CREATORS

Tuffi Films

The Yksittäistapaus film series has been created by Finnish production company Tuffi Films that challenges what is worth talking about. The company is run by producer and director Elli Toivoniemi, producer Venla Hellstedt, director and screenwriter Jenni Toivoniemi and directors and screenwriters Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari.

Their films have attracted audiences and gained recognition in both Finland and abroad. They have been awarded an Oscar nomination (Pitääkö mun kaikki hoitaa?, 2012) and acknowledged at significant international festivals, such as Sundance, Berlinale and Locarno. Hölmö nuori sydän (2018) won the Crystal Bear at Berlinale and was Finland’s Oscar candidate in 2020.

The short films Dream Job and Let Her Speak were realised in cooperation with the Swedish production company [sic] film.

tuffi
/tùf·fi/

  • A circus elephant (1946-1989)

    A female circus elephant that became famous in Germany in 1950 after bolting away from a moving train, through a window to a bridge and from there to a river. Tuffi survived the five-metre leap and lived until 1989.

  • Stones created from ash erupted from a volcano.

  • Small sized but giant in courage and tenacity. Feminine version. Urban Dictionary

Directors and writers of the films

Reetta Aalto
Boudoir & Force of Habit

Maryan Abdulkarim
Dream Job

Tine Alavi
Dream Job

Alli Haapasalo
No Big Deal & Force of Habit

Ulla Heikkilä
Let Her Speak

Sonya Lindfors
Shake!

Inari Niemi
Girl Thing

Raisa Omaheimo
Fat

Anna Paavilainen
Play Rape &
Force of Habit

Kirsikka Saari
Fat, Festive Spirit &
Force of Habit

Aino Suni
Shake!

Saara Särmä
Let Her Speak

Miia Tervo
It’s All Right &
Force of Habit

Elli Toivoniemi
A Stop &
Force of Habit

Jenni Toivoniemi
Festive Spirit,
It’s All Right &
Force of Habit

REETTA AALTO
director-writer: Boudoir & Force of Habit

Reetta Aalto is a film director and screenwriter of both fiction and documentary films. Her works as a screenwriter and director include the documentary film Grey Violet – Odd One Out (2017), which premiered at the Hot Docs Film Festival, and the award-winning internet-hit animation Pussy for Beginners (2015). Her most recent directorial work is the feature comedy Laughing Matters (2020) written by Anna Ruohonen. Aalto is also a published author, her critically acclaimed debut novel Vadim came out in summer 2020.

  • Director-writer: Boudoir (orig. Buduaar). Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Director-writer: Force of Habit. (orig. Tottumiskysymys). Tuffi Films. 2019. Feature Film. 
  • Director: Fingerling (orig. Sintti). Citizen Jane Productions. 2018. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Grey Violet – Odd One Out (orig. Grey Violet – Silmätikku). Napafilms. 2017. Documentary. 
  • Director: The Inspection (orig. Mersusta seuraava). Lumo Films. 2015. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Pussy for Beginners (orig. Pillua aloittelijoille). Citizen Jane Productions. 2015. Short documentary.
  • Director-writer: Bittersweet. Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. 2012. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Guardian Angel (orig. Marja-Sisko). Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. 2010. Short documentary. 
  • Director: Paradise (orig. Paratiisi). Yleisradio (YLE). 2010. TV mini-series.
  • Director: Girls’ Night (orig. Tyttöjen ilta). Making Movies. 2008. Short film.
  • Director-writer: To Live, To Exist (orig. Elää, olla olemassa). Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. 2007. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Durochka (orig. Durotshka). Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. 2005. Short documentary. 

  • Jussi Awards
    • Nomination: Best Director, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Screenplay, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
  • Queer North Film Festival 
    • Best Documentary Short Jury Award, 2018. Grey Violet – Odd One Out (2017).
  • Animatricks
    • Winner of the National Competition, 2016. Pussy for Beginners (2015).
  • War for Clicks
    • Win, 2015. Pussy for Beginners (2015).
  • Prix Europa
    • Nomination, 2010. Paradise (2010)
  • Reikäreuna Film Festival
    • Shared 2nd Prize, 2010. Marja-Sisko (2010).
  • Tampere Film Festival
    • Audience Award, 2008. Girls’ Night (2008). 
    • Resource Award, 2008. Girls’ Night (2008).

