Never stop betting on the underdog: Lauri-Matti Parppei’s debut feature, A Light That Never Goes Out [+leggi anche:
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As revealed on 20 March, during a gala also attended by Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, Parppei was also awarded Directing of the Year, Best Scriptwriting and Best Music. That wasn’t the end of it, though – Samuel Kujala was named Lead Actor of the Year, with his partner in crime, Anna Rosaliina Kauno, praised for Breakthrough Role of the Year. Finally, Sound Design of the Year went to Juuso Oksala and Yngve Leidulv Saetre.

The film, produced by Ilona Tolmunen for Elokuvatuotantoyhtiö Made, world-premiered in ACID at Cannes. It sees a young flautist – once deemed a genius – going through a massive breakdown. His concerned parents ship him off to their sleepy town, but he can’t really count on soothing silence to calm his nerves. Instead, a new friend (and old schoolmate) introduces him to the glorious noise of experimental music-making.

While arguably the biggest, A Light That Never Goes Out wasn’t the only star in the room. Teemu Nikki’s high-proof comedy 100 Liters of Gold [+leggi anche:
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scheda film], which set the local box office on fire and is readying for a US remake, left with the Ensemble of the Year Award for Pirjo Lonka and Elina Knihtilä, who picked up the Nordisk Film Award as well. Ville Tiihonen, also acting in the film, was crowned Best Supporting Actor. The film sees two sisters in a bit of a pickle – after agreeing to provide their famous homemade beer for a wedding, they wake up only to realise they have actually drunk it all. Horribly hungover, not to mention desperate, they have no time to lose to replace it. 100 Liters of Gold was Finland’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film – Nikki’s second pick after 2017’s Euthanizer [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Teemu Nikki
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The Helsinki Effect [+leggi anche:
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Arguably the bloodiest film of the bunch, Sisu: Road to Revenge, was rewarded for its make-up (Salla Yli-Luopa) and visual effects (Jussi Lehtiniemi), while director Jalmari Helander emerged with the International Breakthrough Award. Genre master Helander previously delivered Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale [+leggi anche:
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Eugen Tamberg won Costume Design of the Year for Never Alone [+leggi anche:
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scheda film]. Acclaimed actor Sherwan Haji made his mark as a director, as My Name Is Hope was named Best Short of the Year.

Other prizes included the Lifetime Achievement Concrete Jussi for Jussi Mäkelä, the Audience Award for the comedy Cancel by Tuukka Temonen and the Heroic Deed of the Year title for Laura Sutinen, who hosted various international productions filming in Finland. A heroic deed, indeed.

The Jussis are the oldest national film award in Europe, first given out back in 1944.

Here is the full list of winners:

Film of the Year
A Light That Never Goes Out [+leggi anche:
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Directing of the Year
Lauri-Matti Parppei – A Light That Never Goes Out

Ensemble of the Year
Pirjo Lonka, Elina Knihtilä – 100 Liters of Gold [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Teemu Nikki
scheda film] (Finland/Italy)

Lead Actor of the Year
Samuel Kujala – A Light That Never Goes Out

Supporting Actor of the Year
Ville Tiihonen – 100 Liters of Gold

Breakthrough Role of the Year
Anna Rosaliina Kauno – A Light That Never Goes Out

Scriptwriting of the Year
Lauri-Matti Parppei – A Light That Never Goes Out

Cinematography of the Year
Max Smeds – Orenda [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Pirjo Honkasalo
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Music of the Year
Lauri-Matti Parppei – A Light That Never Goes Out

Sound Design of the Year
Juuso Oksala, Yngve Leidulv Saetre – A Light That Never Goes Out

Editing of the Year
Markus Leppälä, Arthur Franck – The Helsinki Effect [+leggi anche:
intervista: Arthur Franck
scheda film] (Finland/Germany/Norway)

Production Design of the Year
Vilja Katramo, Okku Rahikainen – Raptures [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (Sweden/Finland)

Costume Design of the Year
Eugen Tamberg – Never Alone [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (Finland/Estonia/Austria/Germany/Sweden)

Make-up Design of the Year
Salla Yli-Luopa – Sisu: Road to Revenge (UK/Finland/USA)

Visual Effects of the Year
Jussi Lehtiniemi – Sisu: Road to Revenge

Documentary Film of the Year
The Helsinki Effect - Arthur Franck

Short Film of the Year
My Name Is Hope - Sherwan Haji (Finland, short film)

Lifetime Achievement Concrete Jussi Award
Jussi Mäkelä

Heroic Deed of the Year
Laura Sutinen

International Breakthrough
Jalmari Helander

Winner of the Audience Vote
Cancel – Tuukka Temonen (Finland)

Nordisk Film Award
Elina Knihtilä, Pirjo Lonka