Finland’s ICS Nordic Teams Up with ‘Ismo – Breaking Bad English’ for Live Comedy

BREAKING NEWS: ICS Nordic, a production company based in Finland and led by Ilkka Hynninen and Ilkka Rahkonen, is expanding into the realm of live comedy.

The firm, known for producing the Anne Watanabe-led Blood & Sweat, has recently appointed Ilona Puttonen, an expert in live comedy events, as the Talent and Operations Executive. Additionally, they’ve entered a collaboration agreement with Ismo Leikola, Finland’s renowned international comedian.

With 17 years of experience in cultural and live event management, Puttonen will lead the company’s venture into live performances. This move is a part of ICS’s strategy to merge live entertainment with cinematic and TV productions. Her focus will be on forging artist partnerships, enhancing operations, expanding partner networks, and exploring new ventures.

“Looking ahead, we anticipate a growing synergy between the film, TV, and live event sectors,” stated Puttonen. “Our aim is to craft innovative concepts where various forms of media complement each other, creating distinct and memorable experiences for both audiences and collaborators.”

This agreement with Leikola is part of the strategy and enhances his existing relationship with ICS. They have previously partnered to produce the feature film Ismo – Breaking Bad English, which was released in theaters and aired on HBO across the Nordic and Baltic states, and was also distributed globally to countries including Australia.

Leikola recently performed to a record-breaking crowd at the Nokia Arena in Finland, the largest stand-up audience in national history. He is set to continue his success with a European tour, with ICS managing all aspects of his live performances, partnerships, and audiovisual content in Finland during his tour.

“It’s thrilling to advance further with ICS Nordic,” Leikola commented. “We share a vision to develop comedy that not only resonates internationally but also remains authentic to its origins.”

“This partnership is a logical step forward in evolving into a modern, globally focused content enterprise. It strengthens our position on the international stage and opens doors to new possibilities for film, TV, and globally appealing comedy formats,” explained the co-founders of ICS.

“On a broader scale, ICS views intellectual property as a vast universe where diverse content, experiences, and business opportunities can be cultivated. Bringing Ilona aboard is a strategic expansion of this vision, significantly enhancing our capabilities in the cultural and events arenas,” they added.

For ICS, based in Tampere, this development follows the recent recruitment of new executives in development, production, finance, and legal and business affairs. This announcement comes three months after the collaboration with Sherlock & Daughter creator Brendan Foley on Operation: Arctic Fox, a TV adaptation of a book by journalist and former army officer Helena Immonen.