MARYAN ABDULKARIM
writer: Dream Job

Maryan Abdulkarim is a writer and Biennale artist. Abdulkarim is a public intellectual who regularly participates in societal debates, writes columns and is a published author. Abdulkarim and Sonya Lindfors investigate dreaming and utopias in their project We Should All Be Dreaming. Abdulkarim is a member of The Miracle Workers Collective, who exhibited their work at the Venice Biennale 2019. Currently Abdulkarim is working on her Master’s Thesis in sociology at the University of Helsinki. The short film Dream Job (2019) is Abdulkarim’s debut as a screenwriter.

  • Screenwriter: Dream Job (orig. Unelmaduuni). Dir. Tine Alavi. Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: The Killing of Cacheravga. Frame Finland. 2019. Short film. 
  • Author: Noin 10 myyttiä feminismistä. 2018. Finnish Literature Society.

  • University of Helsinki Gender Studies, Christina Institute for Women’s Studies
    • Vuoden Kristiina (Annual Award), 2016
  • The Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi
    • Nuori toimija, 2014

TINE ALAVI
director: Dream Job

Tine Alavi is a director and screenwriter based in Stockholm, Sweden. She has written and directed multiple documentaries and short films including the short film Aliki (2015). Alavi has a degree in directing and production from Vancouver Film School and a bachelor in film studies from Gothenburg University, from where she continued to the masters program at Stockholm University. She is currently working on a short film together with Fembot Production written and directed by her.

  • Director: Dream Job. (orig. Unelmaduuni). Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Director-writer: TV-serien. Fembot Production and Interfem 2016. Short film.
  • Director-writer: Aliki. Fembot Productions and Interfem. 2015. Short film.
  • Director-writer: Förstår du vad jag menar. Interfem. 2015. Short film.
  • Director: Nørrebronx. Independent. 2009. Documentary.

ALLI HAAPASALO
director-writer: No Big Deal & Force of Habit

Director and writer Alli Haapasalo graduated from Aalto University’s School of Motion Picture, Television and Production Design with a 30-minute comedy The Girl Who Had No Problems (2003), which traveled well internationally. Wanting to continue studying film abroad in a vibrant film industry, Haapasalo moved to New York and began in the graduate program of New York University’s film school at Tisch School of the Arts. During ten years in New York, she wrote and directed many short films and developed several features. It was Haapasalo’s 60-minute thesis film On Thin Ice (2009), that got notice at festivals in the United States as well as Europe. This story of a lonely mercenary looking for a friend won several awards, and was nominated for Prix Europa in 2012. Haapasalo returned to Finland to make her feature debut, Love and Fury (2016), which was released in Finland in 2016 to rave reviews. Shortly after, her first feature length documentary P.O.Box 347 (2017) came out and garnered a large number of viewers on the Finnish National Broadcasting Company. In 2019 Haapasalo released television show Shadow Lines, a cold war era political drama she co-directed with A.J. Annila. Alli Haapasalo holds a Master of Fine Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts (2009), as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Aalto University’s School of Motion Picture, Television and Production Design (2003).

  • Director-writer: No Big Deal (orig. Pikku juttu). Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Director-writer: Force of Habit. (orig. Tottumiskysymys). Tuffi Films. 2019. Feature film. 
  • Director: Shadow Lines. Zodiak Finland. 2019. Drama series. 
  • Director-writer: P.O. Box 347. Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. 2017. Documentary.
  • Director-writer: Love and Fury (orig. Syysprinssi). Solar Films. 2016. Feature film. 
  • Director-writer: Hurricane, Brooklyn. Independent. 2015. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: On Thin Ice (orig. Kukkulan kuningas). Juonifilmi. 2009. TV movie.
  • Director-writer: The Appointment. New York University Tisch School of the Arts. 2006. Short film.
  • Director-writer: Dear Mom, Love James. New York University Tisch School of the Arts. 2005. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Breath. New York University Tisch School of the Arts. 2004. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: The Girl Who Had No Problems (orig. Ilona). Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. 2003. Short film. 
  • Director: Unknown City. (1 episode). Nelonen. 2002. TV Series.

