The Yliopistokäänne group, which defends university autonomy, democracy and scientific freedom, awarded its second Hermes Award to film director Annika Grof.
The documentary film, entitled The Other Voice, premiered in 2022. The film focuses on the University of Helsinki and the 2019 election spring, reflecting the state of universities in recent political decisions and revealing the flaws in the democratic system.
The Hermes Award has be established in 2022
The Hermes Prize is awarded for outstanding university policy activities to a person who has consistently and persistently promoted the core values of science and the university. The first Hermes Prize was awarded to Professor Emeritus Jukka Kekkonen, who this year presented the Hermes Prize at a ceremony at the University of Helsinki.
– The film The Other Voice depicts the changes that have eroded community life and staff wellbeing at the university in a way that is easily recognised by the university community as their own truth and their own emotional state. The transformation from science and education universities into hierarchical administrative universities has driven universities into a predicament that should be overcome, and this action by us (Yliopistokäänne group) and also by Annika Grof is part of this attempt to turn the tide, says Professor Emeritus Jukka Kekkonen in his introductory speech.
– I am very moved by this award. I am moved by the fact that it has been awarded by members of the academic community, whom I myself hold in such high esteem. I am also moved by the fact that my own roots are here at the University of Helsinki. Even though I never became a researcher, the studies to become one are still deep inside me. As a filmmaker, I feel that I can draw on the lectures I listened to in the lecture halls of the University of Helsinki in the 90s. It is sad that today a similar path of developing one’s thinking is no longer possible. It makes me wonder what our society is missing out on when many insights remain unrealised due to efficiency mindset. Thank you, Käänne -group, for having persevered and for continuing to fight for university democracy, free research and a civilized society that also enables filmmaking, says film director Annika Grof in her speech.
The Hermes Award is named after the ancient Greek mythological god Hermes. Hermes was a messenger, mediator and diplomat, among other things. Hermes also gave his name to the science of textual interpretation, or hermeneutics.
Yliopistokäänne group is a network fighting for a free and democratic Humboldtian university
Yliopistokäänne group is a network founded in spring 2016 by 12 professors at the University of Helsinki in response to the Minister Sipilä’s government’s education cuts, which led to excessive redundancies at the University of Helsinki. Käänne continues to defend democracy, university autonomy and free academia. The network calls for the opening of the Universities Act to restore and develop democracy.
The Other Voice is part of Yle’s programming
Funded by the Finnish Film Foundation and Avek, The Other Voices is part of Yle’s programming and can be viewed cyclically on Yle Areena. Private screenings of the film can also be ordered from the production and distribution company, Tarasow Films.
