05/02/2009

The animated film Niko and the Way to the Stars [+see also:
trailer
film profile], co-produced with Denmark, Germany and Ireland, made history last Sunday at Finland’s annual film prizes, the Jussi Awards, by winning Best Film and Best Screenplay.

After conquering the world, the Finnish film co-directed by Michael Hegner and Kari Juusonen seduced its peers at Filmiaura, the association of Finnish film professionals, who for the first time ever gave top Jussi honours to an animated film.

“This is a historical moment as Niko is by all means a mainstream movie, family entertainment and a children’s film,” said producer Hannu Tuomainen, who shared the producing credit with Petteri Pasanen, and the scriptwriting Jussi with Marteinn Thorisson. “Maybe times are changing and the false wall between art and entertainment is being torn down stone by stone.”

The other major winner of the evening in Helsinki was Dome Karukoski’s Home of the Dark Butterflies [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which picked up four Jussis: Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Pertti Sveholm) Best Editing (Harri Ylonen) and the Audience Award.

Romantic drama Falling Angels won three Jussis for its performances by Tommi Korpela (Best Actor), Elena Leeve (Best Actress) and Elina Knihtilä (Best Supporting Actress). AJ Annila’s horror film Sauna [+see also:
trailer
film profile] took home Best Production Design (Antti Nikkinen, Ville Vauras, Vladimir Dvorak), Best Costume Design (Anna Vilppunen) and Best Sound Design (Panu Riikonen, Vesa Merilainen).

Aku Louhimies’ historic drama Tears of April picked up a Jussi for Best Cinematography (Rauno Ronkainen), John Webster’s Recipes for Disaster Best Documentary and last year’s biggest local hit, the family film Ricky Rapper, won Best Music (Risto Räppääjä)