  • Jussi Awards
    • Nomination: Best Director, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Screenplay, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
  • Arts Promotion Centre Finland
    • Laatutuki, 2016. Love and Fury (orig. Syysprinssi) (2016). 
  • New York Foundation for the Arts 
    • Fellowship, 2012.
  • American Scandinavian Society
    • Culture Award, 2012. 
  • Prix Europa
    • Nomination, 2012.  On Thin Ice (2009).
  • Brooklyn International Film Festival
    • Best screenplay, 2010. On Thin Ice (2009).
  • Manhattan Film Festival
    • Best Foreign Film,, 2010.  On Thin Ice (2009). 
  • Nordic Glory Film Festival
    • Main Prize, 2009.  On Thin Ice (2009). 
  • New York Foundation for the Arts 
    • Fellowship, 2007.
  • Women in Film and Television New York 
    • Fellowship finalist, 2007.
  • American Scandinavian Foundation 
    • Fellowship, 2006. 
  • Etiuda International Film Festival
    • Silver dinosaur (toinen sija), 2004. The Girl Who Had No Problems (2003). 
  • Nordic Glory Festival
    • Honorary Mention from the Jury, 2003. The Girl Who Had No Problems (2003). 
  • Nordic Glory Festival
    • Audience Award for Best Film, 2003. The Girl Who Had No Problems (2003).

ULLA HEIKKILÄ
director-writer: Let Her Speak

Ulla Heikkilä is a Helsinki-based film director and screenwriter whose first feature film Eden will premiere in 2020. Heikkilä Heikkilä studied film directing in Aalto University in Helsinki, where she graduated with a M.F.A. Heikkilä’s short films Golgotha (2016) and #Barewithme (2017) have screened at the Aspen, Palm Springs, Angers and Tampere film festivals, among many others. Heikkilä has also directed and written for television. In addition to her work in film and tv, Heikkilä has also written and directed plays and music videos. Heikkilä has acted as the vice-chairman of the Association of Finnish Film Directors SELO.

  • Director-writer: Eden. Tekele Productions, 2020. Feature film. 
  • Writer: Californian Commando. Firemonkey Oy. 2020. TV Series. 
  • Director-writer: Let Her Speak. Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Director-screenwriter: Tarinanmetsästäjät. Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. 2018. TV Series. 
  • Director: #Barewithme (orig. #Sovitus). Citizen Jane Productions. 2017. Short film.
  • Director-writer: Golgotha (orig. Golgata). Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. 2016. Short film. 
  • Writer: Hinnalla millä hyvänsä. Moskito Television. 2015. TV Series.

SONYA LINDFORS
director-writer: Shake!

Sonya Lindfors is a Helsinki based artist that works with choreography, facilitating, community organizing and education. She is the founding member and Artistic Director of UrbanApa, an inter-disciplinary and counter hegemonic arts community that offers a platform for new discourses and feminist art practices. In all her work Lindfors deals with issues of power, structures, representation and othering. Her recent series of stage works NOIR? (2013), NOBLE SAVAGE (2016) and COSMIC LATTE (2018) centralizes questions around blackness and the black body. Lindfors has been awarded with several prizes, the latest of which being the international Live Art Anti Prize 2018. During season 2017–2018 Lindfors was the house choreographer of Zodiak – Center for New Dance.

  • Director-writer: Shake! Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Choreography-concept-performance: The Miracle Workers’ Collective, Venice Biennale. 2019.
  • Director-writer: The Killing of Cacheravga. Frame Foundation. 2019. Short film.
  • Director-choreography-concept-performance: Cosmic Latte, Zodiak – Brand New Dance at the Cable Factory. 2018.
  • Concept-performance: We Should All Be Dreaming, Spring Utrecht, Bryssel ja Baltic Circle. 2018.
  • Director-writer: Noble Savage. Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. 2017.
  • Choreography: Master and Margarita. Dir. Anne Rautiainen. Finnish National Theatre. 2017. Theater Play.
  • Director-choreography-concept-performance: Noble Savage, Zodiak – Brand New Dance at the Cable Factory. 2016.
  • Concept-production: Swag Lessons – Happy Landing, UrbanApa. 2016.
  • Director-writer: Olavi Uusivirta: Mannerlaatat. 2014. Music video.
  • Director-choreography-concept-performance: Noir? Zodiak – Brand New Dance at the Cable Factory, 2013.

