On a gray spring day in 1992, the Russian cruise ship Konstantin Simonov departs St. Petersburg with 300 authors from across the Baltic Sea. They share a dream of a world without walls or cold wars. Finnish journalist Tom Paxal captures discussions on democracy, literature, and cultural power—until he films suspicious activity below deck. Threatened by the Russian crew, his footage is confiscated, and rumors of mafia ties spread.

Nearly 30 years later, in 2020, Tom receives the missing tapes with a cryptic note: "These seem to be yours." Teaming up with filmmaker Johan von Sydow, he sets out to complete his film and uncover the truth.

Ship of Dreams is a layered story where the ship itself becomes an allegory for the struggle between light and darkness, hope and the abuse of power. What begins as a cultural cruise filled with optimism unravels into an exploration of lost ideals in an increasingly uncertain world.

Genre: Documentary
Length: Feature documentary
Director: Johan von Sydow
Producer: Katja Uneborg, Picky Pictures 
Status: In production, development