Person

Einari Paakkanen

Directing · Born 1980-01-16 · Jämsä, Finland

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.

• Girls' Night

  Assistant Editor

• Invisible Enemy

  Director

• 

  Black Ice

  Assistant Editor

• 

  Games People Play

  Location Scout

• Promised Land

  Co-Writer

• The Finest and the Greatest

  Assistant Editor

• 

  Karaoke Paradise

  Writer

• 

  Princess

  Location Manager

• 

  Gimme Some Respect

  Location Manager

• 

  My Father from Sirius

  Himself

• 2026Puolanka Pussy RallyDirector
• 2026Invisible EnemyDirector
• 2024Forgetting LeninDirector
• 2022Karaoke ParadiseWriter
• 2020Games People PlayLocation Scout
• 2019Cross-countryDirector
• 2016My Father from SiriusHimself
• 2016Where Is Thon?Writer
• 2015Promised LandCo-Writer
• 2013Permanent TogetherWriter
• 2011Dirty BombLocation Manager
• 2010PrincessLocation Manager
• 2010Gimme Some RespectLocation Manager
• 2008The Finest and the GreatestAssistant Editor
• 2008Girls' NightAssistant Editor
• 2007Black IceAssistant Editor