  • ANTI Festival
    • International Prize for Live Art, 2018
  • City of Helsinki
    • Artist of the Year, 2017.
  • TINFO (Theatre Info Finland)
    • TINFO Award
  • Tampere Dance Current Contemporary Dance Festival
    • Dance Artist of the Year, 2017.
  • Finnish Society for Aesthetics
    • The Aesthetic Deed of the Year, NOIR?  2014.
  • The national arts councils of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
    • State Prize for the Performing Arts, 2013

INARI NIEMI
director-writer: Girl Thing

Inari Niemi is a film director and screenwriter. Her most well-known feature films are Summertime (2014) and Wonderland (2017). She also directed several short films and a feature length documentary Robin – The Movie (2012). Her work aims to give a voice to young women. She studied in Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Science, graduating in 2010 and holds a BA in film directing.

  • Director-writer: Girl Thing (orig. Tyttöbileet). Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Wonderland (orig. Joulumaa). Helsinki Filmi. 2017. Feature film. 
  • Director: Summertime (orig. Kesäkaverit). Solar Films. 2014. Feature film.
  • Director-writer: Robin – The Movie. Solar Films. 2012. Documentary.
  • Director: Summer Escape (orig. Kesäpaikka). Dionysos Films. 2009. Short film.

  • Jussi Awards
    • Nominee: Best Screenplay, 2018. Wonderland (2017).

RAISA OMAHEIMO
writer: Fat

Raisa Omaheimo is an artist from Helsinki who has explored the boundaries of the private and the public in her plays Disorder and Fat. The monologue Fat (Theater Takomo, dir. Elina Kilkku) was critically praised and a hit among audiences. The monologue was performed first at theatre Takomo in 2016 and later to sold-out audiences around Finland. Omaheimo’s first novel Sydän was published in September of 2019 (publishing house S&S). Omaheimo has a Master of Arts degree from the Media Lab of University of Art and Design Helsinki (Aalto University) and degrees as a drama instructor and as a special needs teacher. The short film Fat (2019) is Raisa Omaheimo’s debut as a filmmaker

  • Fat (2019). Dir. Kirsikka Saari. Tuffi Films. Short film.
  • Sydän (2019). S&S. Fictional novel.
  • Disorder (2018). Dir. Elina Kilkku. Theater Jurkka. Theater play.
  • Fat (2016). Dir. Elina Kilkku. Theater Takomo. Theater play.

  • The Left Alliance Women
    • Pro Fenimism Award, 2016

ANNA PAAVILAINEN
director-writer: Play Rape & Force of Habit

Anna Paavilainen is a Finnish film director, screenwriter and actor. She graduated in 2006 from the Helsinki Theatre Academy and acted in the Finnish National Theatre from 2004 to 2012. While studying directing and screenwriting in Stockholm, Sweden, Paavilainen wrote the monologue Play Rape about the representations and normalisation of rape scenes on the theatre stage. Play Rape had its premiere in 2014 at the Pop Up Art House in Helsinki. Paavilainen has performed the highly acclaimed monologue in Finnish, Swedish and English. In 2016, Paavilainen co-directed the play Sinuus with Marja Salo, which dealt with subjects such as appearance pressure and the merciful gaze. Short film Two Bodies on a Beach (co-written with Laura Birn, 2019), received the International Competition’s Special Mention at Tampere Film Festival in 2019. Besides her work on and for the theater stage, Paavilainen has also acted in many Finnish films and television shows.

  • Director-writer: Play Rape. Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Director-writer: Two Bodies on a Beach (orig. Kaksi ruumista rannalla). 2019.  Oy Bufo Ab. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Mitä mietit, Ronja Salmi? Yleisradio (YLE). 2018. TV Series. 
  • Screenwriter: TA MIG. Stockholm Film School. 2015. Short film. 
  • Director: Koka över. Stockholm Film School. 2014. Short film.

  • Jussi Awards
    • Nomination: Best Director, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Screenplay, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
  • Tampere International Film Festival 
    • Special Mention (International Competition), 2019. Two Bodies on a Beach (2019).

