News

ELO short films succeed – main prize at Haugesund Film Festival and several student films at Helsinki International Film Festival

Auringonpistos by Anna Äärelä wins the main prize in Norway and ELO students compete in Helsinki International Film Festival national competition.
Girl sitting in a dark room with light on her face
Still from Auringonpistos (Mad from the Sun), directed by Anna Äärelä

Short fiction film Auringonpistos (Mad from the Sun, 2020, Oy Bufo Ab) by Anna Äärelä wins the main prize at the Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund in the Next Nordic Generation competition. Next Nordic Generation Award is given to the best graduation film from the Nordic film schools.

The film is director Anna Äärelä's, producer Pilvi Kuusraisen and sound designer Jani Nikanderin MA thesis films to Aalto University, ELO Film School Finland. 

About the film: "A middle-aged woman wakes up one morning only to find a bloody message from her teenage years taped to her window. Does first love ever die?"

Congratulations to all of the film crew!

Credits:

DIRECTOR: Anna Äärelä
SCRIPT: Anna Äärelä
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Max Smeds
SOUND: Jani Nikander
SET DESIGN: Ansku Heiskanen
COSTUME DESIGN: Elina Äärelä
EDITING: Inka Lahti
MUSIC: Sonja Pennanen, Mikko Pennanen
CAST: Julia Von Lerber, Amos Brotherus, Saara Kotkaniemi
PRODUCER: Pilvi Kuusrainen
Production Company: Oy Bufo Ab, Pilvi Kuusrainen

The film can be seen in September at Helsinki International Film Festival, where it competes in the national competition, R&A Shorts, eleven other short films by ELO students. 

The films are Leskimies ja elokuvakamera (dir. Sameli Muurimäki), Hei hei Tornio (dir. Emilia Hernesniemi), Kokko (dir. Inga Pohjolainen), Varjoja radalla (dir. Elias Kahla), Haikara (dir. Siiri Halko), Hiljaisuus (dir. Saara Hakkarainen), Röökitauko (dir. Lotta Taarasti), Silmät tummat kuin yö (dir. Kai Rintamaa), Manian lapset (dir. Anton Baer), Kaikki äitini puhelut (dir. Iiti Yli-Harja) as well as No perkele (dir.Saara Hakkarainen), which was featured in the first ever miniature film festival on Instagram in Spring 2021. Watch No perkele on @aaltoarts IGTV

Read more about the short films and Helsinki International Film Festival.

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

Three people walking up wooden stairs beside a wall with vertical wooden slats and hanging decorations.
Studies Published:

Aalto University received nearly 6,700 applications for its English-taught bachelor’s programmes

The most popular programmes in the application round for Aalto University's English-taught bachelor's programmes that closed on 22 January were International Business, Economics, and Computer Engineering
A person with brown hair tied back, wearing a pink ribbon and a blue garment. The background is a patterned fabric.
Awards and Recognition Published:

Viivi Prokofjev is Graphic Designer of the Year 2026

Art director, illustrator, and book designer Prokofjev's work combines tradition and craftsmanship with intuition and bold carnivalism.
People working at a table with laptops, sticky notes and coffee cups. One person is taking notes.
Cooperation, Studies, University Published:

Register for the Unite! Training Programme on Sustainability for Prospective Leaders

A transnational online programme for students, faculty, and leaders who want to advance sustainability initiatives within their institutions. Register by 13 February 2026.
Photo by Mikko Raskinen
Studies, University Published:

Aalto lifewide learning enhanced its impact in 2025

The numbers of participants, courses, and completed study credits increased compared to the previous year.