Aki Kaurismäki
Directing
Aki Olavi Kaurismäki (Finnish: [ˈɑki ˈkɑu̯rismæki]; born April 4,1957; Orimattila) is a Finnish film director, screenwriter, producer, editor and actor. He is best known for the award-winning Drifting Clouds (1996), The Man Without a Past (2002), Le Havre (2011), The Other Side of Hope (2017) and Fallen Leaves (2023), as well as for the mockumentary Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989). He is described as Finland's best-known film director. He is the younger brother of director and screenwriter Mika Kaurismäki. After graduating in media studies from the University of Tampere, Kaurismäki worked as a bricklayer, postman, and dish-washer, long before pursuing his interest in cinema, first as a critic, and later as a screenwriter & director. He started his career as a co-screenwriter and actor in films made by his older brother, Mika Kaurismäki. He played the main role in Mika's film The Liar (1981). Together they founded the production company Villealfa Filmproductions and later the Midnight Sun Film Festival. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment (1983), an adaptation of Dostoyevsky's novel set in modern Helsinki. He gained worldwide attention with Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989). Kaurismäki's film Ariel (1988) was entered into the 16th Moscow International Film Festival where it won the Prix FIPRESCI. Kaurismäki's most acclaimed film has been The Man Without a Past, which won the Grand Prix and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 2003. However, Kaurismäki refused to attend the Oscar ceremony, asserting that he did not feel like partying in a country that was in a state of war. Kaurismäki's next film, Lights in the Dusk, was also chosen to be Finland's nominee for best foreign-language film, but Kaurismäki again boycotted the awards and refused the nomination, as a protest against U.S. President George W. Bush's foreign policy. In 2002 Kaurismäki also boycotted the 40th New York Film Festival in a show of solidarity with the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, who was not given a US visa in time for the festival. Kaurismäki's 2017 film The Other Side of Hope won the Silver Bear for Best Director award at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. At the same festival he also announced that it would be his last film, although the retirement was short-lived as he began filming Fallen Leaves in 2022, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
Known for
Directing35
movieFallen Leaves
2023
Director
movieThe Other Side of Hope
2017
Director
movieDirty Hands
2015
Director
movieHistoric Centre
2012
Director
movieTavern Man
2012
Director
movieLe Havre
2011
Director
movieTo Each His Own Cinema
2007
Director
movieThe Foundry
2007
Director
movieLights in the Dusk
2006
Director
movieVisions of Europe
2004
Director
movieBico
2004
Director
movieDogs Have No Hell
2002
Director
movieThe Man Without a Past
2002
Director
movieJuha
1999
Director
movieDrifting Clouds
1996
Director
movieIron Horsemen
1995
Assistant Director
movieTotal Balalaika Show
1994
Director
movieLa Vie de Bohème
1992
Director
movieThe Match Factory Girl
1990
Director
movieAriel
1988
Director
movieHamlet Goes Business
1987
Director
movieShadows in Paradise
1986
Director
movieRocky VI
1986
Director
movieCalamari Union
1985
Director
movieThe Clan: Tale of the Frogs
1984
Assistant Director
movieCrime and Punishment
1983
Director
movieThe Worthless
1982
Assistant Director
movieJackpot 2
1982
Assistant Director
movieThe Saimaa Gesture
1981
Director
Production42
movieFallen Leaves
2023
Producer
movieThe Other Side of Hope
2017
Producer
movieHistoric Centre
2012
Producer
movieTavern Man
2012
Producer
movieLe Havre
2011
Producer
movieBarzakh
2011
Producer
movieBad Family
2010
Producer
movieJeanne d'Arc
2009
Producer
movieTo Each His Own Cinema
2007
Producer
movieLights in the Dusk
2006
Producer
movieVisions of Europe
2004
Producer
movieBico
2004
Producer
movieDogs Have No Hell
2002
Producer
movieThe Man Without a Past
2002
Producer
movieThe Classic
2001
Producer
movieA Stone Left Unturned
2000
Producer
movieJuha
1999
Producer
movieVaiennut kylä
1997
Producer
movieDrifting Clouds
1996
Producer
movieIron Horsemen
1995
Producer
movieTotal Balalaika Show
1994
Producer
movieOur Father…
1993
Producer
movieRipa Hits the Skids
1993
Producer
movieThe Prodigal Son
1992
Producer
movieShit Happens
1992
Producer
movieLa Vie de Bohème
1992
Producer
movieThe Match Factory Girl
1990
Producer
movieAriel
1988
Producer
movieHamlet Goes Business
1987
Producer
movieTilinteko
1987
Producer
movieMacbeth
1987
Producer
movieRocky VI
1986
Producer
movieCalamari Union
1985
Producer
movieThe Saimaa Gesture
1981
Producer
Writing38
movieFallen Leaves
2023
Writer
movieDirty Hands
2015
Writer
movieHistoric Centre
2012
Screenplay
movieTavern Man
2012
Writer
movieLe Havre
2011
Writer
movieCalamari Union
2008
Writer
movieThe Foundry
2007
Writer
movieBico
2004
Writer
movieJuha
1999
Screenplay
movieDrifting Clouds
1996
Writer
movieLeningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
1994
Story, Screenplay
movieLa Vie de Bohème
1992
Screenplay
movieI Hired a Contract Killer
1990
Screenplay, Story
movieLeningrad Cowboys Go America
1989
Screenplay, Story
movieAriel
1988
Writer
movieHamlet Goes Business
1987
Screenplay
movieTilinteko
1987
Writer
movieRocky VI
1986
Writer
movieRosso
1985
Dialogue
movieCalamari Union
1985
Writer
movieThe Clan: Tale of the Frogs
1984
Screenplay
movieCrime and Punishment
1983
Screenplay
movieThe Worthless
1982
Dialogue, Writer
movieJackpot 2
1982
Writer
movieThe Liar
1981
Writer
Acting32
movieAki and Peter
2018
Himself
moviePlankton Salesmen
2017
Self (archive footage)
movieCritic
2008
Self
movieAaltra
2004
Aaltra's Boss
movieLéaud l'unique
2001
Self - filmmaker
movieIron Horsemen
1995
Cadillac Man
movieLeningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
1994
Factory Worker Imitating Chaplin (uncredited)
movieShit Happens
1992
Estonian
movieI Hired a Contract Killer
1990
Sunglasses Seller (uncredited)
movieShadows in Paradise
1986
Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)
movieRocky VI
1986
Magazine Photographer
movieYlösnousemus
1985
Taksikuski
movieCalamari Union
1985
Hearse Driver (uncredited)
movieHuhtikuu on kuukausista julmin
1983
Ville Alfa
movieThe Worthless
1982
Ville Alfa
movieThe Saimaa Gesture
1981
Self - Interviewer (uncredited)
movieThe Liar
1981
Ville Alfa
Editing17
movieHistoric Centre
2012
Editor
movieTavern Man
2012
Editor
movieThe Foundry
2007
Editor
movieJuha
1999
Editor
movieDrifting Clouds
1996
Editor
movieShit Happens
1992
Editor
movieRocky VI
1986
Editor
movieCalamari Union
1985
Editor
Crew4
Art2
movieThe Worthless
1982
Production Design
movieJackpot 2
1982
Production Design
Lighting2
movieRosso
1985
Gaffer
Costume & Make-Up1
movieJackpot 2
1982
Costume Design
Sound1
movieMorena
1986
Production Sound Mixer
Visual Effects1
movieJackpot 2
1982
Smoke Artist