KIRSIKKA SAARI
director-writer: Fat & Force of Habit
käsikirjoittaja: Festive Spirit

Kirsikka Saari is a screenwriter and director based in Helsinki, Finland. Her most celebrated works as a screenwriter include the Academy Award nominated short film Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (2012) and the feature film Stupid Young Heart (2018), that had its world premiere in Toronto International Film Festival and won the Crystal Bear in the Generation 14plus category in the Berlinale Film Festival the following year. Her latest work as a director includes the short fictions Super Comfort (2018) and After the Reunion (2016), that was chosen for the Future Frames at the Karlovy Vary IFF and Palm Springs Shortfest in 2017 and received a Jury’s Special Mention at the Filmschoolfest Münich. She has written the feature films Korso (2014) and children’s film Sihja – Fly With Me (2020) in collaboration with Jenni Toivoniemi. Saari has also written for television, theatre and published a novel.

  • Director-writer: Fat. (orig. Läski). Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Writer: Festive Spirit. (orig. Juhlatunnelma) Dir. Jenni Toivoniemi. Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Director-writer: Force of Habit. (orig. Tottumiskysymys). Tuffi Films. 2019. Feature film. 
  • Writer: Stupid Young Heart (orig. Hölmö nuori sydän). Dir. Selma Vilhunen. Tuffi Films, Windmill Film, Hobab. 2018. Feature film. 
  • Director-writer: Super Comfort. Tuffi Films. 2018. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: After the Reunion (orig. Luokkakokouksen jälkeen). Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. 2016. Short film. 
  • Writer: Nurses (orig. Syke), (3 episodes). Yellow Film & TV. 2014-2016. TV Series. 
  • Writer: Korso. Dir. Akseli Tuomivaara. Tuffi Films. 2014. Feature film. 
  • Writer: Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (orig. Pitääkö mun kaikki hoitaa?) Dir. Selma Vilhunen. Tuffi Films. 2012. Short film. 
  • Writer: Paratiisi. (2 episodes). Yleisradio (YLE). 2010. TV Mini-Series.
  • Writer: Gorilla. Dir. Hanna Bergholm. Periferia Productions Ky. 2009. Short film.

  • Jussi Awards
    • Nomination: Best Director, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Screenplay, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    •  Best screenplay. 2019. Stupid Young Heart (2018).
  • Nordic Co-production and Finance Market Haugesund
    • Best Project Award, 2018. One-Off Incident (x10) (2019).
  • Academy Awards
    • Nominee: Best Short Film, Live Action, 2014. Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (2012).

AINO SUNI
director-writer: Shake!

Aino Suni is a film director and screenwriter based in Helsinki, who directs both fictional and documentary films. Suni has obtained a master’s degree in screenwriting from the University of Salford, UK in 2014. Suni’s short films Turnaround (2015) and Wolf Carver (2012) have been chosen for several international film festivals, including Sarajevo Film Festival and Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. Suni’s feature-length documentary Never Again (2018) premiered at the Helsinki International Film Festival in sold out screenings and the film was chosen for the national competition at the Tampere Film Festival. Besides film, Suni also works in the fields of music videos and photography. Suni bases her work on values like respecting and listening to others. In her spare time, she enjoys petting cats and going nuts for dancing.

  • Director-writer: Pussydiaries. Sons of Lumiere. 2019. Short film series.
  • Director-writer: Never Again (orig.  Ei koskaan enää). Tuffi Films. 2018. Documentary. 
  • Director-writer: #ThisIsMe. Tuffi Films. 2017. Short film series.
  • Director: Whistle in the Dark (orig. Niin metsä vastaa). Wacky Tie Films. 2016. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Next Level. (orig. Seuraava taso). Wacky Tie Films. 2015. Short film.
  • Director-writer: Turnaround (orig. Kääntöpaikka). Made. 2015. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Wolf Carver (orig. Sudenveistäjä). Tampere University of Applied Sciences: School of Art & Media. 2012. Short film.

  • EURIMAGES (European Cinema Support Fund)
    • Eurimages Co-Production Development Award, 2018. A Girl’s Room (in development)
  • Aubagne International Film Festival
    • Nominee: Best Short Film – Fiction, 2012. Wolf Carver (2012)
  • Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
    • Nominee: Grand Prix, 2012. Wolf Carver (2012)
  • Potsdam Sehsüchte
    • Nominee: Audience Award, 2012. Wolf Carver (2012)

SAARA SÄRMÄ
writer: Let Her Speak!

