Paula Korva’s “Sudden Outbursts of Emotion,” a sex-positive comedy about the complexities of modern love and midlife crises, took home the top prize Thursday at the Finnish Film Affair, an annual industry event running parallel to the Helsinki Intl. Film Festival.

The film was one of five fiction feature works in progress and seven works in development that were pitched to an audience of industry guests in Helsinki during the Nordic event’s showcase of local and regional projects. Korva’s feature-length directorial debut, the film is produced by Marko Talli of Helsinki-based Yellow Film & TV.

“Sudden Outbursts of Emotion” follows Jane, a travel agent who sells people on adventure but is happily settled in her own life with her partner, Mikki. Thinking their relationship is strong, Jane is shocked when Mikki suddenly proposes they open it up. To save their love, Jane agrees to attend a sex...