In another surprise move, our esteemed Coinflip pro Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies has decided to venture into the movie business as an investor. Ilari is one of the private investors in an internationally produced biographical film about C.G.E. Mannerheim, the former Finnish president and national hero.


The movie has been long in the making and met with many financial difficulties, but last week in a Finnish talk-show the producer Markus Selin revealed that the financing for the production is now guaranteed and it will start shooting in August. The money has been gathered in many ways, through some international production companies, government backing, private investors and even by selling advance premiere tickets to the public for €50 apiece (several thousand were sold). Ilari is one of the private investors along with Selin himself and another Finnish high-profile businessman.

C.G.E. Mannerheim (b. 1867, d. 1951) led a highly eventful life as an officer, an explorer and many other things before leading his country as the commander-in-chief and finally as the president in World War II. "It's going to be a big adventure with a great love story and epic historic moments," Markus Selin describes the movie which will be made in Finnish despite being planned for international release. Director is the Hollywood veteran Renny Harlin and the premiere is scheduled for late 2011.

Incidentally, Mannerheim was also a big gambler, though not as successful as the future investor in the movie about his life. At some point in his life the esteemed officer was in a bleak financial situation because of mounting gambling losses.