Dr. Saara Särmä is a feminist, an activist, an artist and a researcher. She has worked as a researcher at the Finnish National Defence University and Tampere University. Her academic interests include memes, politics of visuality and image circulation, and laughter in world politics. Saara is the creator of Congrats, you have an all male panel! blog and co-founder of the Feminist Think Tank Hattu, which has empowered numerous women in Schools of Daring and Cursing Soirées. In her artistic work, Saara is engaged in several projects aiming at countering the effects of hate mail and online misogyny. Särmä has presented her artwork (collages and installations) at exhibitions in conjunction with academic conferences and at the Mänttä Art Festival in 2018. The short film Let Her Speak (2019) is Saara Särmä’s debut as a filmmaker. She is committed to making both academia and the world kinder and better places.

Columnist for national media:
Yleisradio, Aamulehti and Kansan Uutiset.

Main academic publications:

2019. “Collaging as an emancipatory pedagogical tool”
in Strausz Erzsebet, Shine Choi, & Anna Selmeczi (eds.) Critical Methods in Studying World Politics: Creativity and Transformation. New York: Routledge, Interventions series.

2019 with Anni Kangas, Daria Krivonos, and Inna Perheentupa “Smashing containers, queering the international through collaging”. International Feminist Journal of Politics 21(3), pp. 355–382. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616742.2018.1535249

2018. “Collaging visual digital security spectacles” in Vuori, Juha & Rune Saugmann Andersen (eds.) Visual Security Studies – Sights and Spectacles of Insecurity and War. Routledge, New Security series pp. 150-171.

2017. “Nuclear wannabes and the worldly relevance of artistic methods” in a forum “A Bridge too far”? On the scholarly impact of worldly relevance for International Relations edited by Andrew Hom. International Studies Review.

2016. “Congrats, you have an all male panel! A personal narrative” International Feminist Journal of Politics18(3).

2016 with Marjaana Jauhola. “Reflecting Realities and Creating Utopias – Early Career Feminists (Un)Doing International Relations in Finland” inGodoy-Pressland, Amy & Rachel Thwaites (eds.) Feminist Beginnings: Being an Early Career Feminist Academic in a Changing Academy. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

2014. Doctoral dissertation Junk feminism and nuclear wannabes – collaging parodies of Iran and North Korea. Acta Universitatis Tamperensis: 1961. Tampere University Press.

  • University of Helsinki Gender Studies, Christina Institute for Women’s Studies
    • Vuoden Kristiina (Annual Award), 2018. 
  • ProCom (the Finnish Association of Communications Professionals)
    • Communication Achievement Award, 2016.
  • University of Tampere Gender Studies
    • Kunniafloora (Annual Award), 2016
  • School of Management, University of Tampere
    • Achievement of the Year Award, 2015.

MIIA TERVO
director-writer: It’s All Right & Force of Habit

The awarded director Miia Tervo grew up in Lapland, Finland. Her short films The Seal (2006), The Little Snow Animal (2009), Santra and the Talking Trees (2013), Clumsy Little Acts of Tenderness (2015) circulated around the world’s festivals such as Idfa and The Little Snow Animal got an EFA nomination among other prices. Tervo‘s debut fiction feature Aurora (2019) was a critical success. It premiered as an opening film of Gothenburg Film Festival and has been selected to SXSW South by Southwest and is currently touring festivals. In addition to Finland, Aurora is having its theatrical release for example in Estonia and in Australia and is distributed by Level K.

  • Director-writer: It’s All Right (orig. Ei mitään hätää). Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Director-writer. Force of Habit (orig. Tottumiskysymys). Tuffi Films. 2019. Feature film.
  • Director-writer: Aurora. Dionysos Films. 2019. Feature film. 
  • Director-writer: Clumsy Little Acts of Tenderness (orig. Pieniä kömpelöitä hellyydenosoituksia). Mjölk Movies. 2015. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Santra and the Talking Trees. (orig. Santra ja puhuvat puut.) For Real Productions. 2013. Documentary. 
  • Director: The Little Snow Animal (orig. Lumikko). Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. 2009. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: The Seal (orig. Hylje). Turku University of Applied Sciences. 2005. Short documentary. 

