Short Film News (SFN) - Erkko Lyytinen was appointed as the new artistic director of DocPoint - Helsinki Documentary Film Festival.

Former artistic director, Virpi Suutari, who begun her job in 2007, leaves the post to continue her career as a filmmaker, while Jari Matala continues as executive director of the festival.

"The task of DocPoint's artistic director is a great challenge for a filmmaker: you have to put yourself in the role of a spectator and learn to present questions as a spectator and not as a filmmaker", Erkko Lyytinen said.

"The main theme of the forthcoming festival will be the concept of truth. While watching a film the spectator constantly estimates whether it is true or not. At the same time the concept of truth is complex. Truth and the exposure of truth will be the overall theme of the film selection. This way it is most natural that the program will have a social dimension", he outlined his future programming policy.

Erkko Lyytinen has a Master of Arts degree from University of Arts and Design Helsinki, School of Motion Picture, Television and Production Design. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design.

He has been a member of board in The Association of Finnish Film Directors and in The Finnish Documentary Guild.

The 8th edition of DocPoint festival will be held 21 to 25 January 2009.