The story of Hurttimurtti dates back to 2013 when it was founded by Mika and Ruut Ahonen, a Finnish Christian media couple, with a vision to produce high-quality Christian documentaries.
In 2014, they completed their first documentary, “Sounds of the Night,” which quickly gained recognition. GOD TV, one of the world’s largest Christian television channels, expressed interest in broadcasting it, acknowledging its exceptional quality. Additionally, the documentary secured distribution agreements in Great Britain, Norway, and Finland, ensuring its wide-reaching impact on audiences.
In 2015, Hurttimurtti completed their second documentary, which focused on the value of human beings within the context of sex trafficking. This powerful documentary caught the attention of the British division of TBN, the world’s largest Christian distribution network, leading to a distribution agreement. The partnership with TBN allowed the documentary to reach a vast audience, spreading awareness about the issue and promoting positive change.
Initially, Hurttimurtti operated in a flexible manner, without a formal legal structure. However, as the operations grew in the spring of 2015, it became necessary to establish a legal entity to support the work. Instead of creating a separate association for Hurttimurtti, the production group found a suitable solution among their friends. They discovered that Vedä Henkeä Unelma ry, a previously established association, had among its activities a TV production group called Hurttimurtti. This association became the legal operator in the background, providing the necessary structure and support for Hurttimurtti’s continued growth and activities.
As the documentary production of Hurttimurtti expanded, the team faced challenges in financing the increasing costs. Their own resources were no longer sufficient to cover the expenses involved. In response to this, the Police Board in Finland granted them a national fundraising permit in 2016. This permit allowed Hurttimurtti to seek financial support from the public, enabling them to continue their important work. The fundraising permit has remained valid since then, providing them with ongoing opportunities to secure funding.
In 2016 and 2017, the Hurttimurtti team embarked on two documentary projects in Israel. These new films proved to be significant milestones for the team, opening doors to new TV channels and audiences. As a result, their documentaries reached viewers in Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden, expanding their global reach and impact.
Following the explosion of the asylum situation in Europe, the production team was asked to make a documentary on the situation of Christian asylum seekers. Thus, in 2018, the first documentary in Finnish was completed.
As of 2019, Hurttimurtti started a partnership in Canada with the Great Commission Foundation (GCF) and with Friends of The Great Commission (FGC) in the United States. This partnership has enabled tax-deductible donations to Hurttimurt from the United States and Canada.
After a Finnish documentary, the team returned to international productions and completed the documentary One Ruler – The Power of the Persecuted church, which was successful during 2020 at international Christian film festivals in the United States and Canada, among others.
During 2021, Hurttimurtti’s YouTube channel turned to rapid growth and exceeded 2,000 subscribers. Channel views rose to more than 2,000 daily viewers. In addition, the documentaries have been broadcasted on a total of 16 television channels around the world.
German soldiers remained silent about their actions during World War II. The consequences of this silence are still visible and felt by future generations, and this topic is explored in the documentary “My Nazi Family,” which was completed in 2022. The documentary has already been translated into seven languages and has been screened in various locations, including war-torn Nigeria.
OUR DOCUMENTARIES
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Traditionally by bank transfer
IBAN: FI58 1113 3000 6185 75
BIC: NDEAFIHH
Bank reference number: 3366
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CANADIAN DONORS
Tax-deductible donation in the Canada:
By Cheque:
Hurttimurtti
PO Box 14006,
Abbotsford, B.C.
V2T 0B4, Canada
Note: Please make check payable to: Hurttimurtti
Hurttimurtti is registered as project #771 under the Great Commission Foundation (GCF). GCF is a registered Canadian charity with Canada Revenue Agency (#85992 8483 RR0001).
FINNISH DONORS
Recipient: Vedä Henkeä Unelma ry
IBAN: FI58 1113 3000 6185 75
BIC: NDEAFIHH
Bank reference numbers for funds: 3366
FUND-RAISING PERMIT Fundraising permit RA/2020/1071, issued by the Police Administration in Finland on Sept. 10 2020, for raising funds in Finland excluding the Åland islands, since Jan 1 2021. The funds raised will be used for the production of Christian content and for the financing of facilities and equipment for spiritual activities, events and training sessions and for the activities described above.