  • Jussi Awards
    • Nomination: Best Director, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Screenplay, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Director, 2020. Aurora (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Screenplay, 2020. Aurora (2019)
  • Kaliningrad International Film Festival
    • Best Director Debut, 2019. Aurora (2019).
  • Edinburgh International Film Festival
    • Best International Feature Film, 2019. Aurora (2019).
  • Nordisk Panorama
    • Honorary mention, 2014. Santra and the Talking Trees (2013).
  • Cairo International Film Festival
    • Best student film, 2014. Santra and the Talking Trees (2013).
  • Pelecam
    • Grand Prix, 2014. Santra and the Talking Trees (2013).
  • Palms Springs International ShortFest
    • Best Documentary (Student Award), 2010. The Little Snow Animal (2009).
  • European Film Academy
    • Nomination for Best Short Film, 2010. The Little Snow Animal  (2009).
  • Grimstad
    • Main Prize, 2010. The Little Snow Animal  (2009).
  • Minimalen
    • Best Nordic Film, 2010. The Little Snow Animal  (2009).
  • Tampere International Film Festival. 
    • Prize of the Youth Jury (Finnish Short Film Under 30 Minutes), 2016. Clumsy Little Acts of Tenderness (2015).
    • Diploma of Merit – National Competition (Finnish Short Film Under 30 Minutes), 2014. Santra and the Talking Trees (2013).
    • Best European Short Film, 2010. The Little Snow Animal (2009).
    • Grand Prix, 2010. The Little Snow Animal (2009).
    • Main Prize (Finnish Short Film Under 30 Minutes), 2010. The Little Snow Animal (2009).
    • Main Prize (Finnish Short Film Under 30 Minutes), 2006. The Seal (2005).

ELLI TOIVONIEMI
director-producer-writer: A Stop & Force of Habit
producer: all short films

Elli Toivoniemi is an award-winning producer-director from production company Tuffi Films based in Helsinki, Finland. She is a producer and co-founder-owner of the company, and behind acclaimed films like the Academy Award nominated short fiction Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (2012). Her filmography as a producer includes over 20 films in all forms and lengths. Films produced by her have been awarded at festivals for instance at Sundance and Chicago, latest of which was Stupid Young Heart (2018) that won the Crystal Bear at the Berlinale Film Festival. Her first short fiction film as director, Role, had its world premiere in Locarno International Film Festival in 2014, and her documentary film director debut Once I Was a Dragonfly won the Critics Choice Award in Docpoint film festival in January 2017. Games People Play, a feature film produced by Toivoniemi, will premiere in 2020.

  • Producer: Games People Play (orig. Seurapeli). Dir. Jenni Toivoniemi. Tuffi Films. 2020. Feature film. 
  • Producer: No Big Deal, Boudoir, Play Rape, Girl Thing, Fat, Festive Spirit, It’s All Right, Dream Job, Shake!, Let Her Speak. Tuffi Films. 2019. Short films.
  • Director-producer-writer: A Stop (orig. Pysäkki). Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film.
  • Director-producer-writer: Force of Habit. (orig. Tottumiskysymys). Tuffi Films. 2019. Feature film. 
  • Producer: Stupid Young Heart (orig. Hölmö nuori sydän). Dir. Selma Vilhunen. Tuffi Films, Windmill Film, Hobab. 2018. Feature film. 
  • Producer: Never Again (orig. Ei koskaan enää). Dir. Aino Suni. Tuffi Films. 2018. Documentary. 
  • Producer: Hobbyhorse Revolution. Dir. Selma Vilhunen. Tuffi Films, Bautafilm. 2017. Documentary. 
  • Co-producer: Land of the Free. Dir. Camilla Magid. Final Cut for Real, Tuffi Films. 2017. Documentary. 
  • Director-producer-screenwriter: Once I was a Dragonfly (orig. Kesäni sudenkorentona). Tuffi Films. 2016. Documentary film. 
  • Producer: The Committee (orig. Kommittén). Dir. Gunhild Enger, Jenni Toivoniemi. Ape & Bjørn, Kjellson & Wik, Tuffi Films. 2016. Short film.
  • Producer: Momentum. Dir. Anna Antsalo. Tuffi Films. 2015. Short documentary.
  • Director-producer-writer: Role (orig. Rooli). Dir. Jenni Tuli. Tuffi Films. 2014. Short Film. 
  • Producer: Song (orig. Laulu). Dir. Selma Vilhunen. Tuffi Films. 2014. Documentary.
  • Producer: Korso. Dir. Akseli Tuomivaara. Tuffi Films. 2014. Feature film. 
  • Producer: Cat Trap (orig. Kissanloukku). Dir. Maija Hirvonen. Tuffi Films. 2014. Short documentary. 
  • Producer: The Date (orig. Treffit). Dir. Jenni Toivoniemi. Tuffi Films. 2012. Short film. 
  • Producer: Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (orig. Pitääkö mun kaikki hoitaa?) Dir. Selma Vilhunen. Tuffi Films. 2012. Short film. 
  • Producer: The Good Son. (orig. Hyvä poika). Dir. Zaida Bergroth. Bufo. 2011. Feature film.

