Yasmin Najjar’s short film TJ28 selected for Cannes’ La Cinef section

TJ28, directed by Yasmin Najjar and written by Kasperi Riihimäki, will be screened this year in the La Cinef section at the Cannes Film Festival. A total of 19 films were selected—out of 2750 suggestions—for the student competition.

The film follows Amani Lillak, a Palestinian-Finnish woman serving her voluntary military service in the Finnish Army’s medical corps. In the middle of a final combat exercise, she receives news of an escalating crisis in her father’s home country. At the same time, the intensity of the military exercise pushes tensions within the medical unit to the breaking point. Lillak tries to turn her back on both conflicts and be free, if only for a moment.

Najjar also plays the lead role in the film, which is based on her own experiences during voluntary military service in 2021. TJ28 is her Master’s thesis film in directing at the Department of Film at Aalto University. Produced by Meri-Tuuli Varis, the film’s international title is 28 Days Left.

“I hope this film will help draw attention to the genocide in Palestine and inspire people to take action and ask questions. For many Finns, the violence happening around the world is a daily concern. Cannes’ recognition of this story is important. I am truly grateful to the film’s crew: they believed in the film even at the concept stage and gave the project more than I could ever have hoped for”, says Yasmin Najjar.

Success built over the years

Aalto University’s Department of Film (ELO) has emerged as an internationally renowned institution, with its student films garnering attention and awards at both major international festivals and domestic venues. 

In addition to numerous film awards, the school’s teaching has also received special recognition in industry forums in recent years. At the 2025 Haugesund Film Festival, ELO was awarded an exceptional honorary mention as a film school that, according to the jury, “has fostered a great deal of talent and offered much-needed hope for the future of the industry.” Animafest Zagreb also named the school’s RE:ANIMA program—developed through international collaboration—the best animation school of 2026. Particular praise was given to the high quality of student work, the program’s international scope, and its strong, distinctive artistic style.

“Success is built on strong expertise, which our staff embodies in abundance. In addition to solid expertise and talented students, success requires continuous investment in education and production resources—this has a direct link to succeeding in international competition”, says Department Head Anna Heiskanen.

ELO’s track record of international excellence is already impressively long. Last year, Helmi Donner’s graduation film The Lightning Rod (Matalapaine) was screened in the La Cinef series (formerly Cinéfondation). Previously, the series has featured Salla Sorri’s To Return Until (Ainahan ne palaa) (2015) and Juho Kuosmanen’s The Painting Sellers (Taulukauppiaat) (2010)—which won the main Cinéfondation Award—from Finland. Also selected for the series in the past were Kari Juusonen’s film Pizza Passionata (2001)—which won the Prix du Jury (a notable third place)—and Hanna Maylett’s film Rose of the Railroad (1998). They are all current members of the ELO faculty.

The Cannes Film Festival will take place from 12 to 23 May 2026. La Cinef Prizes will be awarded on Thursday 21 May. 

Further information:
Festival Coordinator Saara Toivanen, Department of Film (ELO), Aalto University
saara.toivanen@aalto.fi, +358 50 331 7754

Festival press release on the selected short films