24/03/2025 - Tiina Lymi’s box-office-smashing period drama has picked up six of Finland’s national awards, including Best Film

Director Tiina Lymi (centre) and her producers Markus Selin and Hanna Virolainen with one of their awards for Stormskerry Maja (© lucasekblade/henrijuvonen)

Tiina Lymi’s period drama Stormskerry Maja [+see also:
film review
film profile], a rare case of a box-office winner which also managed to charm the critics, has emerged as the anticipated – and the biggest – winner of the Jussi Awards, the most glamorous night in Finnish cinema. Or perhaps the only glamorous night in Finnish cinema.

A touching love story about a young girl who marries against her will in the 19th century, only to find a caring, devoted partner in her fisherman husband – based on books by Anni Blomqvist – was named Best Film and earned Lymi the Best Director gong, acknowledging her long actor-turned-director journey. The audience also chose the film as its favourite, and rather fittingly, too, given that they showed up in cinemas in droves (see the news), putting Stormskerry Maja ahead of Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. “Thank you, Finnish culture – let’s keep it alive together. It’s important,” she said.

While some of the presenters also kept referring to the difficulties facing the local film industry, as well as the ruthless cultural cuts, “It’s good to remember that our audiences appreciate domestic films: we are at the top of the Nordic countries in terms of audience share for domestic theatrical films,” said Emma Ilves, chairwoman of Filmiaura Association, overseeing the awards.

A new statuette – for Best Ensemble – went to the actors from the low-to-no-budget charmer Apple Thieves, directed by Samppa Batal, where a group of friends try to heal their companion’s broken heart. First with booze, and then by letting him roam the streets of Helsinki with a girl who might actually like him for who he is – played by Satu Tuuli Karhu, who scored her second Best Supporting Role Jussi.

Finally, the documentary Once Upon a Time in a Forest [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Virpi Suutari
film profile] not only triumphed in its specific category; it was also awarded the much-lusted-over Nordisk Film Award, coming with €20,000, going straight to director Virpi Suutari and cinematographer Teemu Liakka. The separate jury for this award included Anna Dahlman, Konsta Sohlberg, Manna Katajisto, and directors Selma Vilhunen and Ville Jankeri, who deadpanned before announcing the winner: “Our jury saw each of the 38 films that were released in cinemas in 2024. This makes for about 60 hours, or 3,600 minutes. Those are minutes of our lives we will never get back.” Vilhunen said of Once Upon a Time in a Forest: “Every moment of the film speaks about the same connection – we are all part of a larger whole, whether we are humans or plants, large or small.”

Virpi Suutari told Cineuropa: “I think the film resonated for two reasons. While watching, people probably felt the urgency to protect more of our forests. I also believe they were mesmerised by the beauty of nature, the cinematography and the brave young activists in the film. What made me especially happy was that the main cinematographer, Teemu Liakka, was rewarded as well. In documentary, unlike in fiction, cinematographers don’t have big crews around. Teemu has incredible multitasking skills, and he kept his patience in challenging conditions.”

Miia Tervo’s The Missile [+see also:
trailer
film profile], My Name Is Dingo [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Mari Rantasila (about one of the most successful Finnish bands of all time), Shadowland [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Otso Tiainen and Snot and Splash by Teemu Nikki were also noticed, as was Veera Lamminpää’s short Fish River Anthology, fresh off wins at Tampere. Stuntman Reijo “Reka” Kontio, considered a pioneer in his field, was recognised with the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award.

Here is the full list of this year’s winners:

Best Film
Stormskerry Maja [+see also:
film review
film profile] – Tiina Lymi

Best Director
Tiina Lymi - Stormskerry Maja

Best Leading Role
Amanda Jansson - Stormskerry Maja

Best Supporting Role
Satu Tuuli Karhu - Apple Thieves

Best Newcomer in Acting
Saku Taittonen - My Name Is Dingo [+see also:
film review
film profile]

Best Script
Miia Tervo - The Missile [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Finland/Estonia)

Best Cinematography
Teemu Liakka - Once Upon a Time in a Forest [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Virpi Suutari
film profile]

Best Music
Lauri Porra - Stormskerry Maja

Best Sound Design
Svante Colérus - Shadowland [+see also:
film review
film profile]

Best Editing
Joona Louhivuori - Stormskerry Maja

Best Set Design
Otso Linnalaakso - Stormskerry Maja

Best Costume Design
Kirsi Gum - The Missile

Best Make-up Design
Nora Pippingsköld - My Name Is Dingo

Best Documentary
Once Upon a Time in a Forest – Virpi Suutari

Best Short Film
Fish River Anthology - Veera Lamminpää

Audience Award
Stormskerry Maja - Tiina Lymi

Best Ensemble
Joel Hirvonen, Satu Tuuli Karhu, Antti Autio, Sami Lalou, Alex Anton, Isla Mustanoja, Esa-Matti Smolander, Asta Sveholm, Mikko Kouki - Apple Thieves

Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award (Concrete Jussi)
Stunt coordinator Reijo Kontio

Diploma for Visual Effects
Tuomo Hintikka – Snot and Splash (Finland/Poland)

Nordisk Film Foundation Award
Virpi Suutari, Teemu Liakka - Once Upon a Time in a Forest