Einari Paakkanen
Born: 1980-01-16 in Jämsä, Finland
Known For: Directing
Biography
Einari Paakkanen is an award-winning filmmaker known for his warm, intimate, and human-centered storytelling. His films have been screened internationally at major festivals including CPH:DOX, Sheffield DocFest, and Visions du Réel. His film KARAOKE PARADISE was shortlisted for the Best Documentary at the European Film Awards and won the Jussi Award for Best Finnish Documentary. Einari holds an MA in Documentary Directing from ESCAC in Barcelona and has participated in programs such as IDFAcademy, Twelve for the Future, Ice & Fire, MFI’s Script2Film, and Berlinale Talents. In addition to directing, he has also worked as an editor, sound recordist, teacher, and festival programmer. He has served on the boards of the Finnish Documentary Guild and DocPoint ry. His latest co-directed short documentary, PUOLANKA PUSSY RALLY (2026) won the Special Prize and The European Short Film Audience Award the Tampere Film Festival.
Filmography
2026
- Invisible Enemy ... (Director)
- Puolanka Pussy Rally ... (Director)
2024
- Forgetting Lenin ... (Director)
2022
- Karaoke Paradise ... (Director)
2020
- Games People Play ... (Location Scout)
2019
- Cross-country ... (Director)
2016
- My Father from Sirius as Himself
- Where Is Thon? ... (Director)
2015
- Promised Land ... (Co-Writer)
2013
- Permanent Together ... (Writer)
2011
- Dirty Bomb ... (Location Manager)
2010
- Gimme Some Respect ... (Location Manager)
- Princess ... (Location Manager)
2008
- Girls' Night ... (Assistant Editor)
- The Finest and the Greatest ... (Assistant Editor)
2007
- Black Ice ... (Assistant Editor)