Einari Paakkanen
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.
Credits
Newest first
Puolanka Pussy RallyDirector2026- Puolanka Pussy RallyEditor2026
- Invisible EnemyDirector2026
Forgetting LeninDirector2024
Karaoke ParadiseDirector2022- Karaoke ParadiseEditor2022
- Karaoke ParadiseWriter2022
Games People PlayLocation Scout2020- Cross-countryDirector2019
My Father from Siriusas Himself2016- Where Is Thon?Director2016
- Where Is Thon?Animation2016
- Where Is Thon?Writer2016
- Where Is Thon?Editor2016
- My Father from SiriusDirector2016
- My Father from SiriusWriter2016
- My Father from SiriusScreenplay2016
- Promised LandCo-Writer2015
Permanent TogetherWriter2013
Dirty BombLocation Manager2011
PrincessLocation Manager2010
Gimme Some RespectLocation Manager2010- The Finest and the GreatestAssistant Editor2008
- Girls' NightAssistant Editor2008
Black IceAssistant Editor2007