cannes Film Festival. “I love Italian films, which have a layer of fantasy and something big and spectacular. They have beautiful costumes, music, and filming locations full of beauty and celebration. At the same time, they are very profound,” Lina sighs, spreading her enthusiasm for the fascinating world of film.
With “indie,” Lina refers to films made without big budgets. “Oscar-winning Anora was an indie film, for example. Sean Baker is very inspiring. He writes his own scripts, directs, casts, and produces. I often wonder why people in the workplace don’t see themselves as complex wholes, like they do in their private lives. It’s easy to box ourselves in, but I try to be in as many boxes as possible. I aim to be involved in every phase, and I prefer to do everything myself.
The film industry allows for versatility, and there’s always something new to learn.”
Although the film industry is going through tough times, Lina looks to the future with optimism. “The desire for quality, good films have not disappeared. Good content travels across language and cultural borders. The future world is open, and audiences are easily accessible and interested in foreign content. In Finland, we’re used to content coming from elsewhere, but even large countries now want fresh perspectives. That’s a wonderful opportunity for filmmakers from small countries.”
Where There’s a Story, There’s a Biopic
Lina’s biopic mini documentaries allow an ordinary person to become the protagonist of their own film. “Biopics can be made anywhere and about anything. Wherever there’s a story and a person who wants to tell it.” explains Lina.
Documenting can mean a short film lasting 10 or 30 minutes. Topics might include an anniversary, milestone, a business founder’s story, a child’s birth, a relative’s biography, a historical account, or any important project.
The life and the main character can be followed in agreed locations, either for a moment or over a longer period. Using the person’s photo album and capturing the time, the story can be shaped into a product that meets the client’s wishes.
Lina creates script options based on the client’s thoughts, and the client selects their preferred version. This determines the production scope and cost. “The package includes post-production, editing, color grading, sound production, and the client gets to provide feedback to the project team to ensure the best final result,” Lina describes her service.
Happiness Belongs to Those Who See It
Lina finds inspiration from art and phenomena beyond borders, and this benefits her biopics and films. “Especially by meeting people, you get insights and new perspectives when you genuinely listen. And problems can be solved when you keep your mind curious and optimistic,” says the Sunday child, flashing a gentle glimpse of Finnish grit also known as ‘sisu’ – “And don’t ever give up.”
Lina’s beloved grandmother, Orvokki, the Sunday child, passed away at 99. “We were close, and we spent her final moments together. She had lived through different, even tough, times in Finnish history. Despite everything, she always looked back at her life with optimism. She taught me that happiness belongs to those who see it and can find blessings in life’s small details.” I can picture Lina, with her curious mind and gentle Sunday child’s gaze, turning to the protagonist of her upcoming film, picking the golden nuggets of happiness from their life to weave into a touching biography on film.
Tips for Thriving in New York City as Entrepreneur by Lina
- Learn to Talk About Yourself
“If you want to work in New York, nothing sells itself. First step to meeting people is learning to talk about yourself and what you do. Practice presenting your business interestingly. - Be confident. Don’t apologize.
“It is possible to be confident and humble at the same time, just avoid arrogance.” - Learn to Enjoy Meeting People
“Learn to enjoy small talk and networking. These encounters are good for the human mind, and light conversations create a safe space where deeper discussions can happen later.” - Prepare for Meetings—Time Is Your Most Valuable Resource
Lina emphasizes that New Yorkers are generous when offering help. “Be prepared with what you want from the meeting, show interest, and respect the other person’s time.” - Follow Up to Seal Trust
In New York trust is built through timely follow-ups. Be responsive. Touch base frequently. Don’t let the matter expire—otherwise, you could lose valuable opportunities.