Visa Koiso-Kanttila

The region of Lake Turkana, located in Kenya and Ethiopia, is considered to be “the Cradle of Humankind”. Among other finds, primate fossils from millions of years ago have been discovered in the region. But what about the region’s modern inhabitants and their relationship to their environment? Iiris Härmä, whose previous work includes the award-winning Leaving Africa, had the chance of joining Helsinki University’s researchers, Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares and Mar Cabeza, on their pre-pandemic trip to study the Daasanach people’s relationship to their environment through traditional animal tales. The researchers hope that storytelling would help to bridge the gap between people’s everyday lives and conservation efforts.

The region of Lake Turkana, located in Kenya and Ethiopia, is considered to be “the Cradle of Humankind”. Among other finds, primate fossils from millions of years ago have been discovered in the region. But what about the region’s modern inhabitants and their relationship to their environment? Iiris Härmä, whose previous work includes the award-winning Leaving Africa, had the chance of joining Helsinki University’s researchers, Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares and Mar Cabeza, on their pre-pandemic trip to study the Daasanach people’s relationship to their environment through traditional animal tales. The researchers hope that storytelling would help to bridge the gap between people’s everyday lives and conservation efforts.

Through the eyes of two 12-year-old boys, the sexual revolution arrives in a conservative and religious small town in Northern Finland.

Through the eyes of two 12-year-old boys, the sexual revolution arrives in a conservative and religious small town in Northern Finland.

Riitta and Catherine live together in Uganda. By day the two sixtysomethings provide sexual health and equality education for Catholics, Muslims and Anglicans alike. By night they smoke, do crosswords and don’t shy away from frank discussions. Riitta's long career empowering women in Africa is coming to a close, but Ugandan government is trying their best to shut down their sex-ed program during her last months in Africa.

A rough but beautiful documentary film about the crisis of a man in his forties and his desire for a better life; its a story of parenthood, alcohol, Finnish man and his desire for love. It is also an unusually intimate depiction of the relationship between the father and his son. Despite the seriousness of the topic the film includes black humor and situational comedy

A rough but beautiful documentary film about the crisis of a man in his forties and his desire for a better life; its a story of parenthood, alcohol, Finnish man and his desire for love. It is also an unusually intimate depiction of the relationship between the father and his son. Despite the seriousness of the topic the film includes black humor and situational comedy

A rough but beautiful documentary film about the crisis of a man in his forties and his desire for a better life; its a story of parenthood, alcohol, Finnish man and his desire for love. It is also an unusually intimate depiction of the relationship between the father and his son. Despite the seriousness of the topic the film includes black humor and situational comedy

Thomas, a former doctor, a widower, lives alone in a basement apartment in Helsinki. His routine becomes even more limited when his misanthropic brother dies, reducing Thomas' human contact to practically nil. As with many seniors, he's basically invisible to passersby, though Thomas in particular avoids engaging with those around him. When he runs into his estranged daughter Marie, he tries to create a bridge.

Meaning of life is a poetic short film about seeking happiness. The film gives us insight as to what happiness and good life mean for the habitants of Queens, New York City. Do they share the idea of “American Dream” and is it possible for everyone to achieve this? Meaning of life is filmed on black-and-white film, inspired by the “Man With a Movie Camera”.

Meaning of life is a poetic short film about seeking happiness. The film gives us insight as to what happiness and good life mean for the habitants of Queens, New York City. Do they share the idea of “American Dream” and is it possible for everyone to achieve this? Meaning of life is filmed on black-and-white film, inspired by the “Man With a Movie Camera”.

The Gypsies have lived in Finland for hundreds of years and they form a significant minority in country. Nevertheless, their every day life is not very well known by the majority and few people understand the issues young Gypsies struggle with.

The Gypsies have lived in Finland for hundreds of years and they form a significant minority in country. Nevertheless, their every day life is not very well known by the majority and few people understand the issues young Gypsies struggle with.

A documentary film about singing and a young man in search of himself and his voice.

A documentary film about singing and a young man in search of himself and his voice.

The film examines the painful relationship between fathers and sons through the eyes of one family. Four generations of men are featured in the film. Father to Son deals with the conflict between generations and their subjective memories, and the way different methods of raising children pass from one generation to the next. How often and to what extent do we repeat the behavioural patterns of our fathers; can we change or break these patterns or is repeating them inescapable, and how many generations are needed for change to occur? Are the values we have inherited from our fathers still valid in the modern world? One of the leading themes of this film is the sensitivity of a man and a boy, and its preservation and suppression.

The film examines the painful relationship between fathers and sons through the eyes of one family. Four generations of men are featured in the film. Father to Son deals with the conflict between generations and their subjective memories, and the way different methods of raising children pass from one generation to the next. How often and to what extent do we repeat the behavioural patterns of our fathers; can we change or break these patterns or is repeating them inescapable, and how many generations are needed for change to occur? Are the values we have inherited from our fathers still valid in the modern world? One of the leading themes of this film is the sensitivity of a man and a boy, and its preservation and suppression.

The Banished is a documentary film by Visa Koiso-Kanttila.

The Banished is a documentary film by Visa Koiso-Kanttila.

The Banished is a documentary film by Visa Koiso-Kanttila.

The Banished is a documentary film by Visa Koiso-Kanttila.