  • Jussi Awards
    • Nomination: Best Film, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Director, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Screenplay, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
  • Berlin International Film Festival.
    • Generation 14plus – Crystal Bear, 2019. Stupid Young Heart (2018). 
  • DocPoint 
    • The Critics Choice Award, 2017. Once I Was a Dragonfly (2016).
  • Bergen International Film Festival
    • Best Norwegian Short Film, 2016. The Committee (2016).  
  • Academy Awards 
    • Nominee: Best Short Film, Live Action, 2014. Producer. Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (2012). 
  • The Nordic Council Film Prize
    • Nominee, 2011. The Good Son (2011).

JENNI TOIVONIEMI
director-writer: Festive Spirit & Force of Habit
writer: It’s All Right

Jenni Toivoniemi is a writer-director. Toivoniemi’s debut as a director, short comedy The Date (2012), won several awards including International Short Fiction Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival and a Special Mention at the Berlinale Generation 14+ in 2013. She has directed several short films, of which The Committee (2016), written and directed together with the Norwegian Gunhild Enger, premiered in Locarno 2016 and The Door (2017) was selected for the national competition of the Tampere Film Festival in 2017. Toivoniemi has also written theatre plays, an audio play and a feature film Korso (2014) together with Kirsikka Saari. Their latest collaboration, children’s film Sihja – Fly With Me, will premiere in 2020, as well as her feature film Games People Play.

  • Director-writer: Games People Play (orig. Seurapeli). Tuffi Films. 2020. Feature film. 
  • Screenwriter: It’s All Right (orig. Ei mitään hätää). Dir. Miia Tervo. Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Festive Spirit. (orig. Juhlatunnelma ). Tuffi Films. 2019. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: Force of Habit. (orig. Tottumiskysymys). Tuffi Films. 2019. Feature film. 
  • Director-writer: The Door (orig. Ovi). Aamu Filmcompany. 2017. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: The Committee (orig. Kommittén). Dir. Gunhild Enger. Ape & Bjørn, Film i Väst, Kjellson & Wik See. 2016. Short film. 
  • Writer: Korso. Dir. Akseli Tuomivaara. Tuffi Films. 2014. Feature film. 
  • Director-writer: Wedding Night (orig. Hääyö). Tuffi Films. 2014. Short film. 
  • Director-writer: The Date (orig. Treffit). Tuffi Films. 2012. Short film. 
  • Writer: Gorilla. Dir. Hanna Bergholm. Periferia Productions Ky. 2009. Short film.

  • Jussi Awards
    • Nomination: Best Director, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
    • Nomination: Best Screenplay, 2020. Force of Habit (2019)
  • Minimalen
    • Honorable Mention, 2017. The Committee (2016).
  • Bergen International Film Festival
    • Best Norwegian Short Film, 2016. The Committee (2016).   
  • Berlin International Film Festival
    • Generation 14plus – Best Short Film (Crystal Bear – special mention), 2013. The Date (2012). 
  •  Sundance Film Festival
    • Short Film Jury Prize, 2013. The Date (2012).