An important conversation after the screening of "Blood Berries" in Helsinki

On Thursday 30 October 2025, the Tampere University team organised a screening of the documentary "Blood Berries" at the University of Helsinki. The documentary film was produced by AspirE’s Thai collaborator The Isaan Record, and follows the journeys of Thai migrant berry pickers working in Finland and Sweden.

Filmed over three years, the documentary offers a rare and intimate portrayal of workers from Thailand’s Isaan region (one of the country’s most deprived areas) who travel to the Nordic countries to harvest wild berries. In recent years, media investigations have exposed cases of exploitation within the industry. "Blood Berries" goes beyond the headlines, capturing the lived realities of the pickers: their motivations for migration, the hardships they encounter, their resilience, and their hopes for a better future.

The screening was followed by a Q&A and panel discussion in English, addressing both the issues raised in the film and the broader structures shaping the wild berry industry. The panel featured Consul Panu Chaisriha from the Royal Thai Embassy; playwright Susi Siriya Orenius; researcher Chaitawat Boonjubun (Tampere University); and researcher Minna Seikkula (Tampere University). The discussion was moderated by Marjukka Ajakainen (Tampere University).

The event created an important space for dialogue between researchers, policymakers, cultural practitioners, and members of the public on labour migration, responsibility, and the future of ethical practices in the Nordic wild berry sector.