Quick Facts
Biography
Aku Louhimies (born 3 July 1968) is an award winning Finnish film director and screenwriter. He has directed feature films, documentary films, commercials and music videos. Louhimies is currently working on a World War II Drama The Unknown Soldier that is scheduled to premiere in 2017. The film is based on Väinö Linna's acclaimed novel from 1954.
Education
Louhimies has graduated from Billings West High School, MT, USA 1986 and studied at the University of Helsinki and in University of Art and Design Helsinki. Louhimies' military rank is Reserve Lieutenant.
Career
Louhimies has directed eight feature films, among them award winning Frozen Land (2005), war drama Tears of April (2008), multi-narrative drama Naked Harbour (2012) and hard-hitting crime-drama 8-ball (2013). He has also directed the multiple award-winning television series Fragments (2003) among other television projects. In 2016 Aku Louhimies directed the mini series Rebellion marking the 100th Anniversary of the 1916 Rising for Irish broadcaster RTÉ and Netflix.
In 2004, Aku was elected Director of the Year by the Association of Finnish Film Directors.
Filmography
- The Unknown Soldier (Tuntematon sotilas), 2017
- Rebellion (TV Mini-Series), 2016
- 8-ball (8-pallo), 2013
- Naked Harbour (Vuosaari), 2012
- Tears of April (Käsky), 2008
- Frozen City (Valkoinen kaupunki), 2006
- Man Exposed (Riisuttu mies), 2006
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005
- Lovers & Leavers (Kuutamolla), 2002
- Restless (Levottomat), 2000
He has also directed short films, documentaries, music videos and commercials since 1995.
His 2000 film Restless was entered into the 22nd Moscow International Film Festival. In 2005 his film Frozen Land was entered into the 27th Moscow International Film Festival.
In 2012, Louhimies accepted the role of jury member for the first Saint Petersburg international film festival and his film Naked Harbour (Vuosaari) was added to the festival's non-competition programme "Screenings in honour of filmmakers".
Selected awards
- Naked Harbour (Vuosaari), 2012 Festroia International Film Festival 2012 CICAE Award
- Naked Harbour (Vuosaari), 2012 Nordische Filmtage Lübeck 2012 The Interfilm Church Prize
- Frozen City (Valkoinen kaupunki), 2006 Jussi Awards 2007 Best Director
- Frozen City (Valkoinen kaupunki), 2006 Ghent International Film Festival 2006 Best Director
- Frozen City (Valkoinen kaupunki), 2006 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2006 Don Quijote Award – Special Mention
- Frozen City (Valkoinen kaupunki), 2006 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2006 FIPRESCI Prize
- Frozen City (Valkoinen kaupunki), 2006 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2006 Label Europa Cinemas
- Frozen City (Valkoinen kaupunki), 2006 Lübeck Nordic Film Days 2006 Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Honorable Mention
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Jussi Awards 2006 Best Director
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Jussi Awards 2006 Best Script
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Athens International Film Festival 2005 Best Screenplay
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Bergen International Film Festival 2005 Jury Award
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Göteborg Film Festival 2005 Church of Sweden Film Award
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Göteborg Film Festival 2005 FIPRESCI Prize
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Göteborg Film Festival 2005 Nordic Film Prize
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Leeds International Film Festival 2005 Golden Owl Award
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Lübeck Nordic Film Days 2005 NDR Promotion Prize – Honorable Mention
- Frozen Land (Paha maa), 2005 Moscow International Film Festival 2005 Special Jury Prize
- Irtiottoja (Fragments), 2004 Venla Awards, Best Director
- Lovers & Leavers (Kuutamolla), 2002 Durango Film Festival 2003 Jury Award Best Narrative Feature
- Lovers & Leavers (Kuutamolla), 2002 Cinequest San Jose Film Festival 2003 Best Feature
- "22nd Moscow International Film Festival (2000)". MIFF. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
- "27th Moscow International Film Festival (2005)". MIFF. Retrieved 2013-04-09.